A collapsed lung happens when air enters the pleural space, the area between the lung and the chest wall. If it is a total collapse, it is called pneumothorax. If only part of the lung is affected, it is called atelectasis.

Causes of a collapsed lung include

Lung diseases such as pneumonia or lung cancer
Being on a breathing machine
Surgery on the chest or abdomen
A blocked airway
If only a small area of the lung is affected, you may not have symptoms. If a large area is affected, you may feel short of breath and have a rapid heart rate.

A chest x-ray can tell if you have it. Treatment depends on the underlying cause.

NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

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Pneumothorax is a condition that nursing students will encounter during their careers as nurses.

We discuss basic pathophysiology of pneumothorax, needle decompression, treatments, and xray findings, and treatments.

Chest tubes can be intimidating for new nurses but with a bit of practice the nursing care for chest tubes can become second nature.

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