What causes atelectasis after surgery?
General anesthesia is a common cause of atelectasis. It changes your regular pattern of breathing and affects the exchange of lung gases, which can cause the air sacs (alveoli) to deflate. Nearly everyone who has major surgery develops some amount of atelectasis.
What lung sounds are heard with atelectasis?
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).
What causes an increased risk for postoperative atelectasis in an elderly patient?
Surgery: Having surgery is a major risk factor for having atelectasis. 1 There are two primary reasons for this: the being on a ventilator during surgery and the inability to cough to clear the lungs while under anesthesia.
How can postoperative atelectasis be prevented?
Atelectasis can be prevented or treated by adequate analgesia, incentive spirometry (IS), deep breathing exercises, continuous positive airway pressure, mobilisation of secretions and early ambulation. Pre-operative treatment of IS is more effective.
What are the three types of atelectasis?
There are three major types of atelectasis: adhesive, compressive, and obstructive.
How is atelectasis treated after surgery?
Treatment modalities which are commonly employed for the prevention or treatment of atelectasis include voluntary deep breathing, incentive spirometry, intermittent positive pressure breathing (IPPB), chest physical therapy, bronchoscopy, aerosol therapy, and more recently, intermittent continuous positive airway …
What causes a person to have atelectasis after surgery?
Surgery: Surgery is the most common reason people develop atelectasis. Medicine to keep you asleep during surgery (anesthesia) can affect your ability to breathe normally or cough. Pain after surgery could make deep breaths painful. Continued shallow breathing because of the pain can lead to deflated air sacs.
Who is a board certified surgeon for atelectasis?
Jennifer Whitlock, RN, MSN, FNP-C, is a board-certified family nurse practitioner. She has experience in primary care and hospital medicine. Jennifer Schwartz, MD, is a board-certified surgeon and Assistant Professor of Surgery at the Yale School of Medicine. Atelectasis is a lung condition where areas of the lung collapse.
How to reduce the risk of atelectasis in children?
Atelectasis in children is often caused by a blockage in the airway. To decrease atelectasis risk, keep small objects out of reach of children. In adults, atelectasis most commonly occurs after major surgery. If you’re scheduled for surgery, talk with your doctor about strategies to reduce your risk.
Can a person on a ventilator have atelectasis?
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.
