How do you fix atelectasis

You may need the assistance of a breathing machine until your lungs can recover and the cause is treated. Depending on the underlying cause, a healthcare professional might suggest one or more of these treatments:. Healthcare professionals will usually only do this after trying all other options or in cases involving permanently scarred lungs. To help prevent atelectasis during and after surgery, healthcare professionals may recommend that you:. Children may be at a higher risk of inhaling small objects.

You can help prevent them from developing obstructive atelectasis by keeping small objects safely out of reach. People who have to stay in bed for long periods of time should try to move around regularly. Mild atelectasis is rarely life threatening and usually goes away quickly once the cause is addressed. Atelectasis that affects most of your lung or happens suddenly is almost always caused by a life threatening condition, such as a blockage of a major airway or when a large amount of fluid or air is compressing one or both lungs.

Pleural effusion, also called water on the lung, happens when fluid builds up between your lungs and chest cavity. Learn why this happens and how to…. Spirometry is an important test for your lung health. Learn what to expect from the test and how to interpret your results. Research has shown that lifestyle modifications, including following a nutrient-rich diet, can help protect your lungs. Here are 20 foods that may….

The results of a lung needle biopsy help doctors diagnose conditions such as infection and cancer. Learn more about what to expect before, during, and…. If you live with breathing difficulties, a lung cleanse may help. Learn how to clean your lungs with exercise, diet changes, and other remedies. 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. Atelectasis usually gets better with time or treatment. However, if it is undiagnosed or untreated, serious complications can occur, including fluid buildup, pneumonia , and respiratory failure.

Visit Collapsed Lung for more information about this topic. 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. URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. Learn more about A. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition.

A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. They include: CT scan. Since a CT is a more sensitive technique than an X-ray, it may sometimes help better detect the cause and type of atelectasis. This simple test uses a small device placed on one of your fingers to measure your blood-oxygen level.

It helps determine the severity of atelectasis. Ultrasound of the thorax. This noninvasive test can help tell the difference between atelectasis, hardening and swelling of a lung due to fluid in the air sacs lung consolidation , and pleural effusion. A flexible, lighted tube inserted down your throat allows your doctor to see what may be causing a blockage, such as a mucus plug, tumor or foreign body.

This procedure may also be used to remove the blockages. More Information Bronchoscopy Spirometry. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Ferri FF. In: Ferri's Clinical Advisor Philadelphia, Pa.