Atelectasis of the Lung: Who's at Risk?

Atelectasis of the lung is a medical condition in which a part or all of a lung contracts and is airless; it can be acute or chronic. Acute atelectasis involves the recent collapse of a lung; the only immediate symptom is often airlessness. If you have a stethoscope you can actually listen to see if you hear breath sounds. Diminished or a total lack of breath sounds is cause for great concern. Keep in mind that you might not hear breath sounds if you haven't been trained in listening to them and are unfamiliar with the different spots on the chest, back and sides on which to place the stethoscope. In any case, unless you are a medical doctor, you should never determine whether you or someone else has atelectasis based on listening to lung sounds at home.

Chronic atelectasis of the lung involves not only airlessness, but can also involve widening, scarring, and infection of the bronchi, known as bronchiectasis. "Bronchi" is the plural form of the word "bronchus." There are two bronchi or main branches of the trachea (windpipe) that lead directly down into the lungs; they branch off forming what looks like an upside down letter "Y."

What Causes Atelectasis of the Lung?

This lung disorder is usually brought on by an obstruction of some type of one of the bronchi. A tumor, an inhaled object or mucus can cause the blockage. Things and conditions outside of the lungs can also cause a blockage--enlarged lymph nodes and pneumothorax (air in the pleural space surrounding the lungs) are examples; these, however, are not the only causes. Acute atelectasis can develop after surgery, particularly after abdominal or chest surgery and can occur as a result of an injury sustained in an auto accident, a stabbing or shooting.

Prevention, Signs and Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Risk Factors

High doses of certain drugs such as sedatives and opioids, tight and restricting bandages, distention (abdominal swelling), and immobility following surgery can contribute to the development of acute atelectasis. Neurologic health problems and deformities of the chest can also lead to shallow breathing, which in turn leads to the development of other problems that bring on atelectasis of the lung.

The severity of symptoms depends on many factors such as the degree and length of time of the blockage, what brought on the obstruction in the first place, the presence of any infection, and the amount of lung affected. Shortness of breath is almost always present; there might also be an increase in the heart rate and the person might begin to turn bluish (become cyanotic). If these signs and symptoms are present, medical help should be summoned without delay.

Doctors will usually order a chest x-ray which might or might not appear normal. However, if he or she suspects atelectasis of the lung, a computed tomography (CT) and/or a bronchoscopy test might be ordered. Treatment is based on the cause of the obstruction. For example, a tumor might be treated with surgery, laser, chemo, or radiation therapies, and suctioning might be performed to remove a foreign object causing the blockage. Antibiotics to help fight infection are almost always prescribed.

Prevention of atelectasis of the lung is closely connected to risk factors. When risk factors that can be removed are removed, prevention "moves" in automatically. Accidents will happen; sometimes they are serious and cause extensive damage to the chest increasing the risk of the development of atelectasis. However, the unintelligent and health-destroying habit of smoking endangers not only the health of the smoker, but also the health of everyone around him or her who cannot enjoy the right to breath clean air being exposed to second and even third-hand smoke; yes, there is third-hand smoke. Smoking and exposure to smoke significantly increase the risk of developing the miserable condition of atelectasis.

Sources:

The Merck Manual of Medical Information (second home edition) by Merck Research Laboraties
My EMT training/experience (state licensed and NREMT certification)