Atelectasis causes
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Sudarshana Datta, MD [2]
Overview
The most common cause of atelectasis is postoperative atelectasis, due to the effect of surgical manipulation or general anaesthesia on the patient. Obstructive atelectasis mostly develops due to blockage within the bronchiole or bronchus, which may be within the airway (foreign bodies, mucus plugs), arising from the wall (tumors such as squamous cell carcinoma) or space occupying lesions within the thoracic cavity (tumor, lymph node, tubercle). Causes of non-obstructive atelectasis include impaired surfactant formation or activation, leading to alveolar collapse due to increased surface tension.
Causes
Atelectasis may arise due to obstructive and non-obstructive causes.
Obstructive atelectasis
Common causes of obstructive atelectasis include obstruction by:[1]
Non-obstructive atelectasis
| Type of non-obstructive atelectasis | Pathophysiology behind atelectasis |
|---|---|
| Cicatrisation atelectasis | Severe lung scarring caused by necrotizing pneumonia or granulomatous diseases |
| Replacement atelectasis | Lung infiltration |
| Adhesive atelectasis | Diminished levels of surfactant
Presents as ARDS |
| Passive atelectasis | Absence of contact between the parietal and visceral pleurae due to
|
| Rounded atelectasis | Formation of fibrous bands which adhere the lung to the pleura in patients with asbestosis |
| Postoperative atelectasis | Complication of surgery or anaesthesia leading to decreased surfactant activity and dysfunction of the diaphragm |
Common Causes
The most common causes of atelectasis are:
- Anesthesia
- Foreign bodies
- Lung Disease: Pulmonary embolism, lower respiratory tract infections
- Mucus plug
- Pleural Effusion
- Tumors
- Blood clot
- Chest trauma
- Pneumonia
- Pneumothorax
- Scarring of lung parenchyma
- 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
|
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 “Atelectasis – Symptoms and causes – Mayo Clinic”.
- ↑ Chen HA, Lai SL, Kwang WK, Liu JC, Chen CH, Huang DF (2006). “Middle lobe syndrome as the pulmonary manifestation of primary Sjögren’s syndrome”. Med. J. Aust. 184 (6): 294–5. PMID 16548837.
- ↑ Rosenbloom SA, Ravin CE, Putman CE, Sealy WC, Vock P, Clark TJ, Godwin JD, Chen JT, Baber C (1983). “Peripheral middle lobe syndrome”. Radiology. 149 (1): 17–21. doi:10.1148/radiology.149.1.6611925. PMID 6611925.
- ↑ “Atelectasis | Causes, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention”.
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