What is atelectasis?

An atelectasis is a collapse or loss of volume of a complete lung or part of it (a lobe, a segment) when the air that is normally inside it disappears. Its persistence over time can lead to it becoming irreversible and the collapsed area becoming fibrous (the tissue thickens) and cannot be expanded again. It is not a disease "per se" but the manifestation of existence of a lung problem underlying. On the other hand, children have a greater predisposition to suffer atelectasis compared to adults, because their airway is narrower and smaller with a weaker thorax structure.

Causes of atelectasis

It can be caused by different causes, such as:

• A bronchial obstruction due to the existence of a mucus plug, an abscess, a tuberculous cyst, a tumor, a foreign body (nuts, toy chips, usually accidentally aspirated in children), etc.
• An extrinsic compression due to chest trauma, lymphadenopathy (enlarged lymph nodes), chest tumors, pleural effusion (presence of fluid, water or blood, in the cavity that surrounds the lungs, between the pleurae) or a (presence of air in the cavity that surrounds the lungs, between the pleurae).
• A lung retraction due to the presence of scars, pulmonary fibrosis, bronchopulmonary dysplasia ...

6 Risk factors

• Suffering from respiratory diseases such as asthma, copd, bronchiectasis, etc.
• Suffering from neuromuscular diseases (myasthenia gravis, dystrophies, spinal cord injuries…).
• Taking certain medications.
• Advanced age.
• Confinement to absolute rest in bed with few mobilizations.
• Submission to surgical intervention (due to various factors, such as receiving general anesthesia that alters the usual respiratory pattern, the inability to cough after an intervention that can favor the generation of mucus plugs, etc.).

Symptoms to watch out for

An atelectasis can often be asymptomatic. At other times it can cause:

• Dyspnea (subjective sensation of shortness of breath).
• Obvious shortness of breath (agitated, rapid or wheezing breathing): atelectasis causes alterations in lung mechanics and therefore in gas exchange.
• Cough (appears as a defensive mechanism to try to solve the obstacle).
• Displacement at the site of auscultation of heart sounds.

How can it be diagnosed?

As always, it will be necessary to carry out a Clinic history Comprehensive with a detailed history and physical examination of the patient. Frequently, auscultation of the lung in conjunction with one may be sufficient. Pulmonary CT or measurement of, among other examples, help to confirm the diagnosis.

Treatment

The main goal of treatment will be to achieve lung re-expansion affected. It will consist in treat the cause that causes it, such as, for example, the extraction of a foreign body aspirated by a child using a fiberoptic bronchoscope, the administration of mucolytic drugs, the surgical removal of a tumor that compressed a bronchus, etc. The techniques of chest physiotherapy used after undergoing surgery are very useful (includes "clapping" or back patting techniques to mobilize secretions, breathing into a device to lift balls with the exhaled air, etc.). Advance Medical Consultant Physician