| pneumothorax, artificial | Injection of air or a more slowly absorbed gas such as nitrogen, into the pleural space to collapse the lung. It was formerly used to treat pulmonary tuberculosis. (12 Dec 1998) |
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| pneumothorax simplex | Pneumothorax, without known cause, in an otherwise healthy person. (05 Mar 2000) |
| pressure pneumothorax | A variety of spontaneous pneumothorax in which air enters the pleural cavity and is trapped during expiration; intrathoracic pressure builds to values higher than atmospheric pressure, compresses the lung, and may displace the mediastinum and its structures toward the opposite side, with consequent disadvantageous effects on blood flow. Synonym: pressure pneumothorax, valvular pneumothorax. (05 Mar 2000) |
| prominence of venous valvular sinus | A slight eminence on the external wall of a vein correlating with the valvular sinus immediately proximal to the leaflets of the venous valve. Synonym: agger valvae venae. (05 Mar 2000) |
| spontaneous pneumothorax | A sudden collapse of the lung that occurs as the result of a tear in the lung tissue. May be seen after strenuous activity, coughing or straining. Thin males are at greatest risk for this disorder. (27 Sep 1997) |
| open pneumothorax | A free communication between the atmosphere and the pleural space either via the lung or through the chest wall. Synonym: sucking wound. (05 Mar 2000) |
| tension pneumothorax | A variety of spontaneous pneumothorax in which air enters the pleural cavity and is trapped during expiration; intrathoracic pressure builds to values higher than atmospheric pressure, compresses the lung, and may displace the mediastinum and its structures toward the opposite side, with consequent disadvantageous effects on blood flow. Synonym: pressure pneumothorax, valvular pneumothorax. (05 Mar 2000) |
| therapeutic pneumothorax | Pneumothorax designed to create some pulmonary parenchymal collapse, diaphragmatic immobilization, or both. (05 Mar 2000) |
| extrapleural pneumothorax | The presence of a gas between the endothoracic fascia-pleural layer and the adjacent chest wall. (05 Mar 2000) |