Collapsed lung (or pneumothorax) occurs when air enters between the lung membrane and the pleura, causing the affected lung to collapse so that it can’t be used for breathing anymore. This constitutes an emergency situation. Smokers and tall people are affected more often.
Air between the lung membrane and the pleura causes the affected lung to collapse. This strongly impairs breathing, because gas exchange in the collapsed lung is not possible anymore. This condition can be separated into a closed pneumothorax without a connection to the outside air, and an open pneumothorax with a connection to the outside air either via the bronchial system or the chest wall. It can further be separated into a spontaneous (idiopathic) pneumothorax, which usually affects younger, sportive men or persons with a previous condition of the lung, a traumatic pneumothorax, that can be caused by a hit, stab or shot and a pneumothorax induced by medical manipulation. A serious complication is the tension pneumothorax, where air can enter the pleura upon inhaling, but can’t escape upon exhaling. This valve mechanism increases pressure inside the chest area, so that even the heart and the other lung will be impaired in their function.
Patients with a collapsed lung suffer from a sudden, stabbing pain on the affected side of the chest when breathing, as well as from breathlessness and coughing. Sometimes, air can be felt under the skin (subcutaneous emphysema).
An experienced doctor will often notice asymmetric movements of the chest while breathing. While listening to the heart and lung with a stethoscope, there will be no sound on the affected side. If they do an x-ray, the lung collapse will be visible. A drain with suction will be placed between lung membrane and pleura. If this is not sufficient, the leak needs to be treated surgically. If it is a tension pneumothorax, an emergency treatment needs to bring relief. A tension pneumothorax can occur again and again.
Several years of work in academia, medical practice and finally commercialization make it possible to provide an end-to-end process to help users to “find the appropriate medical help based on their present symptoms”. Below you will find a short explanation, showing you which part of the platform will help you best in finding the appropriate medical support.
Proceed as follows to enter your current symptoms.
Click on the appropriate body part on the picture. Select one/multiple symptoms corresponding to your complaint.
You can also add symptoms by typing your medical complaint in the search box and selecting the best matching suggestion.
Note: Your information will be kept anonymously.
Once you have selected all applicable symptoms, click the “analyze disease pattern”-button.
Accordingly, you will get a list of possible diseases and matching doctor categories who can further help you.
You can inform yourself about the possible diseases by reading the related information. But you can also return to the previous step and add more symptoms or delete already added ones to further narrow down your disease pattern.
Click on the desired doctor category to find a doctor who can help you.
If you are logged in with your profile, you will be displayed the appropriate doctors in your area. Otherwise you can enter an address in the “address” field and you will be displayed a doctor’s list around that specified address.
You will receive further information about the displayed doctors when you press on “details”.
Online bookable doctors in your area will be indicated with the notation “Book appointment” or “Book externally”, additionally they will be displayed on top of the list for your convenience.
Click on “Book appointment” to start the online appointment booking process with the desired doctor.
Please select an available appointment. “Green“ appointments are booked directly. “Red“ appointments need to be confirmed by the doctor.
Enter your general personal and health information.
Enter your present medical symptoms.
Enter your mobile phone number to identify yourself and you can finalize the appointment booking.
Name
Email address
Type your message here