Pneumothoraces are classified as simple (no shift of mediastinal structures), tension (shift in mediastinal structures present), or open (air passing through an open chest wound). Atraumatic pneumothoraces are further divided into primary (unknown etiology) and secondary (patient with an underlying pulmonary disease). Iatrogenic pneumothorax is a traumatic pneumothorax that results from injury to the pleura, with air introduced into the pleural cavity secondary to a diagnostic or therapeutic medical intervention.
Traumatic pneumothoraces occur secondary to penetrating or blunt trauma, or they are iatrogenic. Pneumothoraces can be traumatic or atraumatic. This places pressure on the lung and can lead to its collapse and a shift of the surrounding structures. The air is outside the lung but inside the thoracic cavity.
Pneumothorax is the collapse of the lung when air accumulates between the parietal and visceral pleura inside the chest.
