Atelectasis

Acute cases: Dyspnoea, tachycardia, cyanosis, chest pain, fever and hypoxaemia.
Chronic cases: No symptoms, only diagnosed on X-ray.
Important signs include retraction and immobility of chest on one side, displacement of mediastinum towards affected side, impaired percussion note on affected side with hyper resonance on healthy side, diminished to absent breath sounds on affected side.
Radiological findings consistent with atelectasis are lobar or segmental density, often homogeneous with reduction in the size of the affected lobe. Tracheal deviation to affected side with elevation of dia-phragm in massive atelectasis.

1. Oxygen inhalation.

2. Relief of pain with low doses of Morphine or Pethidine.

💢Relief of obstruction:

i. Removal of foreign body by bronchoscopic

manoeuvre.

ii. Removal of secretion by mucolytics (Brom-

hexine), bronchodilators, postural drainage.

iii. Tracheal suction.

💢Antibiotics to prevent infection in atelectic lung.

💊Cap.Fimox(Amoxicillin) (500mg)

1+1+1........10 days

💢Assisted ventilation: Tracheostomy may be

performed for the purpose of reducing the dead

space and to facilitate aspiration of secretions. Inter-

mittent positive pressure breathing greatly helps

the seriously ill patient.

💢In postoperative atelectasis the main treatment is

induction of hyperventilation and stimulation of

coughing.

Protocols