A small amount of pneumothorax refers to lung tissue compression of less than 20% and is commonly seen in spontaneous pneumothorax, which usually heals gradually and spontaneously in 1-2 weeks, but the exact time should be decided according to the patient’s own condition. If a small amount of pneumothorax occurs in young patients, it is mainly due to the underdevelopment of the dirty layer pleura, which can lead to distortion, deformation and inflation of the terminal small bronchus when inflammation occurs, thus resulting in the formation of a ruptured pulmonary blister. Generally, it can be treated without special treatment and left to absorb on its own, which usually can reach self-healing in 7-14 days. If a small amount of pneumothorax occurs in elderly patients, it is mainly due to herpetic emphysema caused by excessive smoking, and the pneumothorax can be formed by rupture of the pulmonary blisters when excessive force is exerted. Due to the poor physical condition and nutritional status of elderly patients, the self-healing time is relatively long, and if necessary, they need to go to the hospital thoracic surgery or emergency department for symptomatic treatment. When a small amount of pneumothorax occurs, patients should pay attention to bed rest, talk as little as possible, reduce lung activity, which is conducive to gas absorption and retension of the compressed lung tissue, so as to restore the normal lung respiratory function as soon as possible.