Pneumothorax is a collapsed lung, caused by a buildup of air in the space between the lung and chest wall (pleural space). As the volume of air increases, it creates pressure against the lung that causes the lung to collapse and prevents it from expanding. This causes shortness of breath and chest pain. A pneumothorax is usually caused by a chest injury like a broken rib or puncture wound, but it can also result from damage caused by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, cystic fibrosis, and pneumonia.
The following departments see patients with Pneumothorax: