Pneumothorax

A pneumothorax (a term for collapsed lung) occurs when air leaks into the space between your lungs and chest wall, creating pressure against the lung. Depending on the cause of the pneumothorax, your lung may only partially collapse, or it may collapse completely. The causes for a pneumothorax include a chest injury, certain medical procedures involving your lung, lung disease, or it may occur for no obvious reason. Symptoms include sudden, sharp chest pain, shortness of breath and rapid heart rate. Sometimes a pneumothorax can be a life threatening problem and needs to be immediately evaluated.

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedLine Plus

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