atelectasis

Atelectasis or collapsed lung is a condition in which the air sacs in the lungs are unable to fully expand or collapse the lung. This makes it impossible for the patient to circulate oxygen and carbon dioxide into the air sacs. This results in inability to breathe fully, rapid heartbeat, chest pain, or low blood oxygen levels. This often occurs after chest or abdominal surgery, but it can also be caused by airway obstruction or illnesses that affect lung function.

Symptoms of collapsed lung

If atelectasis causes only a small amount of collapse of the lung, there are usually no symptoms because the rest of the lung continues to function and circulate gases normally. But if the collapse of the lung is large and occurs suddenly, it can cause low blood oxygen levels , causing the patient to have shortness of breath, rapid breathing, a faster heart rate than normal, coughing, sweating a lot, blue lips or body, and children may become restless and appear scared or anxious.

Although atelectasis most often occurs after surgery or while a patient is hospitalized, if you experience difficulty breathing, fever, cough, unusual fatigue, or other symptoms that require prompt diagnosis and treatment, you should see a doctor immediately.

Causes of collapsed lung

Atelectasis is a common condition after abdominal or thoracic surgery, especially heart bypass surgery , because the anesthesia given to a patient slows the rate of breathing and suppresses coughing. In addition, the pain after surgery may prevent a patient from taking a deep breath, causing the lung to collapse or not expand fully.

Atelectasis can also occur due to other causes, such as:

• Airway obstruction,accumulation of mucus, foreign bodies, and improper intubation can prevent air from fully entering the alveoli in the lungs.
• Pressure from outside the lungs,tumors, bone deformities, or pleural effusions can also make it difficult or impossible for a person to breathe fully.
• Disorders that affect lung function,such as respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), which often occurs in premature babies because their bodies are not yet able to produce enough surfactant in their lungs and may cause the lungs to collapse.
• Underlying diseasessuch as pneumonia, lung cancer, neurological diseases that cause abnormal muscle control, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, obesity, heart disease, sleep apnea, and pulmonary hypertension, etc.

In addition, certain groups of people may be at risk of developing atelectasis, such as:

• Children who are born prematurely or under 3 years of age
• Elderly people aged 60 years and above
• People who have problems swallowing food, especially the elderly.
• People who have weak respiratory muscles, which may result from muscle degeneration or spinal cord injury.
• People who have difficulty breathing, which could be a side effect of medication or health problems such as stomach pain or broken ribs.
• People who have undergone head, neck or vascular surgery
• Patients who are bedridden or have not moved for a long time
• Smokers

Diagnosis of collapsed lung

The doctor will diagnose this condition based on the patient’s symptoms, such as shortness of breath, rapid breathing, coughing, especially if the symptoms occur shortly after surgery. If there are symptoms indicating low oxygen levels, the blood oxygen saturation may need to be measured by wearing a device on the tip of the finger.

In addition, the doctor may diagnose using other methods as well, such as:

• Chest X-raysto examine internal structures and organs, such as the lungs, heart, and blood vessels. A chest X-ray may also show images of foreign objects blocking the airways.
• A CT scanprovides a clearer and more accurate picture of the inside of your chest than a standard X-ray, and can also reveal other details that may cause a collapsed lung.
• Bronchoscopy,in which a tube is inserted through the nose or mouth to provide images inside the bronchial tubes and airways.

Treatment of collapsed lung

If the collapsed lung is only minor, the patient may get better without needing treatment because the rest of the lung can still function normally. However, if the symptoms are severe, treatment will depend on the cause of the collapsed lung, as follows:

• Collapsed lung after surgery:Doctors may recommend that patients practice slow, deep breathing exercises, exercises such as sitting and walking after surgery, and coughing exercises to clear mucus from the airway. Doctors may also use a ventilator to expand the airway and make it easier for patients to breathe.
• Collapsed lung due to external pressure.Doctors will treat the underlying cause. For example, if a tumor is the cause of the collapsed lung, doctors will surgically remove the tumor so that the lung can fully expand.
• Collapsed lung due to airway obstruction.If the airway obstruction occurs, the doctor may remove the foreign body during a bronchoscopy diagnosis. If mucus builds up, the doctor may use a suction device, tap on the lungs, position the patient to drain the mucus, or use medications to expand the airway and make it easier to dislodge the mucus.
• Collapsed lung due to disease or lung abnormality.Doctors treat the underlying disease with medication, surgery, or other treatments.

Complications of collapsed lung

The buildup of mucus can lead to infection in one or both lungs, leading to complications such as pneumonia, which causes inflammation of the air sacs and makes it difficult for a person to breathe.

In addition, atelectasis can lead to other complications, such as:

• Hypoxiadue to collapsed lungs prevents the lungs from functioning properly, resulting in low blood oxygen levels, causing the patient to have cyanotic lips or cyanotic bodies, feel confused, have a rapid heartbeat, breathe rapidly, wheeze, and sweat profusely.
• Respiratory failureis a condition that occurs when the lungs collapse to the point where they cannot deliver enough oxygen to the blood and cannot remove carbon dioxide from the body. This causes the blood to be high in carbon dioxide and harms other internal organs.

Prevention of collapsed lung

Atelectasis can be prevented by following these guidelines:

• Keep toys and small objects out of reach of children.
• Be extra careful when eating, especially with foods such as beans, corn, or grains that may get stuck and cause blockage in the airway.
• Consult your doctor to reduce your risk of developing atelectasis after surgery, especially thoracic or abdominal surgery.
• Do not smoke before surgery and consult your doctor about how long you should stop smoking before surgery.
• Clear the mucus by drinking fluids as directed by your doctor, coughing frequentlyto clear the mucus from your lungs, or adjusting your body position to help clear the mucus.
• Take deep breaths after surgery to help your lungs function better and prevent collapse of your lung.
• After surgery, you should adjust your sitting position by sitting up straight on the edge of the bed or walking frequently to help your lungs fully expand and reduce the risk of lung infections.