Page 1 of 2 Going Home with a Collapsed Lung (Pneumothorax) or Blood Behind the Lung (Hemothorax)
About your injury ☐ Blood behind the lung (hemothorax)
☐ Collapsed lung (pneumothorax) Your injury caused bleeding inside your chest. Blood is trapped between your chest wall and the lung. The injury to your chest caused your lung to collapse. This happens when air is trapped between A mild case will go away on its own. If a large the chest wall and the lung. The air puts pressure on amount of blood is trapped, we will insert a tube into the lung so it cannot expand when you take a breath. your chest to remove the blood. If the tube does not drain enough of the blood, you may need surgery. It A mild case will go away on its own. If a large may take 6 to 8 weeks before you feel normal. amount of air is trapped, we will insert a tube into your chest to remove the air. This allows the lung When you go home to expand to normal size. It may take 6 to 8 weeks before you feel normal. • Take your medicines as directed by your doctor.
• Use your spirometer (machine to strengthen lungs). Do the deep breathing and coughing exercises at least 4 times a day.
• Keep the bandage on for 48 hours. If the bandage comes loose, add more tape to form a tight seal. Lung • You may shower 48 hours after you remove the bandage.
• Do not sit in a bath, hot tub, or swimming pool until the wound has healed. Healing usually takes 7 to 10 days.
• Slowly increase your daily activity.
Trapped air • Do not travel by airplane for four weeks.
For informational purposes only. Not to replace the advice of your health care provider. Image copyright © Alila07 | Dreamstime.com. Copyright © 2013 Fairview Health Services in collaboration with University of Minnesota Physicians. All rights reserved. SMARTworks 521421 – 06/13. Page 2 of 2
Follow-up If you have any questions, call
Be sure to go to your follow-up visit. You may need Our nurse: 612-624-0665 to have a chest X-ray. (during office hours) The hospital: 612-273-3000 Staff will call you to schedule your next visit. (after hours, ask for the provider on call for trauma) Return to the emergency department if you notice:
• Fever over 101.5°F (38.6°C)
• Increased shortness of breath
• Cough that does not go away, or you cough up blood
• Drainage from your wound
• You feel weak, dizzy, or faint.
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