Don...Hope Chris gets better soon...How did his lung puncture in the first place..?
All have a good night.
Steamhead - I have really learned a lot the past few days regarding collapsed lungs. In Chris' situation it was NOT the result of trauma, but a condition on the exterior wall of the lung. A small area had what was reffered to as a BLEB, which is kinda like a pimple or a cyst. According to Dr, been there since birth. Anyway this Bleb, errupts or opens creating a whole in the lung, again quite small, and the air evacuates and fills in the chest cavity. Chris had a 30% collapse of the lung. This condition is not uncommon among slender people, (I certainly wouldn't have to worry), but Chris is 6'2" and weighs 170. So I guess he is a prime candidate. Fortunatly he doesn't smoke or anything so that helps.
The condition usually will heal itself by the lung forming scar tissue over the area, which is what we are waiting to see if that happens. He still has this tube in which is connected to a check valve to insure all the air is evacuated. Tomorrow he goes for an x-ray to determine if they will do surgery for repair, or if it taking care of itself.
As far as reocurrance, their is a 30% probability it could happen again in 1 to 2 years. So for now we are waiting for Thursdays results.