Definition
The term grasping thorax describes an altered form of the bony thorax (thorax), in which the chest appears too short and wide. Thus the thorax resembles a barrel, which explains the term barrel thorax.
Anatomy of the grasping thorax
In a barrel thorax, the thorax is shortened and wider compared to the normal thorax shape, thus resembling a barrel. The thorax (thorax) is widened in the sagittal plane (in the lateral view). The lower thoracic entrance (lower thoracic aperture) is enlarged. The ribs here run horizontally. The entire thorax thus appears fixed as in the inspiration position (during inhalation).
Causes of the barrel thorax
The most common cause of a grasping thorax is over-inflation of the lungs (emphysema). In this type of emphysema, the air content in the lungs is excessive, leading to the destruction of lung tissue. The air is trapped at the end of the airways and forms so-called emphysema bubbles, which are, however, useless for breathing.
Over months and years, this over-inflation of the lungs then leads to an altered thoracic shape. The most common cause of over-inflated lungs is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), for which smoking is responsible in nine out of ten cases. Less frequently, occupational diseases (due to inhalation of dust or asbestos) or genetic factors (alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency) play a role in the development of emphysema.
The more harmless cause of a grasping thorax is a wear-related change in the area of the thoracic spine. Such changes result from years of poor posture or overloading of the spine and often lead to chronic back pain. COPD is a progressive, non-regressive obstruction of airflow at the base of an abnormal inflammatory reaction due to the chronic inhalation of harmful particles.
Thus, there is a clear correlation between COPD patients and long-term smoking. COPD patients cough up increased amounts of accumulated mucus in the morning, and do not have an increased coughing irritation under stress, but have difficulty breathing. Since COPD occurs on average after the age of 50 and those affected do not exercise much at this age anyway, you will usually only notice the drop in performance when breathing difficulties occur at rest.
Thus COPD is often diagnosed late. A late stage of COPD is the development of a fascia thorax. Bronchial asthma describes a chronic inflammatory change in the airways that is associated with a hypersensitive bronchial system.
Affected persons often have attacks of shortness of breath (cf. COPD), coughing and chest tightness, which occur mainly at night and early in the morning. Compared to COPD, asthma is a regressive narrowing of the bronchial tubes.
Due to the difficulty in breathing out, it can therefore lead to hyperinflation of the lungs. However, this is – as already mentioned – declining. Thus, the occurrence of a grasping thorax is not typical in asthma, but is possible in principle.
