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A collapsed lung is often repaired using keyhole surgery (thoracoscopy), where small incisions are made to insert a tiny camera (endoscope) and surgical instruments. Hospital stay after a thoracoscopy is generally 1–4 days, or until any chest drain tubes have been removed.
The lungs are like balloons full of air; sometimes, they get punctured or burst.
This is commonly caused by a puncture or tear in the lung tissue, usually due to chest trauma. Other causes might include medical procedures, such as thoracentesis (removal of excess fluid from the chest with a needle) or mechanical ventilation in intensive care. Some underlying medical conditions, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis, or lung cancer, may also increase the risk of developing pneumothorax.
Sometimes, finding a reason for a pneumothorax is impossible, especially in young, tall and thin patients. In those cases, we call it idiopathic pneumothorax.
The symptoms most often reported by my patients are:
1) Sudden and severe chest pain on one side that may worsen with deep breathing or coughing.
2) Shortness of breath may become more severe as the pneumothorax progresses.
3) Rapid heart rate and low blood pressure if the pneumothorax is large enough to compress the heart or major blood vessels.
If left untreated or if there is a large pneumothorax, it can lead to significant breathing problems, chest pain, and even death. However, a small pneumothorax may not cause any symptoms and may even resolve independently. The good news is that only rarely does a pneumothorax cause significant problems, so overall, the message is: don’t panic. We can deal with this, and I will help you all the way through.
A pneumothorax, also known as a collapsed lung, can be a serious condition depending on the severity and underlying cause. It occurs when air leaks into the space between the lung and the chest wall, causing the lung to collapse.
If left untreated or if there is a large pneumothorax, it can lead to significant breathing problems, chest pain, and even death. However, a small pneumothorax may not cause any symptoms and may even resolve on its own.
Treatment options vary depending on the size of the pneumothorax and the underlying cause but can include observation, oxygen therapy, needle aspiration, or chest tube insertion. It’s important to seek medical attention if you suspect a pneumothorax or are experiencing any troubling symptoms.
When we meet during the consultation, we will discuss your medical history in detail; this is particularly important as sometimes there are conditions that can predispose to pneumothorax. For example, women with endometriosis might develop a pneumothorax just before the period; this is called catamenial pneumothorax. Also, some genetic conditions could increase the chances of developing a pneumothorax.
You might also have seen other specialists for the same condition, and things might not be improving, in which case I am happy to provide a second opinion to ensure nothing was missed. Equally, you might want to switch your care from the NHS to the private sector so that you can return to your normal life much sooner without waiting for scans and treatment.
I will order a chest CT scan. You might have already had a chest x-ray at your local hospital. Still, a CT is a much more accurate test that will allow me to thoroughly appreciate the texture of the lung and see if there is any pocket of air or bullae in the lung that needs to be removed to reduce the chances of recurrence. A CT scan will be without contrast; that is, there is no need to put a needle in your arm; it is very quick, painless and, with modern CT, the radiation exposure is minimal.
Treatment options vary depending on the size of the pneumothorax and the underlying cause but can include observation, oxygen therapy, or chest tube insertion.
Treatment for a pneumothorax depends on its severity and whether it is a primary or secondary pneumothorax.
In a primary pneumothorax (occurring without an underlying lung disease), treatment may include:
– Observation: If the pneumothorax is small and causing no symptoms, the patient may only need to be closely monitored to ensure it does not worsen.
– Oxygen therapy: Giving the patient oxygen can help the lung tissue to reabsorb the trapped air.
– Chest tube insertion: A flexible tube will be inserted through the chest wall into the pleural space to remove the air and allow the lung to re-expand. This is a thin, soft plastic tube that is inserted in between the rib under local anaesthesia. The procedure is slightly uncomfortable but should not be very painful. There is no need to go to an operating room, and it can be inserted at the bedside. The purpose of the chest drain is to remove the air that collects around the lung to allow its re-expansion.
In a secondary pneumothorax (occurring as a result of lung disease), treatment may include:
– Diagnosis and treatment of the underlying condition (e.g. pneumonia, COPD, lung cancer, etc.)
– Oxygen therapy
– Chest tube insertion
– Surgery: A procedure may be necessary to prevent further episodes of pneumothorax.
In many cases, pneumothorax can occur suddenly without any warning signs or symptoms.
Some common symptoms of pneumothorax include sudden chest pain that worsens with breathing or coughing, shortness of breath, rapid heart rate, or a feeling of tightness in the chest. If you suspect you may be experiencing pneumothorax or any other medical emergency, it’s important to seek immediate medical attention.
A collapsed lung is often repaired using keyhole surgery (thoracoscopy), where small incisions are made to insert a tiny camera (endoscope) and surgical instruments. Hospital stay after a thoracoscopy is generally 1–4 days or until any chest drain tubes have been removed. In my practice, most patients go home after one night in hospital post-surgery. The recovery is pretty quick, and it is possible to resume normal activities in a few weeks.
James is very fit; he likes exercising regularly in the gym, lifting weights and training for a marathon. In the past, he has been complaining of sudden chest pain, especially after lifting weights, and he noticed that his running wasn’t as good as usual. He put down the symptoms to a pulled muscle and carried on. He has a busy job in London and juggles multiple commitments, making it difficult for him to take time off. One day, he felt pretty nasty and short of breath, so he went to A&E on his way back from work. He was diagnosed with a large pneumothorax or collapsed lung, and he was admitted for observation after a chest tube was inserted in his chest to re-expand the lung. After six days, the drain was still bubbling, and he wondered what to do. He was then referred for surgery and went home the following day. In 2 weeks, he was back at work and resumed his training for the marathon; another two weeks on, he was back in the gym. He has never felt short of breath again.
Robert is a busy manager who went skiing with his family in Switzerland. He fell on a particularly challenging slope and hit his chest against a pillar. He felt short of breath and in excruciating pain. He was taken by air ambulance to the nearest hospital, where he was diagnosed with several broken ribs and a pneumothorax. He was treated locally and repatriated to the UK by his medical insurance with a chest drain. Once back in the UK, he doesn’t know what to do about the drain and the broken rib. Thankfully, he has private medical insurance that referred him to me. He had a quick surgery and is back at work after two weeks.
Richard smoked quite heavily for about 30 years, suddenly he experienced severe shortness of breath and went to the local A&E, where he was diagnosed with lung emphysema and a pneumothorax. He was admitted to hospital, and after 7 days, he still had a significant amount of air leaking through the drain. He enquired about private treatment, and 2 days later, he went home back to his family.
Absolutely best experience for a medical emergency. Very professional, immediately responsive, outstanding specialist knowledge and experience. He treated our daughter in a critical situation and we were clearly in the safest hands.
He was very nice and explained everything clearly. He was very reassuring about the procedure.
Dr Marco was extremely thorough and very professional at all times during the process of the two operations he recently carried out on me. He is always available to answer any concerns you may have and certainly went above and beyond answering my text messages in the evenings and weekends. Mr Marco has an excellent team behind him who he works very closely with including his secretary Sharon who was very organised and so friendly. Mr Marco is an excellent surgeon and I always felt in “safe hands”. I would highly recommend him. Thank you Marco Scarci
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