How can you tell the difference between pneumothorax and atelectasis?

A collapsed lung happens when air enters the pleural space, the area between the lung and the chest wall. If it is a total collapse, it is called pneumothorax. If only part of the lung is affected, it is called atelectasis. If only a small area of the lung is affected, you may not have symptoms.

Does pneumothorax cause atelectasis?

A collapsed lung happens when air gets stuck in the space between the outside of your lung and your inner chest wall. This causes your lung to shrink or, eventually, to collapse. While the two conditions are different, pneumothorax can lead to atelectasis because your alveoli will deflate as your lung gets smaller.

What’s the difference between pneumothorax and tension pneumothorax?

Pneumothorax is when air collects in between the parietal and viscera pleurae resulting in lung collapse. It can happen secondary to trauma (traumatic pneumothorax). When mediastinal shifts accompany it, it is called a tension pneumothorax. This is a life-threatening emergency that needs urgent management.

What is residual pneumothorax?

Residual pneumothorax may result in spite of correct pleural drainage after lobectomy, segmental or wedge resection. This is due to persistent alveolar or bronchiolar air fistula particularly often in combination with a discrepancy between the size of the pleural cavity and the remaining lung tissue as in bilobectomy.

What causes atelectasis in the lungs?

Atelectasis occurs from a blocked airway (obstructive) or pressure from outside the lung (nonobstructive). General anesthesia is a common cause of atelectasis. It changes your regular pattern of breathing and affects the exchange of lung gases, which can cause the air sacs (alveoli) to deflate.

Is a tension pneumothorax a collapsed lung?

A pneumothorax (noo-moe-THOR-aks) is a collapsed lung. A pneumothorax occurs when air leaks into the space between your lung and chest wall. This air pushes on the outside of your lung and makes it collapse. A pneumothorax can be a complete lung collapse or a collapse of only a portion of the lung.

Which type of pneumothorax is the most serious?

A secondary pneumothorax (even when small) associated with underlying disease is much more serious and has a significant death rate. A secondary pneumothorax requires urgent and immediate treatment. Having one pneumothorax increases the risk of developing the condition again.

What is a right apical pneumothorax?

What is a Hydropneumothorax?

Hydropneumothorax is an abnormal presence of air and fluid in the pleural space.

What are the three types of atelectasis?

The term atelectasis can also be used to describe the collapse of a previously inflated lung, either partially or fully, because of specific respiratory disorders. There are three major types of atelectasis: adhesive, compressive, and obstructive.

What causes mild atelectasis?

There are various causes due to which mild bibasilar atelectasis may happen. Following are the causes: Bronchial Obstruction. The bronchial obstruction is one of the most primary reasons for atelectasis.

What is the difference between primary and secondary pneumothorax?

A primary spontaneous pneumothorax is one that occurs without an apparent cause and in the absence of significant lung disease. A secondary spontaneous pneumothorax occurs in the presence of existing lung disease.

Causes Atelectasis occurs from a blocked airway (obstructive) or pressure from outside the lung (nonobstructive). General anesthesia is a common cause of atelectasis. It changes your regular pattern of breathing and affects the exchange of lung gases, which can cause the air sacs (alveoli) to deflate.