Ruptured Lungs

meownsmile, BSN, RN · May 9, 2006

I have no idea what you are talking about. There are pneumothroax, tension pneumothorax, and other problems that can arise from the type of surgery being performed. Maybe she needs to discuss her concerns if any with her doctor. But im sure the doctor has probly already discussed the situation with her lungs with her already. Maybe you should ask her, or maybe just maybe she isnt willing to share what her doctor explained to her.

Maybe just be supportive and hope for the best and a quick recovery.

Spritenurse1210, BSN, RN · May 9, 2006

she told me her lungs "popped" during surgery. I have never heard of this either.

S-LVN_youngen · May 9, 2006

maybe the alveoli and bronchi got over worked by the O2 which she was connected with while surgery.. iono not sure... im a student here and that was jus my 2 cents...

zacarias, ASN, RN · May 11, 2006

It sounds like the OP could be referring to a bleb that ruptured...

Spritenurse1210, BSN, RN · May 11, 2006

she told me she woke up to a chest tube on both sides

epiphany · May 11, 2006

If she had chest tubes, sounds like she had pneumothorax. Her lungs didn't rupture. The pleural spaces were punctured and her lungs collapsed because it is the negative pressure in this space that holds the lungs open. Once punctured, air leaks into this space and whoosh! pneumothorax.

What kind of surgery did she have?

EricJRN, MSN, RN · May 11, 2006

How does a pleural space get punctured? It sounds like the OP is on track here. It usually is air from a small leak (or rupture) in the lung tissue that fills the pleural space with air and compresses the lung parenchyma.

If she had chest tubes, sounds like she had pneumothorax. Her lungs didn't rupture. The pleural spaces were punctured and her lungs collapsed because it is the negative pressure in this space that holds the lungs open. Once punctured, air leaks into this space and whoosh! pneumothorax.
What kind of surgery did she have?

Spritenurse1210, BSN, RN · May 11, 2006

If she had chest tubes, sounds like she had pneumothorax. Her lungs didn't rupture. The pleural spaces were punctured and her lungs collapsed because it is the negative pressure in this space that holds the lungs open. Once punctured, air leaks into this space and whoosh! pneumothorax.
What kind of surgery did she have?

Some kind of surgery on her vocal cords. from birth she had HPV settle in her vocal cords and her lungs. i'm not sure why they did surgery.

epiphany · May 11, 2006

Some kind of surgery on her vocal cords. from birth she had HPV settle in her vocal cords and her lungs. i'm not sure why they did surgery.

Pneumothorax is a risk factor is any surgery in the chest area. That's all anyone can tell you without knowing much more.

Rocknurse, MSN, APRN, NP · May 11, 2006

Ruptured lungs could be caused by too much pressure or too much volume from a ventilator but this would have to be a huge volume or pressure to rupture the lungs of a fairly young and healthy person unless they already had comliance issues. If this were true, I would also expect a law suit against the anesthesiologist. I'm quite sure that the odds of rupturing both lungs simultaneoulsly is not only a medical emergency but also a rarety with a chance of something like one in a million.

meownsmile, BSN, RN · May 11, 2006

I still say just be supportive and dont look for reasons for things you dont know the details of. I know you are curious but again i say these are personal issues between her and her doctor and any information or opinions you may get on this site have no relation to her particular case. Be careful, you ask to many questions about something she obviously has shared very few details of with you and you may lose a friend. Please respect her privacy.