Pulmonology focuses on diagnosing and treating lung and airway conditions such as asthma, COPD, and pneumonia, as well as overall respiratory health.
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How doctors treat pneumothorax depends on the size of the air leak, the patient’s symptoms, any existing lung disease, and whether it has happened before. The main goals are to remove the air, re-expand the lung, ease symptoms, and prevent it from coming back. At Liv Hospital, we use a step-by-step approach, from simple observation for small cases to surgery for more serious or repeated cases.
For small, primary spontaneous pneumothoraces in clinically stable patients with minimal symptoms, observation may be sufficient.
If a primary pneumothorax is large or symptomatic, but the patient is stable, simple needle aspiration may be attempted.
Insertion of a chest tube is the standard treatment for large, unstable, or secondary pneumothoraces, as well as traumatic cases.
Tension pneumothorax requires immediate needle decompression before any other steps.
Surgery is indicated for recurrent pneumothorax, persistent air leaks (lasting >3-5 days), bilateral pneumothorax, hemothorax, or first-time episodes in high-risk professions (e.g., pilots, divers).
For patients who are not surgical candidates, chemical pleurodesis can be performed through the chest tube.
For patients with a persistent but small air leak who are otherwise stable, a Heimlich valve (or a flutter valve) may be attached to the chest tube.
Treatment involves a combination of respiratory and gynecological interventions.
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A chest tube acts as a drain; it is inserted through the ribs to remove trapped air (or fluid) from the pleural space, allowing the lung to re-expand and stick back to the chest wall.
Yes, breathing high concentrations of supplemental oxygen helps the body absorb the trapped nitrogen air in the chest cavity much faster, speeding up lung re-expansion.
Pleurodesis is a procedure in which the lung lining is intentionally irritated (mechanically or with chemicals such as talc) to make it adhere to the chest wall, preventing the lung from collapsing again.
Surgery is usually recommended if you have a second pneumothorax, if the first one doesn’t heal with a tube after a few days, or if you have a high-risk job like flying or diving.
It is done in life-threatening emergencies where survival is the priority; while it involves a needle stick, the relief from the suffocating pressure of a tension pneumothorax is immediate.
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