Home Health Center Pneumothorax   Pneumothorax - Types

Types of Pneumothorax



There are different types of pneumothorax that can develop:

• Open pneumothorax occurs when a chest wound allows the air to rush and in and collapse the lungs.

• Closed pneumothorax happens if the chest wall gets punctured, a bronchus gets ruptured or the esophagus gets perforated resulting in air leaking into the pleural space around the lungs and causing a collapse.

• Spontaneous pneumothorax can occurs in people with no previous history of injury of trauma to the chest or lungs. This type of pneumothorax generally occurs due to the rupture of a bleb or a blister containing air that develops on the lungs.

• Secondary pneumothorax occurs due to another underlying illness or health condition. This is also referred to as a complicated pneumothorax.

• Tension pneumothorax can prove fatal if not treated as a medical emergency. This happens when the lungs continue to leak air into the chest cavity and compress not only the lungs but the vessels and blood around the heart as well.

• Pulmonary barotrauma develops in people whose lungs are functioning mechanically. By forcing air into the lungs, a rupture may occur and air can collect in the pleural space around the lungs.

• Catamenial pneumothorax is a rare type of pneumothorax that affects women before the onset of their menstrual cycle. Symptoms include chest pain, fatigue, and dizziness that set in before every monthly period. Though not common, women who are affected with this condition also tend to suffer from pelvic endometriosis as well.

• Traumatic pneumothorax occurs because of trauma to the chest either with a blunt object or one that ruptures the chest wall. This type of injury often occurs in the cases of rib fractures.