Asked by: Dell Castellote
medical health lung and respiratory health

What is bilateral atelectasis?

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Bibasilar atelectasis is a condition that happens when you have a partial collapse of your lungs. This type of collapse is caused when the small air sacs in your lungs deflate. These small air sacs are called alveoli. Bibasilar atelectasis specifically refers to the collapse of the lower sections of your lungs.


Just so, what is bilateral dependent atelectasis?

Atelectasis (at-uh-LEK-tuh-sis) is a complete or partial collapse of the entire lung or area (lobe) of the lung. It occurs when the tiny air sacs (alveoli) within the lung become deflated or possibly filled with alveolar fluid. Atelectasis is one of the most common breathing (respiratory) complications after surgery.

Additionally, how do you fix atelectasis? Treatment
  1. Performing deep-breathing exercises (incentive spirometry) and using a device to assist with deep coughing may help remove secretions and increase lung volume.
  2. Positioning your body so that your head is lower than your chest (postural drainage).
  3. Tapping on your chest over the collapsed area to loosen mucus.

People also ask, is atelectasis serious?

Atelectasis may not cause signs or symptoms if it affects only a small area of lung. Atelectasis usually gets better with time or treatment. However, if it is undiagnosed or untreated, serious complications can occur, including fluid buildup, pneumonia, and respiratory failure.

What are the three types of atelectasis?

The term atelectasis can also be used to describe the collapse of a previously inflated lung, either partially or fully, because of specific respiratory disorders. There are three major types of atelectasis: adhesive, compressive, and obstructive.

Related Question Answers

Laira Piterskih

Professional

Can atelectasis be permanent?

After treatment, a collapsed lung usually begins working the way it should again, but atelectasis can cause permanent damage in some cases.

Edisson Fresquet

Professional

Is atelectasis a sign of lung cancer?

Atelectasis is a common finding in chest x rays in inpatient settings. While atelectasis that clears with regular respiratory toiling may signify a benign etiology, it could be the first sign of airway malignancy. Lung cancer is common and smoking is the main risk factor for primary lung cancer.

Abdelouahd Albillo

Professional

What does atelectasis look like on chest xray?

Atelectasis is collapse or incomplete expansion of the lung or part of the lung. Atelectasis is almost always associated with a linear increased density on chest x-ray. The apex tends to be at the hilum. The density is associated with volume loss.

Ivory Grodetsky

Explainer

What is usually the first sign of lung cancer?

Early warning signs of lung cancer
A new cough that is persistent or worsens, or a change in an existing chronic cough. Cough that produces blood. Pain in the chest, back or shoulders that worsens during coughing, laughing or deep breathing. Shortness of breath that comes on suddenly and occurs during everyday

Jinan Rekunkov

Explainer

Is atelectasis reversible?

Atelectasis is reversible collapse of lung tissue with loss of volume; common causes include intrinsic or extrinsic airway compression, hypoventilation, and a malpositioned endotracheal tube.

Falilou Naidoo

Explainer

Bolena Araguas

Pundit

Is atelectasis genetic?

Pneumonocyte damage results from genetic defects, general anesthesia, ischemia, or radiation damage. Adhesive atelectasis is seen in neonates with hyaline membrane disease.

Coleen Berasategi

Pundit

Is scarring of the lungs serious?

Is scarring of the lungs serious? Small areas of lung scarring typically aren't serious. They shouldn't affect your quality of life or life expectancy. That said, widespread and expanding scars on the lung may indicate an underlying health condition.

Baba Aldavero

Pundit

Can atelectasis cause back pain?

Symptoms of Atelectasis and Pneumothorax
Difficulty breathing and chest pain are symptoms of both atelectasis and pneumothorax. Those symptoms may also indicate another serious condition, so always seek emergency medical attention if you experience: Sudden, sharp pain in the chest or radiating to the shoulder or back.

Aglaya Baulo

Pundit

Can a partially collapsed lung heal itself?

Treatment depends on the cause and size of the collapsed lung and how long you have had it. A small pneumothorax causing mild or no symptoms may heal by itself. The extra air in the chest is usually absorbed through the surrounding tissues over the next few days. This allows the lung to fill with air again.

Parthenia Havrichev

Pundit

What can cause a lung to collapse?

Causes of collapsed lung include trauma to the chest cavity (fractured rib, penetrating trauma from a bullet, knife, or other sharp object), cigarette smoking, drug abuse, and certain lung diseases. Sometimes, the lung may collapse without an apparent injury, called spontaneous pneumothorax.

Ilko Grobosch

Teacher

Can you fly with a partially collapsed lung?

Persons with any of the following conditions should not travel by air: Pneumothorax (collapsed lung) within 2 to 3 weeks prior to travel. Pleural effusion (excess fluid occurring between the pleural layers) within 2 weeks prior to travel. Major chest surgery within 10 to 14 days prior to travel.

Shawana Meinertz

Teacher

Can't fill lungs all way?

What causes dyspnea?
  • asthma.
  • congestive heart failure.
  • myocardial ischemia, or reduced blood flow to the heart that's usually due to blockage that can lead to a heart attack.
  • chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
  • interstitial lung disease.
  • pneumonia.
  • psychogenic disorders, such as anxiety.

Allene Zugarrondo

Teacher

Can you live a normal life with one lung?

Living with one lung doesn't usually affect everyday tasks or life expectancy, though a person with one lung wouldn't be able to exercise as strenuously as a healthy person with two lungs, said Dr. Len Horovitz, a pulmonologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.

Aimei Heilprin

Teacher

Can you cough up alveoli?

When the alveoli are plugged, the transfer of oxygen to the blood from the lungs is severely impaired. People often have severe disability due to inadequate lung function. Most people also have a cough that often does not produce sputum, but occasionally people expectorate chunky gelatinous material.

Sidi Companys

Reviewer

How do you get pulmonary edema?

Pulmonary edema is often caused by congestive heart failure. When the heart is not able to pump efficiently, blood can back up into the veins that take blood through the lungs. As the pressure in these blood vessels increases, fluid is pushed into the air spaces (alveoli) in the lungs.

Razzaq Labisch

Reviewer

What are the symptoms of a partially collapsed lung?

Some symptoms of a collapsed lung are:
  • Sharp stabbing pain on one side of the chest;
  • The pain is made worse by breathing in;
  • Difficulty breathing;
  • A dry cough;
  • Rapid heart rate;
  • Chest tightness;
  • Fatigue.
  • Bluish skin colour due to lack of oxygen.

Wilma Hennmann

Reviewer

How can you tell the difference between atelectasis and pneumonia?

Pneumonia
Atelectasis Pneumonia
Volume Loss Associated Ipsilateral Shift Linear, Wedge-Shaped Apex at Hilum Normal or Increased Volume No Shift, or if Present Then Contralateral Consolidation, Air Space Process Not Centered at Hilum
Air bronchograms can occur in both.

Shanti Braunstein

Reviewer

Can a collapsed lung be repaired?

Treatment for a punctured lung varies depending on the severity of the trauma and the amount of damage to the lung. It's possible for a small pneumothorax to heal on its own. A large puncture wound would also require surgery, as the lung tissue would not be able to close immediately and repair itself.