Pleural effusion is a buildup of fluid in the space between the outside lining of your lung and the lining of your inner chest wall. Usually, these two linings are in close contact, with the lining of the chest wall helping hold the lungs open. This helps keep your lung expanded. However, a pleural effusion causes the linings to separate and lose contact with each other.
The elastic tissue in your lung pulls inward, driving air out of your alveoli. People sometimes confuse atelectasis with pneumothorax , which is also called collapsed lung. That said, pneumothorax can lead to atelectasis because your alveoli will deflate as your lung collapses.
Pneumothorax is very similar to pleural effusion but involves a buildup of air, rather than fluid, between the linings of your lung and chest. Air gets stuck in the space between the outside of your lung and your inner chest wall. This causes your lung to shrink or collapse, squeezing air out of your alveoli. Lung scarring is also called pulmonary fibrosis.
Long-term exposure to irritants, including cigarette smoke, can also cause it. This scarring is permanent and makes it harder for your alveoli to inflate. Any kind of mass or growth near your lungs can put pressure on your lung. This can force some of the air out of your alveoli, causing them to deflate. The walls of your alveoli are normally coated with a substance called surfactant that helps them stay open.
When there is too little of it, the alveoli collapse. Surfactant deficiency tends to happen to infants who are born prematurely. Risk factors for atelectasis include:. The medicines used to make you sleep during surgery can affect the way your lungs work, or the procedure itself can make it painful to breathe deeply.
To help prevent atelectasis during and after surgery, your medical team may ask you to stop smoking and give you breathing exercises, medicines, or a breathing device such as a CPAP machine. Atelectasis may not cause signs or symptoms if it affects only a small area of lung. If it affects a larger area of the lung, it can cause fever, shallow breathing, wheezing, or coughing.
The most common test used to diagnose atelectasis is a chest X-ray. Bronchoscopy or imaging tests can confirm a diagnosis. Atelectasis treatment can include breathing or coughing exercises, inhaled medicines, breathing devices, or surgery. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission.
This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Atelectasis at-uh-LEK-tuh-sis is a complete or partial collapse of the entire lung or area lobe of the lung. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Ferri FF. In: Ferri's Clinical Advisor Philadelphia, Pa. Accessed July 10, Conde MV, et al. Overview of the management of postoperative pulmonary complications.
Accessed July 20, Goldman L, et al. In an adult, atelectasis in a small area of the lung is usually not life threatening. The rest of the lung can make up for the collapsed area, bringing in enough oxygen for the body to function. Large areas of atelectasis may be life threatening, often in a baby or small child, or in someone who has another lung disease or illness. The collapsed lung usually reinflates slowly if the airway blockage has been removed. Scarring or damage may remain. The outlook depends on the underlying disease.
For example, people with extensive cancer often don't do well, while those with simple atelectasis after surgery have a very good outcome. Kendig's Disorders of the Respiratory Tract in Children. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; chap Conn's Current Therapy Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; Rozenfeld RA. In: Kliegman RM, St. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics.
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