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
Atelectasis may arise due to obstructive and non-obstructive causes.
Obstructive atelectasis
- Obstructive atelectasis, which is the most common type of atelectasis may develop due to obstruction by foreign bodies, tumors and mucus plugs. In case of obstruction from the trachea to the alveoli at any level, alveolar gas reabsorption may occur leading to subsequent atelectasis.
- Middle lobe syndrome (fixed or recurrent atelectasis of the lingula/ right middle lobe) may occur due to Sjogren’s syndrome. Intraluminal or extraluminal obstruction (compression of the bronchi by adjacent structures) may result in middle lobe syndrome.
Non-obstructive atelectasis
- Non obstructive atelectasis may occur due to the following reasons:
- Severe lung scarring caused by necrotizing pneumonia or granulomatous diseases: Cicatrisation atelectasis
- Lung infiltration: Replacement atelectasis
- Extrinsic lung compression: due to thoracic space occupying lesions
- Diminished levels of surfactant: Adhesive atelectasis presenting as ARDS
- Absence of contact between the parietal and visceral pleurae due to fluid (pleural effusion), air (pneumothorax), blood (hemothorax): Passive atelectasis
- Atelectasis of the upper lobe commonly occurs due to pneumothorax, whereas atelectasis of the middle and lower lobes occurs due to pleural effusion.
- Formation of fibrous bands which adhere the lung to the pleura in patients with asbestosis: Rounded atelectasis
Common Causes
The most common causes of Atelectasis are:
- Anesthesia
- Foreign bodies
- 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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