What Causes Atelectasis?
Atelectasis is the sinking of one part of a lung or the improper inflation of one part of the lung, that causes difficulty in gas exchange. This is usually caused through the closure of alveoli. If excepting that a small part of the lungs is artificial, the symptoms might not be in such a manner pronounced and might go unnoticed.
Atelectasis is a worn out finding in chest x-rays.
Causes of Atelectasis
Atelectasis be able to be caused by multiple reasons. Any outward pressure on the lungs can cause a blockage in the air sentence or the bronchus or bronchioles. Atelectasis is principally common after surgeries. Some of the other factors what one can lead to a blockage of the bronchus or bronchioles are:
Mucus or any other foreign body clogging the aeriform fluid passage from within the body
Tumors or squamous lonely dwelling carcinoma which cause blockages in the airway
Tumors,lymph nodes or tubercle adding straits on the lungs externally
Anesthesia given during the surgery
Any other lung diseases
Prolonged em rest with very few changes in the station of rest
Old people and those addicted to smoking are at a higher risk of suffering form Atelectasis.
Symptoms of Atelectasis:
Patients sufferance from Atelectasis show the following symptoms:
Frequent and acute chest pain
Prominent and consistent cough
Difficulty in live
Low grade fevers
Increase in the heart rate or frequent palpitations
Pleura efflux (fluid which accumulated between two pleural layers)
Cyanosis; purple coloration of the derm due to lack of oxygen to the tissues adjoining the skin
Types of Atelectasis
Acute Atelectasis:In Acute Atelectasis the lung has only recently collapsed. It is characterized by the airlessness in the lungs.
Chronic Atelectasis:Chronic Atelectasis is characterized dint of an infection added to the airlessness. Widening of the bronchi, ruin and scarring or fibrosis are other indicator of Chronic Atelectasis.
Diagnosis of Atelectasis
Atelectasis be able to be detected via the following tests
Chest X-gleam
Chest CT scan
Bronchoscopy
Treatment of Atelectasis
The treatment of Atelectasis involves the inflating of the collapsed lung and in envelop of a fluid accumulation draining over the excess fluid. Post surgical Atelectasis have power to usually be corrected by physiotherapy which concentrates on deep breathing and encourages coughing.
In instance of a chest deformity or neurological terms that cause shallow breathing are supported means of external mechanical devices to aid breathing. One such method is continuous tenacious air pressure which provides pressurized oxygen from one side an external face mask. This makes unfailing that the alveoli does not dead failure even after the completion of single in kind complete cycle of inhalation and exhalation.
Atelectasis which cannot be treated by physiotherapy or external breathing aids is treated for the period of bronchoscopy. Other treatment methods include:
Clap attached the chest to loosen mucus clogging the airways
Identifying and treating a tumor, if that is a cause
Use of medicated inhalers