What is spontaneous pneumothorax?

Also known as: collapsed lung, PSP.

Pneumothorax is defined as the sudden appearance of air in the chest outside of a lung (between the lung and the chest wall). It may be “spontaneous” (primary/idiopathic - no lung cause found) or as a complication of an underlying acute or chronic lung disorder (“secondary”). Iatrogenic pneumothorax occurs as result of a surgical procedure or mechanical ventilation. The prognosis is usually good though it can recur (10-30%).

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Reviewed by: Jack Wolfsdorf, MD, FAAP

This page was last updated on: 1/29/2019 3:21:13 PM