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Atelectasis

Chris Artner, MD and Jennifer Koch, MD Reviewed 05/2023
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • Atelectasis is defined as the incomplete expansion of lung tissue due to collapse or closure.

  • Broadly categorized as:

    • Obstructive: due to airway blockage

    • Nonobstructive: multiple etiolo...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • Frequently asymptomatic

  • Tachypnea and sudden-onset dyspnea

  • Nonproductive cough

  • Pleuritic pain on affected side

  • History of smoking, COPD, pulmonary insufficiency, exposure to radiation, as...

TREATMENT

GENERAL MEASURES

  • Identify and treat the underlying etiology.

  • Pain control to facilitate deeper breathing.

  • Lie on the unaffected side, encourage frequent coughing, deep breathing exercises, and ...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

Patient Monitoring

  • Frequency/adequacy of monitoring will vary by underlying cause and concurrent comorbidities.

  • For uncomplicated cases of atelectasis, outpatient m...

REFERENCES

1
Hulzebos  EH, Smit  Y, Helders  PP, et al. Preoperative physical therapy for elective cardiac surgery patients. Cochrane Database Syst Rev.  2012;(11):CD010118...

ADDITIONAL READING

CODES

ICD10

  • P28.10 Unspecified atelectasis of newborn

  • J98.11 Atelectasis

  • P28.19 Other atelectasis of newborn

  • P28.0 Primary atelectasis of newborn

  • P28.11 Resorption atelectasis without respiratory distress ...

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • Low serum albumin (<3.5 g/L) is a strong predictor of postoperative pulmonary complications, including atelectasis.

  • Anesthesia-induced atelectasis occurs in almost all anesthetized p...

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