Why atelectasis after surgery

The amount of lung affected can vary widely between individuals, a small area of one lung may be affected or large areas of both lungs may be involved. Age : Elderly adults have a slightly elevated risk of developing atelectasis. Lung Conditions : Lung conditions that are present before surgery, such as pneumonia or lung cancer, can make it more likely that atelectasis will occur.

Surgery : Having surgery is a major risk factor for having atelectasis. The ability to take a deep breath and cough helps prevent atelectasis. Pain When Breathing : If an injury, lung condition or surgery make it painful to breathe is present, the patient is more likely to experience atelectasis. People who feel pain when they breathe are not likely to take deep breaths and they tend to stifle coughs.

This can lead to poor inflation of the lungs, which can lead to atelectasis. Ventilator : Being on a ventilator is a major risk factor for atelectasis. Quitting smoking prior to surgery dramatically reduces the risk of atelectasis and many other complications. Obesity : A healthy body weight reduces the risk of atelectasis. Individuals who have multiple risk factors are at a greater risk for developing atelectasis.

An individual who is obese, smokes a pack of cigarettes a day and has lung disease has a higher risk of developing atelectasis than the average surgery patient. Atelectasis can be a minor complication, but it can become a very serious complication when the patient has other serious issues after surgery.

An individual who is kept on a ventilator after surgery is likely already very ill and atelectasis can be an unwanted complication as it can lead to more serious lung problems than those that already exist. For patients who already have compromised lung function, such as an individual who has lung cancer, or who only has one lung, the condition can mean too little oxygen is reaching the body. Atelectasis can also be complicated by the presence of pneumonia.

One of the best ways to prevent atelectasis is to control pain so that it is not painful to breathe. This may mean that pain medication is necessary to lessen the pain that is present so that deep breathing is more natural. Citations 2. View Metrics. Joseph G. Access through your institution. Add or change institution. Limit characters. Limit 25 characters. Conflicts of Interest Disclosure Identify all potential conflicts of interest that might be relevant to your comment. Err on the side of full disclosure.

Yes, I have potential conflicts of interest. No, I do not have potential conflicts of interest. Accessed July 10, 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.

Atelectasis is the collapse of part or, much less commonly, all of a lung. Atelectasis is common after surgery or in people who are or were in the hospital. Risk factors for developing atelectasis include: Anesthesia Use of a breathing tube Foreign object in the airway most common in children Lung disease Mucus that plugs the airway Pressure on the lung caused by a buildup of fluid between the ribs and the lungs called a pleural effusion Prolonged bed rest with few changes in position Shallow breathing may be caused by painful breathing or muscle weakness Tumors that block an airway.

Symptoms may include any of the following: Breathing difficulty Chest pain Cough There are no symptoms if atelectasis is mild. Exams and Tests. To confirm if you have atelectasis, the following tests will likely be done to view the lungs and airways: Physical exam by auscultating listening or percussing tapping the chest Bronchoscopy Chest CT or MRI scan Chest x-ray.

Treatments include one or more of the following: Clap percussion on the chest to loosen mucus plugs in the airway. Deep breathing exercises with the help of incentive spirometry devices. Remove or relieve any blockage in the airways by bronchoscopy. Tilt the person so the head is lower than the chest called postural drainage. This allows mucus to drain more easily. Treat a tumor or other condition.