Le pneumothorax refers to a pathology affecting the pleural cavity, a virtual space located between the lungs and the rib cage. We speak of pneumothorax when this cavity fills with air or gas, causing one or both lungs to detach and retract on itself. Pneumothorax can be spontaneous (its origin is then unknown), traumatic or secondary to lung disease. It is essentially characterized by a sudden chest pain sometimes associated with difficulty in breathing. Most often, pneumothorax is unilateral. Treatment varies depending on the type of pneumothorax: some progress spontaneously to recovery after being put to rest, while others require surgery.

The inner part of the rib cage and the outer part of the lungs are each covered with a thin membrane, the pleura, sliding on top of each other during breathing movements. The pleural cavity, a virtual space present between these two pleura, sometimes fills with air or gas. This phenomenon is called pneumothorax.

There are several types of pneumothorax depending on the responsible cause:

• Primary, idiopathic pneumothorax ou spontaneous primitive : This is the most common form of pneumothorax. It occurs most often in young, healthy men and is often a small pneumothorax in healthy lungs, and easily healing. It is usually due to the spontaneous rupture of a bubble in the lung.
• Secondary pneumothorax : pneumothorax caused by disease of the lungs, including emphysema, fibrosis pulmonary asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, infectious pulmonary disease, more rarely cancer.
• Traumatic pneumothorax : accidental pneumothorax (caused by an injury, such as a knife), or pneumothorax iatrogenic (following a medical puncture or surgery).

Pneumothorax is manifested by

• pain localized in the rib cage, ranging from a simple discomfort to severe pain depending on its importance,
• difficulty breathing (especially when breathing in) and a dry cough. The difficulty breathing, which occurs suddenly, generates anxiety,
• a cough.

Depending on the size of the pneumothorax, complications can occur: tachycardia (increased heart rate) and cyanose (blue coloration of the skin and mucous membranes).

In 75% of cases, primary spontaneous pneumothorax affects young (about 35 years old), tall and thin men. The risk of pneumothorax is especially high in people with lung disease. Smoking increases the risk of pneumothorax. People who have had one or more pneumothoraxes are at risk of recurrence.

Le tabagisme is implicated in nearly 90% of pneumothorax cases. Scuba diving, the practice of a wind instrument and altitude promote the occurrence of pneumothorax. Lung disease increases the risk of pneumothorax.

Clinical observation may allow the physician to notice a asymmetry at the level of the lungs at the level of the sound at the percussion of the affected side (tympanism, a hollow sound). Likewise, on auscultation, the doctor may no longer hear the breath of the breath well, and when he asks to say “33”, the sound no longer vibrates the rib cage on the affected side. These signs will guide his diagnosis and are especially present if the pneumothorax is important. It will be confirmed by a x-ray of the lungs. The images obtained will highlight a detachment of the lung (s).

The choice of which treatment to adopt depends on the type of pneumothorax, the severity of the symptoms and the responsible cause. In case of spontaneous pneumothorax, a period of repos is recommended, sometimes accompanied by a drug treatment based onanalgesics. Healing is observed in a few days up to 2 or 3 weeks.

When the pneumothorax is more important, the doctor can evacuate the air, with a needle, a specific catheter or by placing a drain in the pleural space. This is done under local anesthesia, and healing usually occurs within a few days.

In cases where the pneumothorax is very disabling, very important, recurrent, cannot be cured by these means, or in the event of risky practices (diving), the doctor may decide on a surgical intervention. There are several types of surgical interventions whose goal is to join the two pleural membranes so that they can no longer move away from each other to let air pass: pleural talcage (insertion of talc between the two pleura), pleural abrasion (abrasion of the two pleura in order to make them stick together).

Prevention is based on reducing risk factors (smoking, scuba diving, wind instruments, altitude). When a person has had pneumothorax in the past, it has a 5 in 2 risk of recurrence. If a second pneumothorax occurs, the risk of recurrence increases to one in two. In the third episode, there is a four in five chance of having a new pneumothorax. It is therefore strongly recommended to stop smoking when you have had a pneumothorax, because smoking increases the risk of recurrence by 4! It is forbidden to scuba dive with a bottle if you have already had an unoperated pneumothorax.

Complementary approaches to pneumothorax focus only on its symptoms and do not claim to cure it itself.

Against anxiety

The Bach flowers propose to act against the anxiety generated by the difficulty in breathing caused by pneumothorax. The most suitable remedy is Rescue, the role of which would be to reduce stress.

Likewise, certain essential oils are used for people who are under intense stress because of the symptoms (pain, cough, breathing difficulties, etc.):

• Lavandin super essential oil (Lavender burns super),
• Mandarin essential oil (Citrus reticulata),
• Petitgrain essential oil (Citrus aurantium ssp aurantium),
• Ylan-ylang essential oil (Cananga odorata).

These are to be applied to the solar plexus.

In homeopathy, we will opt for Ignatia amara and Strophantus in 9 CH at the rate of three granules three times a day.