Atelectasis
Atelectasis is total or partial collapse of the lung or its lobe Atelectasis occurs when the air sacs (alveoli) of the lung become blocked This condition is the most common complication after surgery Atelectasis may also be caused by another airway problem, such as cystic fibrosis, a foreign body, a tumor, fluid in the lung, asthma, or a chest injury.
The amount of lung tissue involved in atelectasis is variable, depending on the cause Signs and symptoms also vary Atelectasis is a serious disorder because it reduces the oxygen supply to the body Treatment depends on the cause and severity of the collapse
Atelectasis may occur due to airway obstruction or pressure from outside the lung
Almost everyone who has had surgery has some exposure to atelectasis due to anesthesia. Anesthesia alters air dynamics in the lung, gas absorption and pressures, causing some degree of alveolar collapse. This is especially pronounced after heart bypass surgery
Blockage of airways (bronchi) causes obstructive atelectasis Probable causes of blockage are: - Mucous plug Accumulation of mucus in the airways is sometimes the result of a decrease in the ability to cough after surgery. This is the most common cause of atelectasis Medications used during surgery prevent the lung from expanding, so secretions collect in the airways. Drainage during surgery helps to prevent mucus build-up, although a certain amount still accumulates afterward. That is why proper breathing and coughing are necessary in the postoperative period Expanding the lung to the end opens up the airways and makes it easier to cough up mucus plugs Congestion is common in cystic fibrosis patients and during asthma attacks
- Foreign body Children most often "inhale" a foreign body (a peanut or a small part of a toy) that gets into their lungs.
- Narrowing of airways due to disease Chronic infections, such as fungal infection, tuberculosis or others It may scar and narrow the airway
- Cancer in the respiratory tract Overgrowth and tumors narrow the airways
- Blood donations At such a time, the patient had bleeding in the lung, the blood accumulated in the airways and formed deposits that did not clear when coughed up.
Possible causes of non-obstructive atelectasis are: - Injury Chest trauma from a fall or car accident can prevent you from breathing normally (even in pain), causing lung compression
- Pleural effusion At such a time, fluid builds up between the sheets of the pleura, which line the lung and chest wall.
- Pneumonia Different types of pneumonia cause temporary atelectasis If the atelectatic lung persists for several weeks or more, bronchiectasis, a condition in which the affected airway becomes enlarged and scarred, may also develop.
- Pneumothorax Air enters between the lung and the chest wall, which indirectly causes the collapse of part of the lung
- scarring of lung tissue Scar formation is caused by injury, disease or surgery In these rare cases, the atelectasis is mild compared to the damage caused by the scar
- Cancer A large tumor swells and swells the lung, unlike an obstructive type where the tumor blocks the airways
Sometimes, there may be no signs or symptoms of atelectasis These are:
- Shortness of breath (dyspnea)
- Rapid, shallow breathing
- Cough
- Fever
When to consult a doctor Significant atelectasis mainly in already hospitalized patients However, consult a doctor as soon as you start to experience shortness of breath Shortness of breath is caused by other diseases that also require treatment If breathing becomes very difficult, seek emergency medical help
