What is the direct result of pneumothorax?

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Multiple Choice

What is the direct result of pneumothorax?

Pneumothorax introduces air into the pleural space, which eliminates the negative pressure that normally keeps the lung stretched against the chest wall. Without that suction, the lung’s elastic recoil pulls it inward and it collapses, resulting in atelectasis (a collapsed lung). The other scenarios aren’t direct results of air in the pleural space: edema is fluid buildup in the lungs, a pulmonary embolism is a blood clot blocking a pulmonary artery, and increased surfactant production is not caused by pneumothorax.

Pneumothorax introduces air into the pleural space, which eliminates the negative pressure that normally keeps the lung stretched against the chest wall. Without that suction, the lung’s elastic recoil pulls it inward and it collapses, resulting in atelectasis (a collapsed lung). The other scenarios aren’t direct results of air in the pleural space: edema is fluid buildup in the lungs, a pulmonary embolism is a blood clot blocking a pulmonary artery, and increased surfactant production is not caused by pneumothorax.

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