Atelectasis
Alternate Names : Airless Lung
What can be done to prevent the condition?
In some cases, a person may be able to reduce his or her risk for this condition by
exercising regularly and by not smoking or breathing in second-hand
smoke.
Atelectasis can also be a complication of surgery.
When possible, healthcare providers should:
have the person breathe on his or her own after surgery, rather than
relying on a ventilator,
which is an artificial breathing machine
limit the time a person spends under
anesthesia
help the person breathe deeply, cough, and walk around right after surgery
use incentive spirometers, which are inexpensive plastic meters, to increase
airflow into the lungs after the surgery
What are the long-term effects of the condition?
The long-term effects are often related to the cause.
Atelectasis due to surgery should have no long-term effects. Once
treated with breathing exercises, the lung should function well
again. Chronic illnesses, such as emphysema
or cystic fibrosis,
may result in atelectasis that never completely resolves. Scar tissue
can form inside of the lung as a result of chronic atelectasis. These
scarred areas may never function well again.
What are the risks to others?
People with congenital lung diseases, such as
cystic fibrosis,
may pass a risk of atelectasis on to their children.
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