Patient was educated regarding risk factors for atelectasis as follows:
- Prolonged shallow breathing
- Deep breathing demands some voluntary effort in senior citizens.
- Due to lack of energy and generalized weakness, senior citizens tend to breathe shallow and prolonged periods of shallow breathing can result in atelectasis.
- Hospitalization and bedrest
- Usually, gravity during weight bearing and ambulation, normally provides some distension to the lungs.
- In patients with prolonged hospitalization and bedrest, this factor is compromised and so, patients are more prone to develop under ventilated areas in the lungs and consequently, develop atelectasis.
- Foreign body obstructing an airway can result in atelectasis
