3. Introduction
01.
• Atelectasis is loss of lung
volume due to collapse of
lung tissue
• It develops when alveoli
become airless when there
is no air to replace the
absorbed air
4.
5. Causes
02.
Atelectasis has multiple causes like :
• Poor inspiration– lying supine in
bed, rib fracture or post surgery.
• Compression- pleural effusion
• Obstruction- mass or mucous plug
6. Signs of Atelectasis
03.
• Mediastinal Shift
• Elevation of
hemidiaphragm
• Increase in lung
density
• Compensatory
overinflation
7. Types of Atelectasis
1. Subsegmental
04.
• Occurs commonly in “Splinting
patients” (postoperative,
pleuritic chest pain, closed chest
trauma)
• Due to deactivation of
surfactants
• Linear densities of lines parallel
to hemidiaphragm (mostly at
base)
• Disappear with normal
breathing
8. Types of Atelectasis 2.
Compressive
04.
Passive compression due to :
• 1) Poor inspiration
2) Large pleural
effusion/pneumothorax/
lesion
• Can be confused for
airspace disease when
cause is poor inspiration
9. Types of Atelectasis 3.
Obstructive
04.
• Shift of the
mobile
structures of
the thorax
• Shift of interlobar
fissures towards
affected area
• Increased density
of the affected
lungs
