Pneumothorax is usually treated with
removal of air under pressure, by inserting a needle attached to a syringe into the chest cavity
. A chest tube may be used and left in place for several days. In some cases, surgery may be needed.
What procedure fixes a collapsed lung?
Surgery for pneumothorax
In cases where a chest tube doesn’t work, your doctor might need to do
lung surgery
to close off the air leak. We call this surgery “thoracoscopy” or VATS (Video-assisted Thoracic Surgery).
How does a lung collapse feel?
A collapsed lung feels like
a sharp, stabbing chest pain that worsens on breathing or with deep inspiration
. This is referred to as “pleuritic” because it comes from irritation of nerve endings in the pleura (inner lining of the rib wall).
What happens after a collapsed lung?
It may heal with rest, although your doctor will want to keep track of your progress. It can take several days for the lung to expand again
. Your doctor may have drained the air with a needle or tube inserted into the space between your chest and the collapsed lung.
How long is a hospital stay for a collapsed lung?
The average amount of time to stay in the hospital with a pneumothorax is
5 to 7 days
.
How long does it take to recover from collapsed lung surgery?
For most people, the pain goes away after about 2 weeks. You will have a bandage taped over the wound. Your doctor will remove the bandage and examine the wound in about 2 days. It will take about
3 to 4 weeks
for your incision to heal completely.
What happens if a collapsed lung does not inflate?
The blood delivers the oxygen to organs and tissues throughout your body. When air sacs become deflated because of atelectasis, they cannot inflate properly or take in enough air and oxygen. If enough of the lung is affected,
your blood may not receive enough oxygen, which can cause health problems
.
Can you live with collapsed lung?
A small pneumothorax may go away on its own over time. You may only need oxygen treatment and rest. The provider may use a needle to allow the air to escape from around the lung so it can expand more fully.
You may be allowed to go home if you live near the hospital
.
What causes sudden lung collapse?
Causes of a collapsed lung include:
Lung diseases such as pneumonia or lung cancer
. Being on a breathing machine. Surgery on the chest or abdomen.
How do you inflate a lung?
using a chest drain
. This is a flexible plastic tube that’s inserted through the chest wall, after the area is numbed. The drain allows air out but not back in, so your lung can re-inflate. The tube is secured and stays in place until the air leak has resolved and the lung re-inflated.
How painful is a pneumothorax?
The typical symptom is a
sharp, stabbing pain on one side of the chest
, which suddenly develops. The pain is usually made worse by breathing in (inspiration). You may become breathless. As a rule, the larger the pneumothorax, the more breathless you become.
Do you have to be hospitalized for a collapsed lung?
If the collapsed lung is small, you may stay in the ER for 5 to 6 hours to see if it gets any worse. If it does not get worse, you may be sent home without treatment and told to follow up with your regular healthcare provider.
If the collapsed lung needs treatment, you will be admitted to the hospital
.
What does a chest tube do for a collapsed lung?
A chest tube is a plastic tube that is used to
drain fluid or air from the chest
. Air or fluid (for example blood or pus) that collects in the space between the lungs and chest wall (the pleural space) can cause the lung to collapse.
Can you go home with a chest tube?
The tube stays in place for as long as your healthcare provider thinks it is needed. You may be in the hospital until after the tube is removed.
Sometimes you may be sent home with the chest tube still in place
.
Can a collapsed lung cause permanent damage?
After treatment, a collapsed lung usually begins working the way it should again. But
atelectasis can cause permanent damage in some cases
.
