VI Glossary
Chest tube: A catheter inserted into the pleural space in the chest cavity (also referred to as the thoracic cavity or thorax) to remove air, blood, and/or fluids.
Chylothorax: A collection of lymph in the pleural space.
Crepitus: Puffiness or crackling that indicates subcutaneous emphysema, the leakage of air into the subcutaneous tissues surrounding the insertion site.
Empyema: A pyogenic infection (pus) of the pleural space.
Hemothorax: A collection of blood in the space between the chest wall and the lung (called the pleural cavity).
Hydrothorax: Accumulation of serous fluid in the pleural space
Negative pressure: During inspiration (also called inhalation), the diaphragm contracts and pulls downward, while the intercostal muscles between the ribs pull upward. This movement increases the size of the thoracic cavity, thus decreasing the pressure inside. This change in pressure on inspiration is referred to as negative pressure. As a result, a vacuum effect is created and air rushes into the lungs.
Pleural effusion: Accumulation of fluid in the pleural space, often due to a medical condition such as cancer or heart, kidney, or liver failure.
Pleural space: Also referred to as the pleural cavity; the space between the membranes of the chest wall (i.e., visceral pleura membrane) and the lung (i.e., the parietal pleura membrane).
Pneumothorax: A collapsed lung that occurs when air leaks into the space between the lung and chest wall.
Spontaneous pneumothorax: Collapse of a lung that occurs suddenly without any known cause.
Subcutaneous emphysema: Air leakage into the subcutaneous tissues surrounding the chest tube insertion site.
Tension pneumothorax: A medical emergency caused by large pneumothorax that affects cardiovascular functioning.
Tidaling: When water in the water seal chamber rises with inhalation and falls with exhalation.
Traumatic pneumothorax: Lung collapse caused by a chest injury, such as a bullet wound that pierces the pleural membranes, causing air to rush into the thoracic cavity.