A collapsed lung happens when air gets into the pleural space, the area between the lung and the chest wall.
| Type | What happens |
|---|---|
| Pneumothorax | The whole lung collapses |
| Atelectasis | Only part of the lung is affected |
Causes
- lung diseases, such as pneumonia or lung cancer;
- being on a breathing machine;
- surgery on the chest or abdomen;
- a blocked airway.
Symptoms
If only a small part of the lung is affected, there may be no symptoms. If a larger area is involved, you may feel short of breath and have a rapid heart rate.
Diagnosis and treatment
A chest X-ray can show whether a lung has collapsed. Treatment depends on the underlying cause.
Sources
Based on the MedlinePlus health topic "Collapsed Lung," National Library of Medicine, with a summary from NIH's National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; a work of the United States government in the public domain.
Licence: CC0 1.0 (public domain) · Adapted from medlineplus.gov
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