Atelectasis

Question 1

what are the symptoms of atelectasis?

Answer 1

Decreased breath sounds over the affected area
Dullness to percussion (indicating lung collapse)
Dyspnea & tachypnea (shortness of breath & rapid breathing)
Hypoxemia (low oxygen levels)
Cough (sometimes productive)
Low-grade fever (especially postoperatively)

Question 2

who are at risk?

Answer 2

Postoperative patients (due to shallow breathing, pain, anesthesia)
Bedridden patients (due to immobility and poor lung expansion)
Smokers (increased mucus production and impaired clearance)
Patients with lung disease (COPD, asthma, pulmonary fibrosis)
Airway obstruction patients (tumors, foreign bodies, mucus plugs)

Question 3

what are the causes?

Answer 3

Mucus plugs (blocking airflow)
Airway obstruction (foreign body, tumor)
Shallow breathing (pain, anesthesia, sedation)
Immobility (lack of deep breathing → mucus buildup → alveolar collapse)
External lung compression (pleural effusion, pneumothorax, tumors)

Question 4

what does chest x ray show?

Answer 4

lung collapse?

Question 5

what does auscultation show?

Answer 5

Decreased or absent breath sounds over affected lung

Question 6

what does pulse oxi show?

Answer 6

May show low O₂ levels

Question 7

what are the treatments?

Answer 7

Deep breathing exercises (expands alveoli)
Coughing & airway clearance (removes mucus plugs)
Incentive spirometry (promotes deep breathing & lung expansion)
Early ambulation (prevents immobility-related lung collapse)
Oxygen therapy (if hypoxemia is present)
Treating underlying cause (e.g., suctioning mucus, removing airway obstruction)