Ask An Expert: Pneumothorax Recovery

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Ask An Expert: Pneumothorax Recovery

Question:

What is the expected recovery time for a 15-year-old male with a pneumothorax after the chest tube procedure?

Answer:

Your condition, called "pneumothorax," is more commonly known as a "collapsed lung." A collapsed lung occurs when air leaks out of the lung through an injured or ruptured area, accumulating between the lung and the ribcage. This air must be removed (by a vacuum) in order for the lung to be inflated again.

A surgeon or lung doctor uses a chest tube to repair a collapsed lung.

Because they are rarely used outside of a hospital, many people are unfamiliar with the medical device known as a chest tube. A chest tube is a hollow tube that is usually made out of a plastic. It is commonly an inch or more in diameter. One end of a chest tube is inserted through a short surgical incision between the ribs, and the other end is attached to a collection box with a gentle vacuum.

The recovery time can vary if you have a collapsed lung. A very small lung leak can often heal on its own, without a chest tube treatment. For people with this problem who need a chest tube, the average hospital stay is between four and five days. While the tube is in place, the lung tissue must heal itself so that air does not continue to leak. If the air leak has not healed itself within three days after the chest tube has been in place, it is common at many hospitals for other techniques to be tried. These techniques might include placing a chemical into the space around the lung that helps the lung to form a natural "glue," adhering the lung to the ribs so air can't accumulate between these structures. Alternatively, surgery may be recommended.

Mary Pickett, M.D., is a lecturer for Harvard Medical School and an assistant professor of medicine at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, OR. At OHSU, she practices general internal medicine and teaches medical residents and students.

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Last updated:	January 24, 2007

Medical content reviewed by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School. Harvard Health Publications, Copyright © 2007 by President and Fellows of Harvard College. All rights reserved. Used with permission of StayWell.

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