Steritalc Sterile Talc For The Treatment Of Pneumothorax

SELBY, U.K. - March 15, 2013 - PRLog -- Pneumothorax is accumulation of air or gas in the space between the lung and the chest wall. The lungs are lined with a double layer of membrane (pleura) , the inner one covers the lung surface and the outer covers the inside of the chest wall, this is separated from the chest wall is trapped between a lung and the chest wall, or pleural space, it’s called a pneumothorax.

Once air is drawn into this space, it cannot easily escape and the air compresses the lung which may interfere with normal breathing. Pneumothorax can occur due to a hole that develops in the lung, this allows air to escape in the pleural space, this causes the lung to partially or completely collapse.

What Can Cause Pneumothorax?
There are a number of causes of Pneumothorax:

Spontaneous Pneumothorax – A small air sac present from birth can burst due to strenuous exercise. These air sacs are not as strong as the normal lung tissue and are referred to as blebs.

Secondary spontaneous Pneumothorax – This occurs as a complication or a secondary event when a patient is suffering from a pre-existing lung condition such as lung disease. The lung disease weakens the lungs, making them weaker and more prone to tear.

Traumatic Pneumothorax – Caused by chest injury such as a broken rib or by stabbing to the chest.

What Are The Symptoms of Pneumothorax?
There are a number of symptoms of Pneumothorax, the severity of the symptoms dependant on the amount of air trapped in the pleural space. These symptoms include:

A sharp stabbing pain to one side of the chest
The stabbing pain increases when breathing in
Becoming breathless – The larger the pneumothorax the harder it is to breathe

How Is Pneumothorax Treated?
Depending on the severity of the pneumothorax different treatments can be carried out. For small pneumothorax, the best course of action maybe to allow it to clear naturally. Pain killers maybe prescribed to manage the pain caused.

For more serious pneumothorax, the excess air in the pleural space will need to be drained. In order to do this, a needle and syringe are used to release the gas. As pneumothorax can re-occur, an irritant such as talc is used as an adhesive between the chest wall and the pleura, sticking the two together and helping to inflate the lungs. Steritalc is one such sterile talc used by professionals around the world to treat pneumothorax.