What does left lower lobe atelectasis mean?

What does left lower lobe atelectasis mean?

Atelectasis (at-uh-LEK-tuh-sis) is a complete or partial collapse of the entire lung or area (lobe) of the lung. It occurs when the tiny air sacs (alveoli) within the lung become deflated or possibly filled with alveolar fluid. Atelectasis is one of the most common breathing (respiratory) complications after surgery.

What does atelectasis mean on a CT scan?

Atelectasis refers to either incomplete expansion of the lungs or the collapse of previously inflated lungs, which produces areas of relatively airless pulmonary parenchyma.

How do you do deep breathing exercises for atelectasis?

Deep Breathing Exercises

  1. Breathe in deeply and slowly through your nose, expanding your lower rib cage, and letting your abdomen move forward.
  2. Hold for a count of 3 to 5.
  3. Breathe out slowly and completely through pursed lips. Don’t force your breath out.
  4. Rest and repeat 10 times every hour.

What does atelectasis look like on CT scan?

Definition of Atelectasis: On x-rays and CT scans, reduced volume is seen, accompanied by increased opacity (chest radiograph) or attenuation (CT scan) in the affected part of the lung. Atelectasis is often associated with abnormal displacement of fissures, bronchi, vessels, diaphragm, heart, or mediastinum.

What are the three types of atelectasis?

There are three major types of atelectasis: adhesive, compressive, and obstructive.

Can atelectasis lead to pneumonia?

Atelectasis is collapse of lung tissue with loss of volume. Patients may have dyspnea or respiratory failure if atelectasis is extensive. They may also develop pneumonia. Atelectasis is usually asymptomatic, but hypoxemia and pleuritic chest pain may be present in certain cases.

How do you increase atelectasis?

Treatment

  1. Performing deep-breathing exercises (incentive spirometry) and using a device to assist with deep coughing may help remove secretions and increase lung volume.
  2. Positioning your body so that your head is lower than your chest (postural drainage).
  3. Tapping on your chest over the collapsed area to loosen mucus.

Does exercise help atelectasis?

Deep breathing exercises help improve your lung function and reduce your risk for atelectasis. An incentive spirometer may be used after surgery to help you breathe deeply and slowly.

Which is the best description of platelike atelectasis?

Collapse of the portion of the lung distal to an obstructed subsegmental bronchus, manifested as a linear opacity on a chest radiograph. Synonym (s): platelike atelectasis.

What does linear atelectasis in the lung look like?

Atelectasis is an area of the lung that is not receiving air. This is often referred to as a collapsed area of the lung. Generally this is due to something blocking the airway in that area of the lung. Linear atelectasis is collapsed areas of the lung that have a horizontal appearance. These areas look like a CD, viewed from the side.

Is there a difference between linear and subsegmental atelectasis?

Conversely, subsegmental atelectasis includes both linear atelectases and all other forms of atelectasis that do not involve a whole bronchopulmonary segment . In other words, every linear atelectasis is subsegmental atelectasis, but not every subsegmental atelectasis is linear atelectasis.

Who was the linear atelectasis named after?

In other words, every linear atelectasis is a subsegmental atelectasis, but not every subsegmental atelectasis is a linear atelectasis. Fleischner lines were named after Felix Fleischner (1893-1969), an Austrian-American radiologist, who first described them in 1938. 1. Woodring JH, Reed JC.