Atelectasis
Atelectasis is the collapse of part or all of a lung by blockage of the air passages. Atelectasis may be chronic condition. In acute atelectasis, the lung has recently collapsed and is primarily notable only for airlessness. The lungs expand and contract as this exchange of gases occurs. The lungs are divided into large sections called lobes. Each lobe is divided into smaller segments.These segments, in turn, is composed of thousands of small air cavities called alveoli, which look somewhat like a honeycomb. Each alveolus is held open by complex walls called alveolar walls. These walls, along with a substance called surfactant that is produced by the lung, help keep the alveoli open and filled with air. When healthy people breathe, air travels all the way down the bronchial tubes to the alveoli. It is through these walls that gases like oxygen are transferred into the blood. When the alveoli cannot stay open, atelectasis occurs and the lung cannot pass oxygen to the blood. Atelectasis is not a disease, but a condition or sign that results from disease or abnormalities in the body. Atelectasis are affected area is often characterized by a complex mixture of infection, widening of the bronchi. People used drugs, such as sedatives, barbiturates, tranquillisers or alcohol is more at risk of atelectasis.
Atelectasis may occur because part of the airway above the atelectasis becomes obstructed and from simple disuse. It may also occur in small areas of the lung for unknown reasons. Atelectasis is obstruction of the bronchus serving the affected area.
Causes of Atelectasis
The common Causes of Atelectasis
- A penetrating wound.
- Chest injury or fractured ribs.
- Fetal hypoxia.
- Diminished nervous stimulus to breathing and crying.
- Inhaled objects.
- Serum.
- Smoking.
Symptoms of Atelectasis
The common Symptoms of Atelectasis.
- chest pain.
- dizziness.
- cough.
- fever.
- Thick secretions with change in color
- Pleural effusion.
- A drop in blood pressure.
Treatment of Atelectasis
The common Treatmentc of Atelectasis
- Deep breathing exercise.
- Use of inspiration breathing apparatus following surgery.
- Postural drainage.
- Bronchodilator therapy.
- percussion.
- Chest physiotherapy.
- Stopping smoking.
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