Atelectasis causes
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Somal Khan, M.D., Jacquelyne DiTroia
Overview
The most common cause is post-surgical atelectasis, characterized by splinting, restricted breathing after abdominal surgery. Outside of this context, atelectasis implies some blockage of a bronchiole or bronchus, which can be within the airway (foreign body, mucus plug), from the wall (tumor, usually squamous cell carcinoma) or compressing from the outside (tumor, lymph node, tubercle). Another cause is poor surfactant spreading during inspiration, causing an increase in surface tension which tends to collapse smaller alveoli.
Causes
Obstructive atelectasis: Most common type of atelectasis In case of obstruction from the trachea to the alveoli at any level, alveolar gas reabsorption may occur leading to diminished lung volume and subsequent atelectasis. The extent of atelectasis depends upon the level of obstruction: Lobar atelectasis: due to lobar bronchus obstruction Segmental atelectasis: leads to segmental bronchus obstruction
Causes of obstructive atelectasis: Foreign body Tumor Mucus plugs The rate and pattern of development of atelectasis depend on collateral ventilation and gas composition of inspired air. Non-obstructive atelectasis: Non obstructive atelectasis may occur due to severe lung scarring caused by necrotizing pneumonia or granulomatous diseases (cicatrisation atelectasis) or infiltration (replacement atelectasis), extrinsic lung compression (due to thoracic space occupying lesions), diminished levels of surfactant (adhesive atelectasis presenting as ARDS), and passive atelectasis due to absence of contact between the parietal and visceral pleurae due to fluid (pleural effusion), air (pneumothorax), blood (hemothorax) etc.
Atelectasis of the upper lobe commonly occurs due to pneumothorax, whereas atelectasis of the middle and lower lobes occurs due to pleural effusion. Rounded atelectasis: This is a form of atelectasis that is characterized by the formation of fibrous bands which adhere the lung to the pleura. There is a high association of rounded atelectasis in asbestosis due to the formation of fibrous pleural plaques. Mean age of presentation is 60 years. Middle lobe syndrome (Fixed or recurrent atelectasis of the lingula/right middle lobe): due to Sjogren’s syndrome Intraluminal or extraluminal obstruction (compression of the bronchi by adjacent structures) may result in middle lobe syndrome.
Non-obstructive causes may also lead to atelectasis of the middle lobe.
Common Causes
The most common causes of Atelectasis are:
- Anesthesia
- Foreign object in the airway
- Lung Disease
- Mucus Plug
- Pleural Effusion
- Tumors
- Blood clot
- Chest Trauma
- Pneumonia
- Pneumothorax
- Scarring of Lung Tissue
- Acetaminophen
- Follitropin beta
- Urofollitropin
Causes by Organ System
| Cardiovascular | No underlying causes |
| Chemical / poisoning | No underlying causes |
| Dermatologic | No underlying causes |
| Drug Side Effect | Anesthesia, Acetaminophen, Follitropin beta, Urofollitropin |
| Ear Nose Throat | Mucus Plug |
| Endocrine | No underlying causes |
| Environmental | No underlying causes |
| Gastroenterologic | No underlying causes |
| Genetic | No underlying causes |
| Hematologic | Blood clot |
| Iatrogenic | No underlying causes |
| Infectious Disease | No underlying causes |
| Musculoskeletal / Ortho | No underlying causes |
| Neurologic | No underlying causes |
| Nutritional / Metabolic | No underlying causes |
| Obstetric/Gynecologic | No underlying causes |
| Oncologic | Tumors |
| Opthalmologic | No underlying causes |
| Overdose / Toxicity | No underlying causes |
| Psychiatric | No underlying causes |
| Pulmonary | Lung Disease, Pleural Effusion, Pneumonia, Pneumothorax, Scarring of Lung Tissue |
| Renal / Electrolyte | No underlying causes |
| Rheum / Immune / Allergy | No underlying causes |
| Sexual | No underlying causes |
| Trauma | Chest Trauma |
| Urologic | No underlying causes |
| Dental | No underlying causes |
| Miscellaneous | Foreign object in the airway |
Causes in Alphabetical Order
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