A pneumothorax is collection of air or gas in the space surrounding the lungs.
Alternative Names:
Air around the lung; Air outside the lung
Causes, incidence, and risk factors:
Pneumothorax may result from chest trauma, excessive pressure on the lungs, or an underlying lung disease such as COPD, asthma, cystic fibrosis, tuberculosis, and whooping cough. In some cases, the cause is unclear.
Murray J, Nadel J. Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders; 2000.
Marx J. Rosen’s Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 5th ed. St. Louis, Mo: Mosby; 2002.
Review Date: 8/10/2005
Reviewed By: A.D.A.M. Editorial and David A. Kaufman, M.D., Assistant Professor, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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