One common cause of fluid around the lungs is a lung infection, which may be a complication of certain types of surgery or an illness such as pneumonia. During surgery, tubes can be placed in the pleural space to drain fluid and help the lungs heal. If a portion of the lung wall is thin or ruptured, air may leak into the pleural space. When air collects in the pleural space, the lung may collapse. This is known as collapsed lung or pneumothorax .
Tubes placed during surgery can drain air from the pleural space so the lung re-expands.
During surgery, the wall of the lung can also be repaired so it won't collapse again. Lung surgery involves entering the chest wall to get to the lung. There a two ways to do this. Thoracoscopy Thoracoscopy uses several small incisions. The surgeon places a thin tube containing a camera through one incision and can view the lungs on a video monitor Thoracotomy Thoracotomy uses a larger incision in the chest.