Health

A pneumothorax is caused by air in the cavity surrounding your lungs. They then function with difficulty. It is painful, but it can be cured.

WHAT IS A PNEUMOTHORAX?

With each breath, the lungs inflate and deflate. They are surrounded by a sort of sac formed of two layers, the pleura. During breathing movements, the layers slide against each other. Sometimes, one of the layers tears and air enters the sac. This is painful, and causes shortness of breath.

HOW DID THIS TEAR OCCUR?

Most often, the tear of the pleura occurs at rest, spontaneously, from an air bubble in the lung. It can also occur in people with lung disease, such as emphysema or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It is then more serious, because the lungs, which were already functioning poorly, can no longer breathe normally. Elderly people are more often affected. The tear can also occur during an accident with trauma to the rib cage.

HOW TO TREAT MY PNEUMOTHORAX?

The pneumothorax can regress spontaneously in a few weeks. Treatments for pain and coughs may be prescribed. In some cases, it is necessary to perform pleural drainage. This involves inserting a drain (a small tube connected from the pleura to a container), under local anesthesia, to evacuate the air or liquid located between the two layers of the pleura. Hospitalization is then necessary. The drain is left in place for a few days. The operation is rare but can be performed to prevent recurrences.

DOES THIS PROCEDURE PRESENT ANY RISKS?

Inserting a drain is a technical procedure carried out under rigorous aseptic conditions. The procedure is risk-free. Healing is rapid.

DO SOME PEOPLE GET PNEUMOTHORAX MORE EASILY?

Spontaneous pneumothorax occurs in young, thin adults, more often men. Smokers are also much more affected than non-smokers. The greater the amount of tobacco smoked each day, the greater the risk, even more so in women.

WHAT PRECAUTIONS SHOULD BE TAKEN?

The first step is to completely and permanently stop smoking. If you have to travel or play sports, talk to your doctor.
Travel in non-pressurized aircraft is strongly discouraged.
Travel in pressurized aircraft in the month following the episode is not recommended without medical advice.
Scuba diving with compressed air tanks is prohibited.