eMedicine Specialties > Pediatrics: General Medicine > Pulmonology
Atelectasis, Pulmonary: Differential Diagnoses & Workup
Updated: Sep 8, 2009
- Overview
- Differential Diagnoses & Workup
- Treatment & Medication
- Follow-up
- Multimedia
Differential Diagnoses
Workup
Laboratory Studies
- Laboratory studies in pulmonary atelectasis should include measurement of oxygenation, either by oximetry or ABG.
- Pulmonary function studies may detect unrecognized airflow obstruction, restrictive disease, or decreased respiratory muscle pressures.
Imaging Studies
- CT scanning
- ChestCT scanning may help evaluate for compression of the airway.
- CT scanning may also detect any underlying pathology that predisposes to atelectasis. It may also reveal diffuse disease not suggested by plain radiography.
- Chest radiography: Plain chest radiography is often the first study to reveal atelectasis.
Procedures
- Flexible or rigid bronchoscopy may help distinguish intrinsic obstruction from extrinsic compression. These tests can also better define the nature of any intrinsic obstructing lesion.
- Bronchoscopy offers the advantage of potential treatment. This can include removal of secretions with a rigid or flexible bronchoscope or removal of a foreign body, generally with a rigid bronchoscope.
More on Atelectasis, Pulmonary |
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Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Atelectasis, Pulmonary |
| Treatment & Medication: Atelectasis, Pulmonary |
| Follow-up: Atelectasis, Pulmonary |
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References
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[Guideline] National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma (EPR-3). [Full Text].
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Miske LJ, Hickey EM, Kolb SM, et al. Use of the mechanical in-exsufflator in pediatric patients with neuromuscular disease and impaired cough. Chest. Apr 2004;125(4):1406-12. [Medline].
Schindler MB. Treatment of atelectasis: where is the evidence?. Crit Care. Aug 2005;9(4):341-2. [Medline].
Slattery DM, Waltz DA, Denham B, et al. Bronchoscopically administered recombinant human DNase for lobar atelectasis in cystic fibrosis. Pediatr Pulmonol. May 2001;31(5):383-8. [Medline].
Stiller K. Physiotherapy in intensive care: towards an evidence-based practice. Chest. Dec 2000;118(6):1801-13. [Medline].
Woodring JH. Determining the cause of pulmonary atelectasis: a comparison of plain radiography and CT. AJR Am J Roentgenol. Apr 1988;150(4):757-63. [Medline].
Wu KH, Lin CF, Huang CJ, Chen CC. Rigid ventilation bronchoscopy under general anesthesia for treatment of pediatric pulmonary atelectasis caused by pneumonia: A review of 33 cases. Int Surg. Sep-Oct 2006;91(5):291-4. [Medline].
Further Reading
Keywords
lung, pulmonary collapse, collapsed lung, asthma, cystic fibrosis, CF, hypoxemia, extrinsic airway obstruction, intrinsic airway obstruction, bronchiolitis, aspiration from swallowing disorder, endobronchial tuberculosis, aspiration from gastroesophageal reflux, airway foreign bodies, increased airway secretions, enlarged lymph nodes, compressed lung tissue, pulmonary atelectasis, transient hypoxemia, lymphoma, hypoventilation, tachypnea, treatment, diagnosis
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Atelectasis, Pulmonary