Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Pneumothorax-I

Pneumothorax-I

A pneumothorax is a condition where air builds up in the space between the lung and the chest wall, causing the lung to collapse. This condition arises when air enters the space between the parietal and visceral pleura, disrupting the negative pressure essential for lung inflation. This can lead to a partial or complete collapse of the lung.
Pneumothorax can be even further classified as spontaneous, traumatic, and tension pneumothorax.

Pneumothorax-II

Pneumothorax-II

Pneumothorax is a medical condition defined by the buildup of air in the pleural space between the lungs and the chest wall. This accumulation of air can lead to partial or complete lung collapse, resulting in a range of clinical manifestations. Understanding the clinical presentation and effective management strategies is crucial for healthcare professionals in providing timely and appropriate care to individuals with pneumothorax.
Clinical Manifestations:

Pneumothorax II: Pathophysiology

Pneumothorax II: Pathophysiology

Pneumothorax means the presence of air in the pleural space — the thin potential gap between the visceral and parietal pleura. This condition disrupts the normal pressure balance that keeps the lungs inflated, leading to partial or complete collapse of the affected lung.Normal physiologyUnder normal conditions, the pleural space maintains a slightly negative intrapleural pressure, which keeps the lungs expanded against the chest wall. This negative pressure creates a delicate balance between...

Pneumonia I: Introduction

Pneumonia I: Introduction

Pneumonia is an acute respiratory infection that targets the lungs, specifically the alveoli. These tiny air sacs, essential for oxygen exchange, become engorged with pus and fluid, severely hindering breathing, decreasing oxygen absorption, and causing significant pain and discomfort during respiration.
Risk Factors
Various factors influence the likelihood of developing pneumonia. Age plays a crucial role, with infants, children under two, and individuals over 65 at increased risk due to their...

Pneumonia I: Introduction

Pneumonia I: Introduction

Pneumonia is an infection of the lower respiratory tract that leads to inflammation of the lung parenchyma, often resulting in the accumulation of inflammatory exudate in the alveoli and airways. Unlike the watery, low-protein fluid exudate in pulmonary edema, the exudate in this case is a thick fluid rich in immune cells, proteins, and debris produced during infection and inflammation.This impairs gas exchange and can lead to consolidation of lung tissue. The infection may be caused by a...

Pneumonia III: Complications and Assessment

Pneumonia III: Complications and Assessment

Pneumonia poses the potential for numerous complications that warrant consideration. These complications include the following:

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Fissios and postoperative complications (FPoC trial): a multicentre, randomised, controlled clinical trial.

BMJ open respiratory research·2026

Same author

Correction: Jannus et al. A Diamine-PEGylated Oleanolic Acid Derivative Induced Efficient Apoptosis through a Death Receptor and Mitochondrial Apoptotic Pathway in HepG2 Human Hepatoma Cells. <i>Biomolecules</i> 2020, <i>10</i>, 1375.

Biomolecules·2026

Same author

An integrated molecular characterization and simulation study of chain length effects on PFAS adsorption at hydrophobic interfaces.

Water research·2026

Same author

Understanding LUng Cancer risk factors and their Impact Assessment (LUCIA): protocol for multicentre observational cohort study.

BMJ open·2026

Same author

Robotic thoracic surgery: association between operative time and complications in 454 patients.

Cirugia espanola·2026

Same author

Influence of Robotic and Thoracoscopic Surgery on Early Postoperative Systemic Inflammatory Response in Patients With Surgically Treated Lung Cancer-Preliminary Results.

The international journal of medical robotics + computer assisted surgery : MRCAS·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 15, 2026

International Expert Consensus and Recommendations for Neonatal Pneumothorax Ultrasound Diagnosis and Ultrasound-guided Thoracentesis Procedure

International Expert Consensus and Recommendations for Neonatal Pneumothorax Ultrasound Diagnosis and Ultrasound-guided Thoracentesis Procedure

Published on: March 12, 2020

Spontaneous pneumomediastinum: 41 cases.

Ivan Macia¹, Juan Moya, Ricard Ramos

¹Department of Thoracic Surgery, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Feixa Llarga s/n, 08907-L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain. ivanmacia@yahoo.com

European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery : Official Journal of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery

|April 11, 2007

Summary

Spontaneous pneumomediastinum is a benign condition affecting young men, often presenting with chest pain and dyspnea. This review highlights its favorable prognosis with conservative medical management.

More Related Videos

Robotic-assisted Left Pneumonectomy For Vanishing Lung Syndrome

Robotic-assisted Left Pneumonectomy For Vanishing Lung Syndrome

Published on: January 23, 2026

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 15, 2026

International Expert Consensus and Recommendations for Neonatal Pneumothorax Ultrasound Diagnosis and Ultrasound-guided Thoracentesis Procedure

International Expert Consensus and Recommendations for Neonatal Pneumothorax Ultrasound Diagnosis and Ultrasound-guided Thoracentesis Procedure

Published on: March 12, 2020

Robotic-assisted Left Pneumonectomy For Vanishing Lung Syndrome

Robotic-assisted Left Pneumonectomy For Vanishing Lung Syndrome

Published on: January 23, 2026

Area of Science:

Thoracic medicine
Diagnostic imaging
Pulmonology

Background:

Spontaneous pneumomediastinum (SPM) is characterized by air in the mediastinum without a clear cause.
It primarily affects young adults and can mimic other acute chest conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

To review and discuss clinical experience with spontaneous pneumomediastinum.
To understand the presentation, diagnosis, and management of SPM.

Main Methods:

Retrospective descriptive study of 41 patients diagnosed with SPM between 1990 and 2006.
Data collected on patient demographics, symptoms, signs, diagnostic methods, and treatment outcomes.

Main Results:

The mean age was 21 years; 83% were male. Asthma history was noted in 22%.
Chest pain (85%) and dyspnea (49%) were common. Subcutaneous emphysema occurred in 71%.
All patients recovered with conservative treatment (rest, analgesia, oxygen); mean hospital stay was 5 days with low recurrence.

Conclusions:

Spontaneous pneumomediastinum is a benign condition, predominantly seen in young men.
It requires a high index of suspicion for accurate diagnosis in acute chest pain scenarios.
Effective medical management leads to good outcomes with minimal recurrence.