NEET UG 2024 Topper Divyansh scores a perfect 720 despite suffering from pneumothorax; know more about the severe lung condition

What is pneumothorax?

Dr Nagesh Dhadge, consultant, pulmonology, Manipal Hospital, Baner, Pune said that pneumothorax is a lung rupture because of a puncture, causing it to deflate in its bag. “Something like what happens when the tube of a vehicle tyre ruptures,” he explained, adding that it may occur spontaneously or because of an underlying cause such as infection in the lung.

Symptoms

Common symptoms depend on the size of pneumothorax (amount of lung collapse in the chest). “Individuals might experience various symptoms like sharp chest pain which worsens while breathing or coughing, shortness of words especially while speaking or after physical activities like walking or running, skin getting bluish due to lack of oxygen, and increased heartbeat,” said Dr Harish Chafle, pulmonology and critical care, Gleneagles Hospital Parel Mumbai.

“A small pneumothorax may not produce many symptoms. The patient may present with slight chest pain and breathlessness. But in extreme emergencies, one may present with profound breathlessness and dangerous fall in oxygen levels,” said Dr Dhadge.

Are you taking care of your lungs? (Source: Getty Images/Thinkstock)

Causes

There could be various factors that could lead to pneumothorax such as sudden chest trauma, excessive pressure on the lungs, suffering from lung diseases such as COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases), asthma, cystic fibrosis, tuberculosis, or cough.

Treatment

Usually, pulmonologists treat taking into account several factors. The treatment of pneumothorax may be of two types depending on the size.

If it is a small pneumothorax, which can be quantified with the help of a chest x-ray, then treatment like conservative management (not treated with any invasive means) is recommended.

“Small pneumothorax may need simple monitoring as most small-sized pneumothorax resolve within a week. Patients who suffer from breathlessness may need either needle aspiration of the air collected or a placement of a small tube in the chest cavity. The decision to treat depends on the size of air collected, symptoms of the patient, and underlying lung condition,” elucidated Dr Dhadge.

Similarly, if the pneumothorax is larger in amount and it causes respiratory distress such as breathing difficulty, breathlessness, and chest pain, and the patient’s oxygen saturation goes down, then chest tube drainage is an effective option, said Dr Chafle. “Another easier option is putting a smaller tube called a pigtail which can be put under the guidance of sonography or CT scan. Some individuals might also need to undergo surgery which is called Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). In this procedure, the thoracoscope is put in the lungs and the pleura surface to visualize for a leak and if the leak is found it can be sealed with some agent,” explained Dr Chafle.

Prevention

Some patients who develop recurrent episodes have to undergo specialised procedures to prevent future risks. “Individuals with chronic lung diseases such as COPD, and interstitial lung disease are at a higher risk of developing rupture of the lung leading to pneumothorax. Also, individuals who are tall and thin are at greater risk,” said Dr Dhadge.

Some uncommon genetic illnesses of the lungs can also increase the risk of developing recurrent pneumothorax. “Susceptible individuals need to watch for sudden chest pain and breathlessness as a warning sign of pneumothorax,” said Dr Dhadge.