What is the collection of air in the chest around the lungs, which may cause atelectasis?

Pneumothorax is a medical term that describes the collection of air in the chest around the lungs (inside the pleural cavity). It is usually caused by an injury either to the lung or the chest wall. A common complication of pneumothorax is atelectasis. Atelectasis refers to the collapse of a part or the whole lung.

Pulmonary edema refers to the accumulation of fluid in the tissue of the lungs. Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a viral illness that is caused by a virus that is associated with coronavirus. SARS is an airborne virus that causes respiratory disease.

Pulmonary embolism refers to the obstruction of the pulmonary artery, usually by a detached blood clot from the leg or pelvic vein. This causes a stoppage of blood into the lungs; symptoms include shortness of breath, chest pain, fainting, and sometimes death.

Pneumothorax. From “pneumo-“ (air) and “thorax” (chest/torso). This potentially serious condition can prevent patients from getting enough oxygen in the bloodstream. Symptoms include chest pain and shortness of breath. This condition is also known as a “collapsed lung” because it causes the lung to shrink under the pressure of external air. A pulmonary embolism is a blockage of the pulmonary artery, often in the form of a blood clot that has traveled from elsewhere in the body.

Pulmonary edema is a buildup of fluid (not air) inside the lungs (not outside). It’s similar to pneumothorax in that they can both present chest pains and shortness of breath, but the causes are very different. Finally, SARS is a viral infection that starts with flu-like symptoms. Fortunately, no new SARS infections have been reported since 2004.