Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
What Causes Difficulty Breathing Post Pneumothorax Treatment?
Question: My son suffered from pneumothorax just ten days back and had a chest tube put in. He was discharged after three days of Oxygen treatment and removal of that chest tube. Now he is finding it very difficult to breathe because his lungs need to be trained to breathe according to him. Is there an equipment that I can buy for him to help him breathe? Now one of his adenoid is swollen. He is away at college and this problem constantly is affecting his every day life, health and education. PLEASE help.
Brief Answer:
Detailed below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for the query.
Generally if there is no broken rib, he should be able to breathe normally. Otherwise, something wrong is with his lungs. If there was no particular reason of his pneumothorax (like a chest injury), he has had spontaneous pneumothorax. This kind of pneumothorax likes to recur and 3 days treatment is way to short. Moreover, if it will recur, surgery (pleurectomy - removal of the pleura) is necessary.
Moreover, pneumothorax may lead to lungs inflammation.
This two possibilities makes his breathing problems suspicious. So please do not let him to stay in the living place, and ask him to visit a doctor as soon as possible. Chest X-ray should be done.
To train breathing and to improve lungs condition he may try to blow through a straw placed in the glass of water. There is also a tool which works similar (see this http://www.betterbreathing.com.au/respiron.html).
Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.
Detailed below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for the query.
Generally if there is no broken rib, he should be able to breathe normally. Otherwise, something wrong is with his lungs. If there was no particular reason of his pneumothorax (like a chest injury), he has had spontaneous pneumothorax. This kind of pneumothorax likes to recur and 3 days treatment is way to short. Moreover, if it will recur, surgery (pleurectomy - removal of the pleura) is necessary.
Moreover, pneumothorax may lead to lungs inflammation.
This two possibilities makes his breathing problems suspicious. So please do not let him to stay in the living place, and ask him to visit a doctor as soon as possible. Chest X-ray should be done.
To train breathing and to improve lungs condition he may try to blow through a straw placed in the glass of water. There is also a tool which works similar (see this http://www.betterbreathing.com.au/respiron.html).
Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you for your answer. I still have following questions.
What about my son's swollen adenoid? What can cause it in adulthood?
Is he having breathing problem due to some nasal congestion/ throat issue?
What are the symptoms of lung inflammation?
What about my son's swollen adenoid? What can cause it in adulthood?
Is he having breathing problem due to some nasal congestion/ throat issue?
What are the symptoms of lung inflammation?
Brief Answer:
.
Detailed Answer:
The exact reason of his breathing problem is hard to determine from the point of this service. Physical examination is necessary to answer this question.
Swollen adenoid can be the reason of recurring nasal congestion, throat pain, but it has nothing to do with pneumothorax and usually does not cause serious breathing problems.
The reason of swollen adenoid is usually recurring bacterial infection of the throat (quinsy).
Lung inflammation usually give cough, shortness of breath, fever.
.
Detailed Answer:
The exact reason of his breathing problem is hard to determine from the point of this service. Physical examination is necessary to answer this question.
Swollen adenoid can be the reason of recurring nasal congestion, throat pain, but it has nothing to do with pneumothorax and usually does not cause serious breathing problems.
The reason of swollen adenoid is usually recurring bacterial infection of the throat (quinsy).
Lung inflammation usually give cough, shortness of breath, fever.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you very much for your response.
My son had another episode of chest pain and shortness of breath. (He didn't/doesn't have fever.) He was scared but didn't want to got the ER because he wanted to wait to see if it gets better. He did take deep breaths for 15 minutes, then after eating and having Tylenol the pain reduced. (Tylenol was recommended by the pulmonologist at the hospital when my son was discharged.) Are these occurring because the recovery takes time and lung needs to be trained? Or are these signs that his lung is still leaking air?
He has been scheduled to see a thoracic surgeon tomorrow. What should be our questions to him? What are the steps that might be taken at this time? I would like to have some idea so that we are prepared before the appointment.
Your replies have helped and knowing the issues/cures about SECONDARY pneumothorax (if it's happening) would help. It's really affecting my son's life. Thank you so much for your time.
My son had another episode of chest pain and shortness of breath. (He didn't/doesn't have fever.) He was scared but didn't want to got the ER because he wanted to wait to see if it gets better. He did take deep breaths for 15 minutes, then after eating and having Tylenol the pain reduced. (Tylenol was recommended by the pulmonologist at the hospital when my son was discharged.) Are these occurring because the recovery takes time and lung needs to be trained? Or are these signs that his lung is still leaking air?
He has been scheduled to see a thoracic surgeon tomorrow. What should be our questions to him? What are the steps that might be taken at this time? I would like to have some idea so that we are prepared before the appointment.
Your replies have helped and knowing the issues/cures about SECONDARY pneumothorax (if it's happening) would help. It's really affecting my son's life. Thank you so much for your time.
Brief Answer:
.
Detailed Answer:
The point is that his condition may be life threatening. His symptoms are very characteristic for pneumothorax. Like I have said before, 3 days of drainage is way too short for lung leak to get healed. This usually takes a week or more staying non-stop on drainage.
I do not think the problem is in lung training. Please note that he has had healthy lung before the pneumothorax episode. So after the drainage, if there is no air in the chest, he should be able to breath normally. So in my opinion there pneumothorax or lung inflammation is very possible.
I suggest him to have chest x-ray before thoracic surgeon visit. Otherwise the first visit can be pointless and another one will be necessary.
There is no specific question you should ask to the surgeon. The treatment and diagnosis is quite simple. Try to think about the reason of his first pneumothorax. If there was no injury, his pneumothorax is/was spontaneous. It is more possible if he smokes. The treatment of spontaneous pneumthorax looks like that:
1. First episode - drainage for 7 days, than closure of drainage for 12 hours and chest x-ray.
2. If no pneumothorax in this x-ray, drainage can be removed.
3. X-ray after a day from drainage removal
4. If pneumothorax has recurred, thoracospoy and pleura removal.
Hope this will help.
.
Detailed Answer:
The point is that his condition may be life threatening. His symptoms are very characteristic for pneumothorax. Like I have said before, 3 days of drainage is way too short for lung leak to get healed. This usually takes a week or more staying non-stop on drainage.
I do not think the problem is in lung training. Please note that he has had healthy lung before the pneumothorax episode. So after the drainage, if there is no air in the chest, he should be able to breath normally. So in my opinion there pneumothorax or lung inflammation is very possible.
I suggest him to have chest x-ray before thoracic surgeon visit. Otherwise the first visit can be pointless and another one will be necessary.
There is no specific question you should ask to the surgeon. The treatment and diagnosis is quite simple. Try to think about the reason of his first pneumothorax. If there was no injury, his pneumothorax is/was spontaneous. It is more possible if he smokes. The treatment of spontaneous pneumthorax looks like that:
1. First episode - drainage for 7 days, than closure of drainage for 12 hours and chest x-ray.
2. If no pneumothorax in this x-ray, drainage can be removed.
3. X-ray after a day from drainage removal
4. If pneumothorax has recurred, thoracospoy and pleura removal.
Hope this will help.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you very much.
I am shocked and angry that the hospital discharged him in two and half days.
They did an x-ray at 8am; a CT scan around noon before they stopped oxygen and suction. On the CT scan basis they stopped suction, Oxygen. And they did not even allow 12 hours to pass with oxygen treatment as well as suction (drainage) stopped. There was no x-ray done. Then they removed the chest tube few hours later and let him leave the hospital.
He has had episodes of chest pain and shortness of breath since.
We'll get the x-ray first.
I cannot thank you enough for your advice.
Sincerely!
I am shocked and angry that the hospital discharged him in two and half days.
They did an x-ray at 8am; a CT scan around noon before they stopped oxygen and suction. On the CT scan basis they stopped suction, Oxygen. And they did not even allow 12 hours to pass with oxygen treatment as well as suction (drainage) stopped. There was no x-ray done. Then they removed the chest tube few hours later and let him leave the hospital.
He has had episodes of chest pain and shortness of breath since.
We'll get the x-ray first.
I cannot thank you enough for your advice.
Sincerely!
Brief Answer:
.
Detailed Answer:
I hope he will get well soon.
.
Detailed Answer:
I hope he will get well soon.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
My son got xrays done today and we have images taken on 10/27/2014 and 11/11/2014. Is there a way to upload these? The radiolologist will be checking those when he is available later today or tomorrow but I wanted to get second opinon.
Please let me know. Thanks.
Please let me know. Thanks.
Brief Answer:
.
Detailed Answer:
please try to send them to YYYY@YYYY and mark them for query id 147473.
.
Detailed Answer:
please try to send them to YYYY@YYYY and mark them for query id 147473.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Images were sent with "query id 147473" in Subject Line.
Thank you very much.
Thank you very much.
Brief Answer:
.
Detailed Answer:
On the image taken Oct 27 there is a pneumofhorax on the right side.
However on the picture taken today there is no pneumothorax or inflammation. So this is a good news. Now he can be sure his breathing problems are not caused by any serious issue. He can start train his breathing. And no need to consult thoracic surgeon. However someone should listen to his lungs with stethoscope.
Hope this will help.
.
Detailed Answer:
On the image taken Oct 27 there is a pneumofhorax on the right side.
However on the picture taken today there is no pneumothorax or inflammation. So this is a good news. Now he can be sure his breathing problems are not caused by any serious issue. He can start train his breathing. And no need to consult thoracic surgeon. However someone should listen to his lungs with stethoscope.
Hope this will help.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
That is a great news! I was getting very nervous before your reply.
My son was checked by the doctor at University Health Center with a stethoscope. The doctor said everything seemed fine but he will have radiologist's feedback soon and contact my son if he finds anything because my son has had episodes of chest pain, pressure and shortness of breath. Hopefully, they will go away.
We have bought a Breathing exerciser - Spirometer. Also a few Oxygen for Energy cans (in case of any emergency); I hope that's ok. Can my son travel by air (6-hour plane ride) after December 15th?
I am amazed with this service. Your quick responses and suggestions have calmed an anxious and worried mother down. Thank you so much.
My son was checked by the doctor at University Health Center with a stethoscope. The doctor said everything seemed fine but he will have radiologist's feedback soon and contact my son if he finds anything because my son has had episodes of chest pain, pressure and shortness of breath. Hopefully, they will go away.
We have bought a Breathing exerciser - Spirometer. Also a few Oxygen for Energy cans (in case of any emergency); I hope that's ok. Can my son travel by air (6-hour plane ride) after December 15th?
I am amazed with this service. Your quick responses and suggestions have calmed an anxious and worried mother down. Thank you so much.
Brief Answer:
.
Detailed Answer:
There should be 6 weeks gap between the pneumothorax episode and plane travel. So 15 December seems fine.
.
Detailed Answer:
There should be 6 weeks gap between the pneumothorax episode and plane travel. So 15 December seems fine.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
