Patient education: Pneumothorax (collapsed lung) – Discharge instructions (The Basics)

What are discharge instructions? — Discharge instructions are information about how to take care of yourself after getting medical care for a health problem.

What is a pneumothorax? — A pneumothorax happens when air leaks out of the lung and collects in the space between the lung and the chest wall. This makes the lung collapse (figure 1).

A pneumothorax can cause chest pain and trouble breathing. Sometimes, it gets better on its own. Other times, treatment is needed. Doctors can remove the collection of air using a needle or tube. If these treatments don't work, you might need surgery to fix the air leak.

How do I care for myself at home? — Ask the doctor or nurse what you should do when you go home. Make sure that you understand exactly what you need to do to care for yourself. Ask questions if there is anything you do not understand.

You should also:

●Take all of your medicines as instructed. The medicines you take depend on what caused your pneumothorax. For example, if you have an infection, you might get antibiotics. If your doctor prescribed medicines for pain, follow all instructions for taking them.

●Make sure that you know how to care for the tube or "catheter" in your chest, if you have one. This includes:

•How and when to change the bandages

•How to keep the area clean to help prevent infection

•What activities to avoid while you have the tube in

•What to do if you notice any problems

●If you went home on oxygen, make sure that you know how to use the equipment.

●Avoid smoking. This can help lower your chance of getting another pneumothorax. If you are having trouble quitting, your doctor or nurse can help.

●Limit physical activity while you are recovering. Your doctor or nurse will tell you when it's safe to go back to your usual activities.

●Talk to your doctor before you fly in an airplane or go scuba diving. Some people need to wait a certain amount of time before doing these things.

What follow-up care do I need? — Your doctor or nurse will probably want to see you again within a few weeks. They might want to do a chest X-ray or another imaging test to check the space around your lungs. If so, make sure that you know when and where to go.

When should I call the doctor? — Call your doctor or nurse if you have:

●Pneumothorax symptoms that come back, such as:

•Chest pain

•Shortness of breath

●Any problems with your chest tube or catheter, such as:

•Blood in the tube, or bleeding where it enters your skin

•Blockage in the tube

•The tube coming out

●Signs of an infection, such as fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or chills

More on this topic

Patient education: Pneumothorax (collapsed lung) (The Basics)
Patient education: Pleuritic chest pain (The Basics)
Patient education: Chest tubes and catheters (The Basics)
Patient education: How to care for a chest tube or catheter (The Basics)

Patient education: Thoracentesis (Beyond the Basics)