What is pneumothorax?

Pneumothorax is defined as the presence of air in the pleural cavity, which can lead to the lung collapsing on the affected side. When air enters this space, it disrupts the negative pressure system that keeps the lungs inflated, resulting in respiratory distress and chest pain in the affected individual. The causes of pneumothorax can be spontaneous, traumatic, or secondary to certain lung diseases.

The other choices describe different medical conditions. For example, a collection of blood in the chest cavity is known as a hemothorax, not pneumothorax. An infection of the pleura is referred to as pleuritis or pleurisy, and inflammation of the bronchi is termed bronchitis. Each of these conditions has distinct clinical implications and treatments that differ from those for pneumothorax. Understanding these definitions helps in accurately diagnosing and coding medical conditions.