Can pneumonia cause atelectasis?

Pneumonia. Various types of pneumonia, a lung infection, can cause atelectasis. Pneumothorax. Air leaks into the space between your lungs and chest wall, indirectly causing some or all of a lung to collapse.

How does an obstruction cause atelectasis?

Following obstruction of a bronchus, the blood circulating in the alveolar-capillary membrane absorbs the gas from alveoli. This process can lead to retraction of the lung and an airless state within those alveoli in a few hours. In the early stages, blood then perfuses the unventilated lung.

When is the risk for obstructive atelectasis?

Risk factors for atelectasis include anesthesia, prolonged bed rest with few changes in position, shallow breathing and underlying lung disease. Mucus that plugs the airway, foreign objects in the airway (common in children) and tumors that obstruct the airway may lead to atelectasis.

What happens to your lungs when you have atelectasis?

Atelectasis makes it more difficult for your lungs to get oxygen to the air sacs (alveoli). Pneumonia. Your risk for pneumonia continues until the atelectasis goes away. Mucus in a collapsed lung may lead to infection.

Which is the best definition of obstructive atelectasis?

Obstructive atelectasis — Obstructive (ie, resorptive) atelectasis is a consequence of blockage of an airway [ 1 ]. Air retained distal to the occlusion is resorbed from nonventilated alveoli, causing the affected regions to become totally gasless and then collapse.

Why does atelectasis occur after heart bypass surgery?

It changes your regular pattern of breathing and affects the exchange of lung gases, which can cause the air sacs (alveoli) to deflate. Nearly everyone who has major surgery develops some amount of atelectasis. It often occurs after heart bypass surgery. Obstructive atelectasis may be caused by many things, including: Mucus plug.

When do you need an air bronchogram for atelectasis?

crowded air bronchograms (does not apply to all types of atelectasis; can be seen in subsegmental atelectasis due to small peripheral bronchi obstruction, usually by secretions; if the cause of the atelectasis is central bronchial obstruction, there will usually be no air bronchograms)