Traumatic Pneumothorax

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

• A traumatic (trah-mah-tik) pneumothorax (new-mo-thor-aks) is the collapse of all or part of a lung. It happens when you have an injury that allows air into the area between the lung and the chest wall. The lung deflates because the air between the lung and the chest wall prevents the lung from filling up with air when you take a breath. You may have one or more of the following symptoms if you have a traumatic pneumothorax.
  
  
  • Very bad chest pain especially when you inhale (breathe in).
    
    
  • Uneven chest if bones are broken and poking inward.
    
    
  • Trouble breathing.
    
    
  • Fast breathing.
    
    
  • Coughing.
    
    
  • Blood in your sputum (spit).
    
    
  • Fingernails, toenails, and lips may turn blue if you are not getting enough oxygen to your body.
  
  
• A traumatic pneumothorax is caused by an accident of some kind. Because of this, other serious injuries to the chest, head, neck, or abdomen (belly) may have happened as well. You may have been taken to the ER after the accident causing your pneumothorax. After being treated in the ER you may be taken to the intensive care unit or another nursing unit. It may take days to weeks for the pneumothorax to heal with treatment.

AFTER YOU LEAVE:

• Medicines:
  
  
  • Always take your medicine as directed by your caregiver. If you feel it is not helping, call your caregiver. Do not quit taking it unless your caregiver tells you to.
    
    
  • Keep track of what medicines you are taking and when you take them. Bring a list of your medicines or the pill bottles when you see your caregiver(s). Learn why you take each medicine. Ask your caregiver for information about your medicines.
    
    
  • If you are taking antibiotics (an-ti-bi-ah-tiks), take them until they are all gone even if you feel better.
    
    
  • If you are taking medicine that makes you drowsy, do not drive or use heavy equipment.
  
  
• Ask your caregiver when to return for a follow-up visit. Keep all appointments. Write down any questions you may have. This way you will remember to ask these questions during your next visit.
  
  
• Ask your caregiver how long you need to avoid talking loudly, coughing and singing. These activities cause increased pressure in your lungs and may cause another collapsed lung during the healing period.
  
  
• You may feel like resting more. Slowly start to do more each day. Rest when you feel it is needed.
  
  
• After the first 24 to 48 hours you can use heat to lessen pain or swelling. Heat brings blood to the injured area and helps it heal faster. Use a heating pad (turned on low), a hot water bottle or warm compresses. To make a compress, wet a small towel with warm water and wring out. Put the towel in a plastic bag and cover the bag with a thin towel. Place it on the painful area. Do this for 15 to 20 minutes out of every hour as long as you need it. Do not sleep on the heating pad or hot water bottle. This can cause a bad burn.
  
  
• Eat healthy foods from all of the 5 food groups: fruits, vegetables, breads, dairy products, meat and fish. Eating healthy foods may help you feel better and have more energy. It may also help you heal faster.
  
  
• If you do not have to limit your liquids, drink 8 to 10 (soda pop size) glasses of water each day. This helps thin the sputum (spit) so it can be coughed up more easily. Do not eat or drink foods that contain milk. Milk products may cause your sputum to become thicker.
  
  
• To keep your lungs free of infection, this exercise should be done once an hour to keep you from getting a lung infection. Do this even if you wake up during the night.
  
  
  • Deep breathing opens the tubes going to your lungs. Take a deep breath and hold the breath as long as you can. Then let out your breath. Take 10 deep breaths in a row every hour while awake.
    
    
  • You may be asked to use an incentive (in-sen-tiv) spirometer (sper-om-ih-ter). This helps you take deeper breaths. Put the plastic piece into your mouth and take a very deep breath. Hold your breath as long as you can. Then let out your breath. Use your incentive spirometer 10 times in a row every hour while awake.
  
  
• Stay away from people who have colds or the flu. Get shots to keep from getting the flu and pneumonia (new-moan-yuh). This lessens your chance of getting sick.
  
  
• If you smoke, you should quit. It harms the heart, lungs, and the blood. You are more likely to have a heart attack, lung disease, and cancer if you smoke. It is never too late to quit. Not only will you help yourself but also those around you. If you have trouble quitting, talk to your caregiver about ways to quit.

CONTACT A CAREGIVER IF:

• You have any questions or concerns about your illness or medicine.
  
  
• You have a fever (increased body temperature).
  
  
• You have increased chest pain or trouble breathing.
  
  
• You have pain when you cough.
  
  
• You cough up sputum that is a yellow, green, or gray color.

SEEK CARE IMMEDIATELY IF:

• You have sharp, sudden chest pain and trouble breathing. You may also have a dry cough with these signs. These symptoms may mean you have a collapsed lung. This is an emergency. Call 911 or 0 (operator) . Do no drive yourself.
  
  

Copyright © 2008 Thomson Healthcare Inc. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.

The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

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