How does atelectasis cause pneumonia

You may be at higher risk of atelectasis if you smoke or have other conditions, including obesity , sleep apnea , or lung diseases such as asthma , COPD , or cystic fibrosis. You are also at higher risk if you recently had surgery.

The medicines used to make you sleep during surgery can affect the way your lungs work, or the procedure itself can make it painful to breathe deeply. To help prevent atelectasis during and after surgery, your medical team may ask you to stop smoking and give you breathing exercises, medicines, or a breathing device such as a CPAP machine.

Atelectasis may not cause signs or symptoms if it affects only a small area of lung. If it affects a larger area of the lung, it can cause fever, shallow breathing, wheezing, or coughing.

The most common test used to diagnose atelectasis is a chest X-ray. Bronchoscopy or imaging tests can confirm a diagnosis. Atelectasis treatment can include breathing or coughing exercises, inhaled medicines, breathing devices, or surgery. Conde MV, et al. Overview of the management of postoperative pulmonary complications. Accessed July 20, Goldman L, et al. Bronchiectasis, atelectasis, cysts, and localized lung disorders. In: Goldman-Cecil Medicine. Accessed July 23, Smetana GW, et al.

Strategies to reduce postoperative pulmonary complications. Accessed August 20, Bope ET, et al. In: Conn's Current Therapy Restrepo RD, et al. Current challenges in the recognition, prevention and treatment of perioperative pulmonary atelectasis.

Expert Review of Respiratory Medicine. Stark P, et al. Atelectasis: Types and pathogenesis in adults. Finder JD. Atelectasis in children. See also Overview of the Lymphatic System. Lymph nodes are present Compression or collapse of lung parenchyma eg, by large pleural effusion Pleural Effusion Pleural effusions are accumulations of fluid within the pleural space. They have multiple causes and usually are classified as transudates or exudates.

Detection is by physical examination and Pneumothorax can occur spontaneously or result from trauma or medical procedures. Diagnosis is based on clinical Thoracic and abdominal surgeries are very common causes because they involve general anesthesia, opioid use with possible secondary respiratory depression , and often painful respiration.

A malpositioned endotracheal tube can cause atelectasis by occluding a mainstem bronchus. Less common causes of atelectasis include surfactant dysfunction and lung parenchymal scarring or tumor. Atelectasis itself is asymptomatic unless hypoxemia or pneumonia Overview of Pneumonia Pneumonia is acute inflammation of the lungs caused by infection.

Initial diagnosis is usually based on chest x-ray and clinical findings. Causes, symptoms, treatment, preventive measures, and Symptoms of hypoxemia tend to be related to acuity and extent of atelectasis. With rapid, extensive atelectasis, dyspnea or even respiratory failure can develop. With slowly developing, less extensive atelectasis, symptoms may be mild or absent.

Pneumonia may cause cough, dyspnea, and pleuritic pain. Pleuritic pain may also be due to the disorder that caused atelectasis eg, chest trauma, surgery. Signs are often absent. Decreased breath sounds in the region of atelectasis and possibly dullness to percussion and decreased chest excursion are detectable if the area of atelectasis is large.

Often it is discovered only on chest imaging eg, x-ray or CT. Atelectasis should be suspected in patients who have any unexplained respiratory symptoms and who have risk factors, particularly recent major surgery. If the cause of atelectasis is not clinically apparent eg, if it is not recent surgery or pneumonia seen on chest x-ray or another disorder is suspected eg, pulmonary embolism Pulmonary Embolism PE Pulmonary embolism PE is the occlusion of pulmonary arteries by thrombi that originate elsewhere, typically in the large veins of the legs or pelvis.

Risk factors for pulmonary embolism are Evidence for the efficacy of most treatments for atelectasis is weak or absent. Nonetheless, commonly recommended measures include chest physiotherapy Chest Physiotherapy Chest physiotherapy consists of external mechanical maneuvers, such as chest percussion, postural drainage, and vibration, to augment mobilization and clearance of airway secretions.

It is indicated In ambulatory patients, exercise eg, walking is a desirable way to promote deep breathing.