Niedodma płuc w praktyce anestezjologicznej Część I. Etiologia i rozpoznawanie.

Atelectasis is one of the most commonly encountered abnormalities in patients undergoing general anaesthesia and in mechanically ventilated critically ill patients, treated in critical care units remaining a daily diagnostic challenge. Atelectasis describes loss of lung volume due to collapse of lung tissue. It can be classified according to: pathophysiologic mechanism, amount of lung involved and location. General anaesthesia induces ventilation/perfusion mismatch by lung collapse. Air retained distal to occlusion is resorbed from non-ventilated alveoli causing affected region to become totally airless and then collapse. Such lung collapse predisposes patients to postoperative complications. Atelectasis in critically ill mechanically ventilated patients is a common problem caused by a variety of mechanisms. The disorder is evident radiologically as an increase in density of the collapsed lung, with reduced volume of the involved hemithorax such as narrowed rib interspaces, elevated hemidiaphragm, and mediastinal shift to the side of involvement. Examination of a chest radiograph may be helpful to determine whether proximal or distal airway obstruction is involved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]