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 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
- 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
- Formation of fibrous bands which adhere the lung to the pleura in patients with asbestosis: Rounded atelectasis
- Complication of surgery or anaesthesia leading to decreased surfactant activity and dysfunction of the diaphragm: Postoperative atelectasis
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
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