Atelectasis is brought on by an obstruction of the air passages or by compression on the outside of the lung which causes part or all of the lung to collapse. The collapse of the lung tissue impedes the respiratory interchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen.
Some risk factors for developing atelectasis are extended bed rest with small changes in position, shallow breathing, anesthesia, mucus that closes off the airway, lung diseases, foreign object in the airway, an increase of fluid between the ribs and the lungs and tumors that block the airway may lead to atelectasis. Some symptoms of acute atelectasis include cyanosis, dyspnea, elevation of temperature, shock, or a dip in blood pressure and other symptoms include c
hest pain, cough and difficulty breathing.
To diagnose atelectasis, a clinical exam is performed, a bronchoscopy to view the airways and chest x-ray. To treat atelectasis, the collapsed lung tissue needs to re-inflate. If there is fluid that is constricting the lungs then the fluid will need to be expelled so the lungs can inflate. Some treatments include postural drainage, percussion on the chest to break up mucus, deep breathing exercises, and use inhaled medications to clear the airway.
The collapsed lung typically re-inflates slowly once the blockage has been removed. A small area of atelectasis in the lung is not life threatening since the rest of the lung can compensate for the collapsed area but a large area may be life threatening, particularly in an infant or small child, or for those who have an illness or another lung disease.
To prevent atelectasis, continue deep breathes after anesthesia, urge movement and deep breathing when bedridden for an extended time, and remove small objects from the reach of small children.
No comments:
Post a Comment