A pneumothorax also called a collapsed lung, is characterized by gas in the lungs, particularly in the pleural region. Pneumothorax is a significant medical condition with high morbidity and medical costs. The disease could be fatal if it is not adequately monitored and treated. The most important way to implement a good pneumothorax treatment is to comprehend its underlying cause. The current study focuses on risk factors to better understand how to treat and manage the condition (Bintcliffe & Maskell, 2014). Some people are more susceptible than others to lung damage that leads to collapse, especially those who have the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
A pneumothorax is brought on by the rapture of a hyperinflated alveolus and subsequent air leakage into nearby spaces and tissues. The issue shows that severe lung conditions that affect the alveoli are risk factors for the ailment. One such illness is a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which increases a patient’s risk of hyperinflation. The danger of lung collapse is increased by large tidal volumes, high intrinsic PEEP, and high transpulmonary pressure brought on by COPD (George Ioannidis et al., 2015). Air is retained in the lungs because inspired air cannot be effectively evacuated from the body in these conditions. Airway resistance rises as a result of hyperinflation’s rise in airway pressure. Air cannot enter the alveoli because of high inspiratory flow rates and airway resistance.
The condition impacts patients with COPD because high pressure and airwave resistance lead to hyperinflation. Balancing effort and respiratory capacity can be challenging for people with COPD. Any alteration to this equilibrium could put the patient at risk for collapsed lungs and barotrauma. For instance, an infection that results in acute pathology may speed up the process of airway obstruction and pneumothorax. Less ventilation could occur from the alterations, which would feed the hyperinflation’s expansion. There is a chance of alveolar injury, given the circumstances (George Ioannidis et al., 2015). Such injuries result in lung collapse.