Guide To Diagnosing And Treating Atelectasis

If the small sacs in the lungs deflate or become filled with fluid, this is often referred to as atelectasis, more commonly referred to as a collapsed lung. This collapse of the lung can affect the entire lung, as in a full collapse, or may only affect a portion of the lung, which is considered a partial collapse. Atelectasis is more likely to occur following a surgical procedure because of anesthesia complications, but this condition may also occur as a complication of another lung disease or infection or as a result of the inhalation of a foreign object into the lung. A medical professional must diagnose this condition to provide the appropriate treatment that will restore lung function.

Get the full details on diagnosing and treating atelectasis now.

Thorax Ultrasound

In the past, there were very few ways to tell if a patient had a collapsed lung, and of these, most were fairly invasive and often resulted in serious complications or death to the patient. Today, a thorax ultrasound chest can provide a valuable image to medical professionals and is performed in a noninvasive manner. Sounds waves inaudible to the human ear move at different speeds depending on the type of tissue, producing an image that can differentiate between bones, soft tissues, and air. With a thorax ultrasound, the examining physician can then make a proper diagnosis, such as for atelectasis.

Keep reading for details on how a bronchoscopy can help in diagnosing atelectasis next.