Lung Disorder: Atelectasis

Question 1

What is atelectasis?

Answer 1

partial collapse of the lung

Question 2

The collapsed part is _________ for ________ b/c w/o _________ air cannot ______ the lungs and no ____ ________ occur

Answer 2

non-functional

ventilation

expansion

enter

GE

Question 3

It is a _________ of other _________ problem and the affected part is described as ___________

Answer 3

complication

underlying

airlessness

Question 4

What are the 3 types of Atelectasis?

Answer 4

1. obstructive/resorptive
2. compression
3. contraction

Question 5

Describe obstructive Atelectasis.

Answer 5

obstruction in a/w–> air cannot enter or exit–> air trapped in alveoli–> air is absorbed into the vasculature (eg capillaries) –>local collapse

Question 6

Describe Compression Atelectasis.

Answer 6

external pressure against lung (eg alveoli)—> prevent expansion—> air is pushed out of alveoli–> local collapse

Question 7

Describe Contraction Atelectasis.

Answer 7

tissue injury –> fibrotic changes –> decrease ability of lung to expand–> scar tissue contraction –>limits lung volume—> local collapse

Question 8

In scar tissue contraction, why is it difficult for the two ends to come together and heal?

Answer 8

surfactant prevents the opposing surfaces from sticking to each other

Question 9

Manifestations (5)

Answer 9

1. dyspnea
2. tachypnea
3. tachycardia
4. decrease chest expansion
5. tracheal shift

Question 10

Dyspnea is present with _____

Answer 10

hypoxia

Question 11

What is tachypnea? value? Why does it occur?

Answer 11

increase RR –> exceeds 20 breathes per min

increase RR–> increase ventilation—>increase air in lung —->increase GE

Question 12

Why does tachycardia occur?

Answer 12

tissues are hypoxic and needs more O2 therefore HR increase to remove more CO2 and deliver more O2

Question 13

Why is there a decrease chest expansion on px? Is chest expansion bilateral or unilateral?

Answer 13

part of the lung collapsed and will not expand equally

unilateral chest expansion

Question 14

How does a tracheal shift happen?

Answer 14

there is less pressure on the affected side and as the unaffected side inflate it pushes the trachea to the affected side

Question 15

What are some exception of a tracheal shift to the affected side?

Answer 15

if there is a build-up of fluid in the pleural space uniformly around the lungs, there can be an increase pressure on the affected side and and trachea shifts to the unaffected side

Question 16

Diagnosis of Atelectasis (4)

Answer 16

1. hx and px: cardiac/pulm
2. CXR: initial detection
3. CT: more precise location/extent
4. Bronchoscopy

Question 17

How does a bronchoscopy work?

Answer 17

scope is introduced in trachea –> bronchi–> finer a/w to detect obstruction

can also remove obstruction

Question 18

Treatment of Atelectasis

Answer 18

1. depends on cause–> obstruction or compression (tumor or form of injury)
2. respiratory support eg O2 supplement

Question 19

When part of lung collapse, it becomes ______

Answer 19

airless

Question 20

What is the fxn of surfactant?

Answer 20

secreted into alveolar space to decrease surface tension within alveoli