Difficulty breathing, including breathlessness, chest pain and throat irritation - these are typical signs for you Ruptured lung. A tear in the tissue of the lungs is usually due to external force, diving, or a lung disease. If a lung tear is suspected, a specialist should be consulted immediately - either a respiratory specialist (pulmonologist) or a lung specialist (pulmonologist).
What is a ruptured lung?
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A ruptured lung is an injury to the lungs that can lead to complications. There is a tear in the tissue of the lungs, which allows air to escape from the lungs. At the same time, air enters the lungs through the pleural gap, the gap between the pleura and the pleura, which is why the negative pressure in the organ falls.
Breathing causes considerable problems - the result is a collapsed lung or so-called pneumothorax. This occurs when the lungs or pleura are injured. and can even be life-threatening.
If a torn lung is suspected, medical advice and appropriate help should be sought in any case. The doctor primarily ensures ventilation with oxygen and takes measures against the urge to cough. In severe cases, he will perform an air suction or lay a drainage.
causes
It has been proven that it is impossible for a healthy person to consciously cause a tear in the lungs. As for the exact cause of a ruptured lung, the final clarification is still pending.
A lung tear is apparently based on three causes: In addition to a disease of the lungs, this includes external violence and diving. Pneumonia and pulmonary tuberculosis as well as pleurisy and lung cancer are among the lung diseases that make the lungs torn. An external force that can lead to a tear in the lungs consists of pressure shocks on the chest (e.g. in the event of an explosion) while the mouth is closed.
Divers can tear their lungs from climbing too quickly. This occurs when the increasing air in the lungs cannot escape when the external pressure drops. In this case, it is referred to as air trapping. Cramping of the glottis caused by breathing in drops of water can also injure the lungs because the air cannot escape.
Symptoms, ailments & signs
A tear in the lungs initially manifests itself as acute shortness of breath. Sufferers suddenly find it difficult to breathe, breathe faster than usual and usually suffer a panic attack. In addition to breathing difficulties that occur independently of physical exertion, there are usually also sudden chest pain, which is usually limited to one side.
When taking deep breaths, stabbing pain occurs in the area of the lungs, which only slowly subside. Often deep breaths are no longer possible because the pain is too intense. If there is no immediate treatment, breathable air can enter the pulmonary veins and cause an embolism. In extreme cases, this cuts off the blood supply to the brain, the spinal cord or the convulsive vessels.
This can lead to neurological failures, paralysis and cardiovascular complaints up to heart failure or circulatory collapse. At the same time, the organs and individual systems in the body fail. Usually the blood pressure rises and the heart rate increases. As a result of a ruptured lung, there is usually an inner restlessness, combined with sleep disorders and increased irritability. In the course of the disease, the muscles initially fail before multiple organ failure and ultimately death of the person affected.
Diagnosis & course
A tear in the lung does not always have to be associated with specific symptoms - it can even be symptom-free. But this is more the exception than the rule. In addition to chest pain, breathlessness and difficulty breathing are usually the main indicators of a ruptured lung. Sudden shortness of breath combined with rapid breathing despite physical rest as well as pain on one side of the body in the chest area and an urge to cough are unmistakable signs of a ruptured lung. With a ruptured lung, deep breathing is usually hardly possible - the pain is usually too great. The pain increases with exercise.
In extreme cases, air bubbles can block the blood flow in the arteries of the spinal cord, in the coronary arteries and embolic occlusions in the brain. The result is a collapse of the lungs with pneumothorax. Depending on the course of the disease, the lung tear can lead to respiratory failure, which is ultimately life threatening.
If you suspect a ruptured lung, you should act immediately. Both a pulmonologist (respiratory specialist) and a pulmonologist (lung specialist) can help. By listening and tapping on the upper body of the person affected, the doctor is able to detect any injury to the lungs with great certainty. If no breathing sound can be heard and the chest sounds hollow when you tap it, this indicates a ruptured lung.
An X-ray then turns the suspicion into certainty. In addition, ultrasound provides further information for smaller cracks. A computed tomography - albeit very costly and time-consuming - rounds off the picture. With their help, not only can the actual injury be identified, but also other wounds and diseases that are related to the tear in the lungs.
Complications
A ruptured lung is a very serious complaint. It must be examined and treated immediately by a doctor, otherwise the patient will die. Those affected suffer primarily from various breathing difficulties as a result of the ruptured lung. This can also lead to breathlessness and severe chest pain.
The reduced supply of oxygen can also severely damage the brain and internal organs, resulting in irreversible consequential damage.Furthermore, the patients suffer from an urge to cough and are severely restricted in their lives. The insufficient supply of oxygen can also lead to a loss of consciousness. As a rule, this results in tiredness and a reduced resilience of the patient.
The tear in the lungs can also lead to pain, although the pain continues to increase, especially with exertion. Treatment of this complaint must be carried out in a hospital or by an emergency doctor. Otherwise the patient will die.
There are no complications with the treatment itself. The further course of this complaint depends heavily on the time of treatment and the general condition of the patient. Life expectancy may also be reduced due to the tear in the lung.
When should you go to the doctor?
A tear in the lung can occur in different degrees of severity, so that it is not always necessary to see a doctor. A small hairline crack in the lungs can heal completely without medical attention. Symptoms or pain do not occur in such a case, so the person affected often does not even notice the tear in the lungs. However, if the crack is larger, acute shortness of breath can occur.
Affected people must be given medical attention, otherwise there is even a risk of death from suffocation. Such a crack no longer grows on its own, which is why inpatient treatment in the hospital is essential. A tear in the lung can only be healed completely and promptly through medical treatment and medication. If the person concerned does not seek treatment by a doctor, serious complications and exacerbations can be expected. Under certain circumstances, permanent consequential damage can even occur to the lungs, so that a perfect recovery is not possible. For this reason, a visit to the doctor must not be delayed. The bigger the tear in the lungs, the more acute and stronger the pain when breathing in and out.
Treatment & Therapy
As a rule, every tear in the lung requires treatment: only a small, spontaneously occurring tear in the lung that does not cause any discomfort does not require medical treatment. Otherwise, if a lung tear is diagnosed, first aid must be provided immediately. If the ruptured lung is not treated immediately, an arterial gas embolism can occur when breathing air enters the pulmonary veins.
An immobilization of the upper body in an upright position must be initiated immediately. If the person concerned is a diver, work towards warming up his body. In the event of unconsciousness, the transfer to a stable side position with simultaneous control of breathing and blood pressure has top priority. If the person concerned is under medical care, they must be supplied with pure oxygen for breathing. In the event of a resuscitation, oxygen as pure as possible should also be used.
If ventilation is stationary, this is done either using a face mask, a nasogastric tube or a breathing bag. In severe cases, it may be necessary to insert a thin tube into the side of the chest - an incision will make this possible. This allows air to escape from the chest cavity.
You can find your medication here
➔ Medication for shortness of breath and lung problemsOutlook & forecast
A tear in the lung can be treated well, which leads to a good chance of recovery. This applies even more to minor injuries. These even heal on their own with appropriate care. An additional administration of oxygen even leads to faster improvement. If there is a large tear in the lung, the accumulation of air in the chest can be drained off through a tube. Doctors around the world are trained for this. Complications are very rare and mostly affect smokers. Some scientists see an increased risk of a ruptured lung occurring again after it has healed in the first three months.
If left untreated, a tear in the lung often has serious consequences. Above all, a life-threatening collapse of the lung threatens. In addition to patients with an existing lung disease, divers also belong to the risk group. The latter, however, often know about the danger and are trained in first aid measures. The fact that emergency measures are taken immediately in the event of an acute illness is considered the best way to achieve a lasting cure. Once organ damage has occurred due to a ruptured lung, it can usually not be repaired. The patient then only has a life with great limitations. Life expectancy is comparatively low.
prevention
Divers can prevent ruptured lungs by avoiding coughing underwater and holding breath. It is imperative that divers generally refrain from smoking. If you have a slight cold, the planned dive should be postponed to a later date.
A regular fitness test - preferably once a year - should be a "must" for a diver anyway. Listening to the airways and examining lung function promise safety for the next dive - enough air to breathe. So the freestyle succeeds without any problems.
Aftercare
The ruptured lung is a serious illness for those affected and must be treated immediately by a doctor, otherwise the person concerned will die. Those affected suffer from constant urge to cough and are permanently restricted in their life and everyday life. They depend on the help and support of relatives.
Those affected often have to take care of themselves even after the actual treatment. Regular check-up appointments with the attending physician ensure complete observation and can prevent further complications from occurring. The further course after treatment depends on the time of treatment and the health of the person concerned. Whether the life expectancy is shortened by the torn lung varies from case to case.
You can do that yourself
If the lung ruptures, first aid must first be provided. While the emergency doctor is being called, the person affected must be brought into a stable lateral position. It must also be ensured that the injured person can breathe and that there are no other injuries.
The tear in the lungs then requires a medical examination and treatment. The sufferer can use a few strategies and tips to aid medical therapy and promote recovery. This primarily includes protection. A ruptured lung is usually caused by a serious lung disease or injury that needs to be cured well to avoid complications. If breathing difficulties occur - this can be the case in the first few months after an operation - it is best to inform the doctor. In addition to the drugs prescribed, breathing and relaxation exercises can improve the flow of breath.
Conscious relaxation also helps against panic attacks, for example through exercises from yoga or traditional Chinese medicine. Coughing can be counteracted with the help of herbal tea or warm milk. In the case of severe chest pain, cooling pads or warmth help, depending on the nature of the complaints and the recommendations of the doctor.
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