{"id":18086,"date":"2021-01-29T13:00:18","date_gmt":"2021-01-29T18:00:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=18086"},"modified":"2024-04-24T13:27:03","modified_gmt":"2024-04-24T17:27:03","slug":"atelectasis-vs-pneumothorax","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/atelectasis-vs-pneumothorax\/","title":{"rendered":"Atelectasis vs. pneumothorax: How do you treat a collapsed lung?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Atelectasis vs. pneumothorax causes<\/a> | Prevalence<\/a> | Symptoms<\/a> | Diagnosis<\/a> | Treatments<\/a> | Risk factors<\/a> | Prevention<\/a> | When to see a doctor<\/a> | FAQs<\/a> | Resources<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Similar at a surface level, both atelectasis and pneumothorax deal with <\/span>lung collapse<\/span> and closure. While these two conditions may have similar symptoms, the causes are quite different.<\/span><\/p>\n

Unfortunately, a partial collapse or closure can be challenging to diagnose as it may not have accompanying symptoms. Only a chest X-ray can accurately show whether someone suffers from either condition, and treatment will depend on the underlying cause.<\/span><\/p>\n

Causes\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Atelectasis\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Atelectasis happens due to conditions that make it difficult to breathe and\/or cough, resulting in air sacs\u2014known as alveoli\u2014in the lung to deflate. It can also occur when there is pressure on the outside of the lung, such as might occur from tumors.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Surgery is the most common cause of atelectasis<\/span><\/a>. Anesthesia can affect a patient\u2019s ability to breathe and painful recovery can cause patients to take shallow breaths. Certain lung conditions can cause atelectasis as well, including lung cancer, fluid around the lungs (pleural effusions), and respiratory distress syndrome (RDS).<\/span><\/p>\n

Pneumothorax\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Pneumothorax is caused<\/span><\/a> when air escapes the lung, filling the space between the lung and the ribs or chest wall. This makes it harder for the lung to expand, and breathing becomes difficult.<\/span><\/p>\n

It can be caused by air blisters, called blebs, popping and sending air out into the chest cavity. This may happen due to air pressure changes or having a lung disease, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, TB, whooping cough, or cystic fibrosis (CF).<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Atelectasis vs. pneumothorax causes<\/span><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Atelectasis<\/b><\/td>\nPneumothorax<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
    \n
  • Surgery<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Blocked airways in the lung<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Build-up of pressure outside of the lung<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Lung conditions (lung cancer, pneumonia, pleural effusions, RDS)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
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