Pneumothorax of the lung: causes, symptoms and first aid

Pneumothorax of the lung is a rather dangerous condition that is associated with the accumulation of gas (air) in the pleural space. Such a disorder leads to a partial or complete decay of the lung, which in turn affects the work of the respiratory and circulatory systems. In any case, this patient needs immediate medical attention.

Pneumothorax lung: the main causes

In modern medicine, it is customary to distinguish several forms of such a state - it can be either partial or complete collapse of the lung, one-sided or two-sided, primary and secondary, etc. However, there are several main causes leading to gas accumulation in the space between Sheets of pleura:

• To begin with, it is worth noting that most often pneumothorax of the lung is the result of an open wound of the chest or a closed injury, in which the pleura is damaged by the fragments of the ribs.
• In some cases, there are so-called iatrogenic lesions that occur during diagnostic or therapeutic procedures, for example, the installation of a catheter, puncture of the pleural cavity.
• In addition, the decline of the lung can be caused by various diseases, in particular, by the breakthrough of pulmonary abscess, emphysema, spontaneous rupture of the esophagus, respiratory tract infection, growth of swollen, etc.
• Often, pneumothorax is a complication of tuberculosis.

Pnevmotorax lung: the main symptoms

In fact, the symptoms of this condition become noticeable only if the lung has slept for at least 30-40%. In this case, there is a sharp sharp pain in the chest, which often extends to the arm, shoulder and shoulder blade. Soreness increases even with the slightest movement. Along with this, dyspnea arises - sometimes the patient complains of rapid breathing and lack of air, but in more severe cases pneumothorax of the lung can lead to the development of respiratory failure. Due to the lack of oxygen, the skin pale, and sometimes gets a bluish tinge. It is worth noting that the lack of treatment is extremely dangerous, since after several hours the pleural tissues are covered by inflammatory processes, as a result of which scarring occurs. The presence of scars significantly complicates the treatment and brings a lot of inconvenience to the patient's life.

Pneumothorax: first aid

Of course, such a state is extremely dangerous. That's why first aid for pneumothorax is extremely important. To start a patient patient, it is necessary to seat and provide enough fresh air and, of course, to call an ambulance. Or, if possible, urgently take the patient to the hospital on their own. If the damage to the pleural membrane occurs as a result of open trauma to the chest, the wound should be closed with a hermetically sealed bandage (for example, cellophane or film) - this will not only reduce blood loss, but also interfere with the penetration of air into the pleural cavity. Further treatment consists in the evacuation of air (with the help of pleural cavity puncture ) and restoration of the structure and function of pleural sheets.