QC: Lung Collapse During Your Period, Symptoms That Are Often Missed, What About Adhesions in Your Heart or Lungs?

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Dr. Francesco Di Chiara, a leading consultant thoracic surgeon, shares critical insights about thoracic endometriosis and its impact on lung function. The episode explores the differences between thoracic endometriosis and lung disease, the implications of lung collapse during menstruation, and the most commonly misdiagnosed symptoms.

• Lung endometriosis is one presentation of thoracic endometriosis
• Lung collapse during menstruation (pneumothorax) is a sign that shouldn't be overlooked rather than immediately dangerous
• Shoulder and neck pain are the most commonly missed symptoms, often leading to incorrect orthopedic treatments
• Adhesions in the lungs can prevent full expansion, reducing capacity and exercise tolerance
• After surgical treatment, thoracic endometriosis may recur but typically in a less invasive form
• Research on thoracic endometriosis recurrence rates is still developing

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Is there a difference between thoracic endometriosis
and lung disease?
Or how dangerous really is itwhen your lung collapses during
your menstrual cycle?
We hear about adhesions in ourpelvis, but does it happen in
your heart and lungs?
And what are the most missedsigns and symptoms and
misdiagnoses of thoracicendometriosis?
That and so much more with Dr DChiara.

(00:21):
Stick around.
Life moves fast and so shouldthe answers to your biggest
questions.
Welcome to EndoBatteries.
Quick Connect your direct lineto expert insights Short,
powerful and right to the point.
You send in the questions, Ibring in the experts and in just
five minutes you get theknowledge you need.
No long episodes, no extra timeneeded, and just remember

(00:43):
expert opinions shared here arefor general information and not
for personalized medical advice.
Always consult your providerfor your case-specific guidance.
Got a question?
Send it in and let's quicklyget you the answers.
I'm your host, alana, and it'stime to connect.
Today I am joined by my guest,dr Francesco Di Chiara, a

(01:11):
leading consultant thoracicsurgeon at the John Radcliffe
Hospital in Oxford and a truepioneer in minimally invasive
chest surgery.
Dr Di Chiara is transformingthe way we approach complex
thoracic conditions.
With deep expertise in lungcancer, chest wall trauma and
thoracic endometriosis.
He's not only a gifted surgeon,but also a passionate educator
and an innovator.
I am thrilled to be diving intothis conversation with someone

(01:34):
who is shaping the future forthoracic endometriosis.
Please help me in welcoming DrFrancesco Di Chiara.
What is the difference betweenthoracic endo and lung disease?

Speaker 2 (01:47):
Lung endometriosis is part of thoracic endometriosis.
It's one of the presentations.

Speaker 1 (01:53):
Is it dangerous if my lung collapses during my period
?

Speaker 2 (01:57):
We've talked about this a little bit, but Rather
than dangerous, it's a sign ofthoracic endometriosis that
shouldn't be overlooked.
Yeah, pneumothorax can bepotentially dangerous if left
untreated and can lead tocomplications.
But the most important thing isto diagnose appropriately.

Speaker 1 (02:17):
Yeah, what do doctors often miss in this diagnosis?
What are the most commonsymptoms that they will miss for
throsteic?

Speaker 2 (02:26):
Shoulder and neck pain.
Shoulder and neck pain is themost misdiagnosed element.
Patients are sent to orthopedicsurgery, to chiropractors
having infiltration ofcorticosteroids, all kinds of
things, but not thinking aboutthe diaphragm.

Speaker 1 (02:43):
Adhesions but not thinking about the diaphragm
Adhesions.
We always hear about them inyour abdomen and your pelvis,
but they don't feel like theyhear about them in the chest.
Are they there and what are therisks they pose to the lung and
the heart?
Function like the cardiaccirculation.

Speaker 2 (02:58):
When it comes to the heart, I wouldn't say that
adhesions are so relevant, butwhen it comes to the lung,
they're very important.
Especially, repeated lungcollapses can lead to adhesions
and the lung especially will endup being adherent in a position
that does not allow fullexpansion, and this can create a

(03:19):
lot of complication reduce lungcapacity, reduce exercise,
tolerance, recurrent buildup offluid inside the chest a whole
lot of problems.

Speaker 1 (03:32):
Yeah, can thoracic endometriosis come back after
surgery?

Speaker 2 (03:36):
As we know, endometriosis can come back.
We think that also thoracicendo can come back.
We also know from the chestthat if you do excision, the
disease normally can come back,but always in a lesser form or
not as invasive.
When it comes to thoracic endo,the numbers and the values and

(03:56):
the experience have not allowedus yet to have a definite answer
.

Speaker 1 (04:01):
That's a wrap for this quick connect.
I hope today's insights helpedyou move forward with more
clarity and confidence.
Do you have more questions?
Keep them coming, send them inand I'll bring you the expert
answers.
You can send them in by usingthe link in the top of the
description of this podcastepisode or by emailing contact
at endobatterycom or visitingthe endobatterycom contact page.

(04:26):
Until next time, keep feelingempowered through knowledge.