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.