Pneumo thorax

Just got home from the second pneumothorax event following PM implant less than a week ago. Both times were a 90% lung collapse requiring a chest tube plus vacumn evacuation. I am hoping the "seal" holds this time. I haven't seen comments from any others having had this complication from PM placement. If there are any, please advise what long-term experience has been. The surgeon said that since there was a physical cause e.g. he nicked the lung, the risk for future spontaneous collapses is very low once I get the original nick healed but some reassurance would be great.

2 Comments

happened to me

by jm48 - 2009-11-25 06:11:08

I don't know how severe it was, I don't think it was 90%, but I got the chest tube and pump. That was back in early august. I think there was some nerve damage as there was an area in left front of my chest that was numb after they took out the tube. I think it has been slowly healing, that area is now a little bit sore to the touch. The lung however is back to 100%. That I'm sure of. I'm a trumpet player and I'm back playing pretty much at full strength. I don't know how much you know about trumpet playing, but to play trumpet you have to basically turn yourself into a compressed air cylinder, so the lung must have healed up really well to be putting up with that again.

Jesse

pneumothorax

by riodog - 2009-12-06 11:12:27

Hi Pelelives.
I sent a comment but didn't do it correctly so it's sitting by itself under complications. Please check if you want to.

gretchen

You know you're wired when...

You fondly named your implanted buddy.

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