Pneumothorax

Secondary Spontaneous Pneumothorax

Secondary spontaneous pneumothorax (SSP) occurs in people with a wide variety of parenchymal lung diseases. These individuals have underlying pulmonary pathology that alters normal lung structure. Air enters the pleural space via distended, damaged, or compromised alveoli.
Pneumothorax is a common and life-threatening clinical condition that may require emergency treatment.
Symptoms

Difficulty breathing

  • Rapidly developing

common

Chest discomfort

  • Occurs or worsens with deep inspiration, Occurs or worsens with laughing, coughing or sneezing

  • Relieved by sitting up and leaning forward

  • Sudden, intense spike of pain

  • Rapidly developing

  • Severe

  • Right side, Left side

common

Rapid heart rate

common

Abnormally rapid breathing

common

Cough with mucus or without mucus

  • Lasting 3 weeks or less

  • Dry

  • An irritating cough that doesn't go away

Risk factors

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Long-term difficulty breathing due to the narrowing of bronchi

Smoking

Cystic fibrosis

Lung cancer

Tuberculosis

Treatment
Most patients with secondary spontaneous pneumothorax (SSP) are treated with supplemental oxygen and removal of air from the pleural space, typically by chest tube thoracostomy. Patients also typically undergo a definitive procedure to prevent recurrence during the same hospitalization.
Recommended specialist

If you have Pneumothorax, then a visit to a thoracic surgeon as soon as possible.

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Thoracic surgeon

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