2024-04-09 10:45:09
The cyclist Jonas Vingegaard had to undergo surgery in Vitoria due to the injuries suffered after his fall last Thursday while competing in the Itzulia. Specifically, among the damages he suffered was a lung contusion and a pneumothorax.
What is pneumothorax?
Pneumothorax, explains the Mayo Clinic (United States), is also known as lung collapse, and occurs when air leaks into the space between the lungs and the chest cavity.
Typically, pneumothorax occurs after a bruise or penetrating injury to the chest, or from certain medical procedures or damage from an underlying lung disease (COPD, cystic fibrosis, lung cancer, pneumonia). Other times, it can occur for no apparent reason. In any case, it must be taken into account that pneumothorax is a potentially lethal event.
What are your symptoms?
The main symptoms of pneumothorax are sudden onset of chest pain and shortness of breath. Typically, the severity of these signs depends on the extent to which the lung is collapsed.
It must be taken into account that these symptoms can be caused by a wide variety of very different health conditions, some of which can be fatal and, in some cases, are even considered medical emergencies.
Therefore, when chest pain suddenly appears, especially if we also experience difficulty breathing or the pain becomes more intense, we should seek medical attention immediately to avoid serious damage.
How is it treated?
The goal of treating a pneumothorax is to relieve pressure on the lung to allow it to expand again. Depending on the cause, it may also be necessary to take actions to prevent possible recurrences.
For example, you may try to aspirate air through a needle, insert a chest tube, or try to repair the area through surgery and non-surgical methods. Finally, it is possible to give the patient supplemental oxygen therapy to accelerate air reabsorption and lung expansion.
References
Mayo Clinic. Pneumothorax. Consulted online at on April 9, 2024.
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