10 Causes of Fluid In The Lungs
Reviewed: Dr. Gromatzky
Cause #5: Re-Expansion of a Collapsed Lung
In cases of pneumothorax, otherwise known as a collapsed lung, patients can develop pulmonary edema or fluid in the lungs secondary to a rapid re-expansion. Rapid lung re-expansion happens more commonly in patients with large pneumothoraces, patients who had the pneumothorax for more than a week, and those who have had more than three liters of pleural fluid drained from their lungs.
The quickly expanding lung can cause fluid to drain into the alveoli because of damaged blood vessels as a result of the collapsed lung. This complication can lead to severe comorbidities and death. Thus, patients with a pneumothorax need immediate medical attention to prevent accumulation of fluid in the lungs.
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