Patient was educated regarding risk factors for atelectasis as follows:
- Chronic bronchitis and unresolved pulmonary infections
- These conditions present with increased mucus secretion and formation of mucus plugs in the airways blocking the airways.
- So, conduction of air is blocked and patients can develop collapsed portions in the lung.
- Patients with abdominal surgeries
- Patients who had abdominal surgeries and incisions on the abdominal wall tend to breathe shallow, secondary to pain at the surgical sites on deep breathing.
- So, they stand a high risk for development of atelectasis.
- Abnormal accumulation of fluid and air in the pleural cavity, such as, in pleural effusion and pneumothorax, can exert pressure preventing expansion of the lung and result in atelectasis.
