Definition

Noun: 1. The collapse of a lung or part of a lung: A medical condition where the lung's air sacs (alveoli) deflate, preventing normal oxygen exchange. 2. The failure of the lungs to expand properly at birth: A specific type of atelectasis occurring in newborns where the pulmonary alveoli do not inflate.

Usage

• General Medical Context: Used to describe a clinical finding, diagnosis, or complication, often following surgery, due to obstruction, or as a congenital condition.
• Specific to Infants: Used in pediatric and neonatal medicine to describe a lung condition present from birth.

Examples

• The chest X-ray confirmed atelectasis in the patient's lower left lobe following the prolonged surgery.
• Premature infants are at a higher risk for developing atelectasis due to surfactant deficiency.
• The doctor explained that the postoperative fever could be a sign of atelectasis.

Advanced Usage

• "Resorption atelectasis": A type of atelectasis caused by an obstruction (like a mucus plug) that traps air, which is then absorbed into the bloodstream, leading to lung collapse.
• "Compression atelectasis": A type of atelectasis caused by external pressure on the lung, such as from a tumor, fluid, or air in the pleural space.

Variants and Related Words

• Atelectatic (adj): Pertaining to or affected by atelectasis.
  • The scan showed atelectatic changes in the right lung base.

Synonyms

• Lung collapse
• (Partial) pulmonary collapse

Antonyms

• Lung expansion
• Pulmonary inflation

Related Medical Terms (Contextual)

• Pneumonia: An infection that can cause or result from atelectasis.
• Bronchoscopy: A procedure often used to diagnose or treat the cause of atelectasis (e.g., removing an obstruction).
• Surfactant: A substance that keeps alveoli open; its deficiency is a common cause of neonatal atelectasis.

Noun

1. collapse of an expanded lung (especially in infants); also failure of pulmonary alveoli to expand at birth