Lung rupture

Question

Is there any method to regularly control the lung in a way that 100 percent of the complete area are examined in order to find out if there is a new lung rupture, without the need for the patient to swallow a tube?

I tried to obtain info via telephone and was referred to the expert advice. I hope you can help me.

Bye for now,
best greetings,

Answer

Hello,

a lung rupture is the colloquial term for what brings about a pneumothorax. The surface of the lung is ruptured, thus a connection between the airways and the pleural space occurs, air enters the pleural space, the lung collapses (in the majority of cases only one of both lobes) and does not work properly anymore. This we call a pneumothorax or, in short, a pneu (air in the pleural space).

When there is no pneumothorax, the layers of the pleura touch each other and there is no air between them, but only a bit of a special anti-friction fluid.

However, if there is a pneumothorax, then you can see an inflated space between the chest wall and the surface of the lung in an X-ray. If you cannot see such a pneumothorax, you can be confident that a rupture of the lung surface does not exist.
The conclusion for your question is: With a radiographic examination a lung rupture can (indirectly) be excluded to a large and sufficient degree; but that does not mean that there is a guarantee that the lung surface will not rupture again.
But only the physician you regularly see and who knows you better is actually qualified to explain your personal risk, and whether such a preventive and assuring examination should be recommended.
With kind regards,
Prof. Dr. TOF Wagner

24.11.2008