Atelectasis

Atelectasis is a severe breathing issue that mostly occurs after surgeries, and it usually goes away after managing the cause.

Atelectasis

Atelectasis occurs when the alveoli (air sacs) inside the lung lose their air, which causes the lung to collapse partially or completely. As a result, breathing will become harder and the body won’t receive enough oxygen.

Causes and risk factors of atelectasis

• General anesthesia, which changes the regular type of breathing and how the lung changes the gases.
• A blocked airway, like having a mucus plug, a foreign body (such as food or any other thing), or a tumor inside the airway.
• A chest injury or trauma.
• Pleural effusion.
• Pneumothorax.
• Lung tissue scarring.
• A tumor that causes pressure on the lung.
• The risk of atelectasis increases due to the following factors: lung diseases (such as asthma, cystic fibrosis, COPD, and bronchiectasis), the need to stay in bed for a long time without changing the position, any condition that causes difficulty swallowing, weak breathing muscles, smoking, and medicines that cause weak breathing.

Symptoms of atelectasis

Atelectasis may not cause symptoms, which may include:

• Difficulty breathing.
• Shortness of breath.
• Chest pain.
• Coughing.
• Wheezing.
• Blue or gray nails, lips, or skin.
• Atelectasis can lead to pneumonia, low blood oxygen, and respiratory failure.

Diagnosis of atelectasis

• Imaging tests.
• Bronchoscopy.

Treatment of atelectasis

• Treating atelectasis depends on the cause, and mild cases usually don’t require any treatment.
• Treatments may include chest physical therapy (certain techniques to clear the airway), breathing treatments, and surgery to remove the cause of the blockage.