WHAT YOU SHOULD
KNOW
The collapse or caving-in of all or part of a lung occurs
when air gets into the area between the lung and the chest
wall. If this happens, the lung cannot fill up with air as you
take a breath. It may occur spontaneously without a known
cause, often in healthy people. Medically, the condition is
known as a pneumothorax (nu-mo-THOR-ax).
Causes
Often, collapsed lung is due to
rupture of an air pocket or bleb (fluid filled sac) in the
lung. Changes in pressure during diving, flying, or even
stretching can cause a bleb to break. Asthma or infections in
the lung also can cause a rupture.
Signs/Symptoms
Usually, the bigger the collapse
of the lung, the worse the signs. Common signs are sudden,
sharp pain located on the side of the affected lung; trouble
breathing; fast breathing; or coughing. When you breathe in,
there's a possibility that your chest may appear lop-sided or
asymmetrical.
Care
Whether you are in the hospital
or not, you will need a chest x-ray. If the lung collapse is
small, it may go away on its own, and you may be allowed to go
home. If it is larger or causing breathing problems, you will
be admitted to the hospital.
Risks
If only a small part of the lung
is collapsed, it may heal by itself. But if a large collapse is
not treated, your lungs may fail or become
infected.
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO
Call Your Doctor If...
-
You have a high temperature.
-
You have increased chest pain or trouble
breathing.
-
You have pain when you cough.
-
You cough up sputum that is yellow, green, or
gray.
Seek Care Immediately If...
-
You have sharp, sudden chest pain and trouble
breathing. You may also have a dry cough with these signs.
Have someone drive you to the nearest hospital immediately,
or
call 911 or 0 (operator).
IF YOU'RE HEADING FOR THE
HOSPITAL...
What to Expect While You're
There
You may encounter the following
procedures and equipment during your stay.
-
Chest X-ray: This picture of the lungs will show the
location and size of the collapse.
-
Chest Tube:
-
A tube may be placed in the side of your chest to
let out the air surrounding the lung. The tube may be
hooked up to underwater drainage or gentle suction.
Removing the air outside the lung allows it to
re-expand.
-
If the tubing is kinked, the tape becomes loose, or
the tube comes apart from the rest of the system, call a
nurse at once.
-
Medicine: You may need pain-killing medicine. This
will allow you to breathe more easily and take deeper
breaths, which will help prevent a lung infection. You may
also need cough medicine.
-
Coughing and Deep Breathing: It is important to do
this often because it helps keep your lungs from getting
infected.
-
To ease your pain during coughing and deep
breathing, you may need to loosely wrap your rib cage
with a 6-inch elastic bandage.
-
Holding a pillow tightly against your chest when
you cough can help reduce the pain. Lying on the side
that is hurting may also help ease the
pain.
-
Cold/Heat: A cool towel or heating pad (set on low)
may be placed on the chest to help relieve the
pain.
-
Sputum Sample: If you are coughing up sputum, your
doctor may need to send a sample to the lab. This sample
may reveal an infection. It will also help the doctor
choose the medicine you need.
-
Other Care: You may need surgery if your lung keeps
collapsing. Another possible treatment is injection of a
substance that will harden the tissue of the collapsed part
of the lung.
-
Taking Vital Signs: These include your temperature,
blood pressure, pulse (counting your heartbeats), and
respirations (counting your breaths). A stethoscope is used
to listen to your heart and lungs. Your blood pressure is
taken by wrapping a cuff around your
arm.
-
Oxygen: Your body may need extra oxygen at this
time. It is given either by a mask or nasal prongs. Tell
your doctor if the oxygen is drying out your nose or if the
nasal prongs bother you.
-
Pulse Oximeter: While you are getting oxygen, you
may be hooked up to a pulse oximeter (ox-IM-uh-ter). It is
placed on your ear, finger, or toe and is connected to a
machine that measures the oxygen in your
blood.
-
ECG: Also called a heart monitor, an
electrocardiograph (e-lec-tro-CAR-dee-o-graf), or EKG. The
patches on your chest are hooked up to a TV-type screen or
a small portable box (telemetry unit). This screen shows a
tracing of each heartbeat. Your heart will be watched for
signs of injury or damage that could be related to your
illness.
-
12 Lead ECG: This test makes tracings from different
parts of your heart. It can help your doctor decide whether
there is a heart problem.
-
Blood: Usually taken from a vein in your hand or
from the bend in your elbow. Tests will be done on the
blood.
-
Blood Gases: Blood is taken from an artery in your
wrist, elbow, or groin. It is tested for the amount of
oxygen it contains.
-
IV: A tube placed in your vein for giving medicine
or liquids. It will be capped or have tubing connected to
it.
After You Leave
-
Try not to cough, sing, talk loudly, or laugh for
several days. This causes increased pressure in your lungs
and may result in another collapse during this healing
period.
-
Rest until you feel better. You may then return to
your normal activities.
-
If you have chest soreness, apply ice, a heating pad
(set on low), or warm cloths to the sore area for 10 to 20
minutes, 2 to 3 times a day. It's important to ease the
pain so that you can breathe more
easily.
-
Take medicines only as directed by your doctor. If
you feel they are not helping, call your
doctor.
-
If you are taking antibiotics, continue to take them
until they are gone--even if you feel
better.
-
If you are taking medicine that makes you drowsy, do
not drive or use heavy equipment.
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