Final answer:
A pneumothorax, or collapsed lung, can be caused by pleura perforation, pneumonia, airway blockage, or spontaneous factors linked to connective tissue abnormalities. It disrupts the negative pressure needed to keep lungs inflated. Treatment ranges from monitoring and oxygen therapy to chest tube insertion or surgery.
Step-by-step explanation:
A pneumothorax, commonly known as a collapsed lung, can be caused by various factors which disrupt the equilibrium within the pleural space. Perforations of the pleura by a catheter, an infection like pneumonia, or a blockage of the airway can contribute to the development of a pneumothorax. Each of these conditions interferes with the negative pressure required within the pleural cavity to keep the lungs inflated. Pneumothorax can also occur spontaneously, often in individuals who have certain underlying subtle connective tissue abnormalities.
Severe cases, such as a traumatic pneumothorax caused by a puncture to the thoracic cavity, can result in a physiological dead space where air leaks and cannot be used for gas exchange. In cases of pneumothorax associated with pneumonia, the infection leads to inflammation and accumulation of fluid in the alveoli, impairing gas exchange and potentially leading to pleurisy, further complicating the individual's respiratory function.
Treatment of pneumothorax depends on its cause and severity, ranging from careful monitoring and oxygen therapy to more invasive procedures such as chest tube insertion to re-expand the lung and surgery in cases of recurrent pneumothoraxes or those that are due to significant underlying lung diseases.