What is Atelectasis ?

Atelectasis is shriveling, some or all of the lung caused by blockage of the airways (bronchi and bronchioles) or by very shallow breathing.


Medial lobe syndrome

Medial lobe atelectasis syndrome is a long-term, where the lobe media (middle) of the right lung to contract. The cause usually is the emphasis bronchus by a tumor or enlarged lymph nodes. The lungs are clogged and contract, can develop into pneumonia that can not be fully recovered and chronic inflammation, scarring and bronchiectasis.


Atelectasis ACCELERATION

Atlektasis acceleration usually happen on a fighter pilot. High-speed flight will close the small airways, causing the alveoli (tiny air pockets in the lungs) shrunk.


MIKROATELEKTASIS scattered or localized

In these circumstances, the lung surfactant system is impaired. Surfactant is a substance that coats the alveoli and function lowers the surface tension, thus preventing wrinkling. When premature babies lack surfactant, they will experience respiratory distress syndrome.

Adults can also experience mikroatelektsis because:
- Excessive oxygen therapy
- Severe and widespread infection (sepsis)
- Other factors that damage the lining of the alveoli.


CAUSE
The main cause of atelectasis is obstruction of a bronchus. Bronchi are two main branches of the trachea leading directly to the lungs. Blockage can also occur in the smaller airways. Blockage can be caused by the presence of mucus clots, tumors or foreign objects sucked into the bronchi. Or bronchi can be blocked by something pressing from the outside, such as tumors or enlarged lymph nodes.

If the airway is blocked, the air in the alveoli will be absorbed into the bloodstream so that the alveoli will shrink and thicken. Lung tissue that contract is usually filled with blood cells, serum, mucus and then will become infected.

Risk factor for atelectasis:

Anesthesia (anesthesia) / surgery
Long-term bed rest without change of position
Shallow breathing
Lung disease.


SYMPTOMS
Atelectasis can occur slowly and cause only a mild shortness of breath. Patients with medial lobe syndrome may have no symptoms at all, although many who suffer from short cough.

Symptoms can include:
- Respiratory problems
- Chest pain
- Cough.

If accompanied by an infection, may develop a fever and increased heart rate, sometimes to shock (very low blood pressure).


Diagnosis
Diagnosis based on symptoms and physical examination. Chest X-rays will show the existence of air-free areas in the lungs. To determine the cause of the blockage may need to be done a CT scan or fiber-optic bronchoscopy.


TREATMENT
The goal of treatment is to remove phlegm from the lungs and re-develop the affected lung tissue.

Actions are wont to do:

Lying on the side of healthy lungs so that the lungs are exposed again to inflate
Eliminate the blockage, either through bronchoscopy or other procedures
Practice deep breathing (incentive spirometry)
Percussion (pat) to thin the phlegm chest
Postural drainage
Antibiotics are given for all infections
Treatment of tumors or other circumstances.
In certain cases, if the infection is persistent or recurrent, difficult or cause bleeding, it is usually part of the affected lung may need to be removed.

Once the blockage is removed, usually gradually deflated lung will re-inflate, with or without the formation of scar tissue or other damage.


PREVENTION
There are several ways you can do to prevent the occurrence of atelectasis:

After undergoing surgery, the patient should be encouraged to breathe deeply, cough regularly and return to activity as quickly as possible.
Although smokers have a greater risk, but this risk can be lowered by quitting smoking in 6-8 weeks before surgery.
A person with chest abnormality or neurological conditions that cause shallow breathing in the long term, it might be better to use mechanical aids to assist breathing. This machine will produce continuous pressure to the lungs so that even at the end of a respiratory, respiratory tract can not be shrunk.