Compressive atelectasis is a medical condition in which a patient's lung cannot be fully inflated, limiting the volume of air that the patient can inhale with a given breath. This condition can have a number of causes and requires medical treatment to address the lung dysfunction and help the patient breathe. Patients with untreated compressive atelectasis may be at risk for complications associated with low oxygenation, such as organ damage. The condition may also be associated with another medical problem that requires treatment, even if the patient does not experience problems due to decreased lung function.
In patients with compressive atelectasis, air is expelled from the alveoli, the small sacs within the lungs that facilitate gas exchange. Contact between the inner and outer pleura is lost as the lung deflates. This contact is critical for managing surface tension to allow the lung to inflate after the patient exhales. When the pleura is not in contact, the patient will have trouble filling the lung, because the surface tension increases. The lung may lie flat or it may partially inflate.
One possible cause of compressive atelectasis is distention in the abdomen. This can occur in certain diseases; as a result of surgical complications; or as a result of a serious injury. The distended abdomen can push against the lung, forcing the alveoli to deflate and breaking the surface tension that keeps the lung functional. Patients can also experience this condition if there is a mass present in the chest and it becomes large enough to press against the lung. This can be seen in some lung cancer patients.
A patient with compressive atelectasis may experience symptoms such as wheezing, wheezing, chest pain, and shortness of breath. In a medical exam, a doctor can detect decreased breath sounds on the affected side. Medical imaging can provide more information about what is going on inside the chest, although sometimes the case may be obvious; the patient could have a very distended abdomen due to infection, for example.
Treatment options may include addressing the cause, providing the patient with medication and physical therapy, and respiratory support, if necessary. Some patients may need a bronchoscopic examination of the lungs, which may provide an opportunity to examine or remove a mass. In some cases, surgery is required to treat the problem and restore the patient's normal lung function. The patient may also need therapy after treatment to rebuild strength and monitor lung function in case it does not return to previous levels.