Passive atelectasis
Last revised by Levon Davtyan on 1 Dec 2021
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Hacking C, Davtyan L, Bell D, et al. Passive atelectasis. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 16 Apr 2024) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-66446
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rID:
66446
Article created:
Disclosures:
At the time the article was created Craig Hacking had no recorded disclosures.
View Craig Hacking's current disclosures
Last revised:
1 Dec 2021,
Levon Davtyan
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Levon Davtyan had no recorded disclosures.
View Levon Davtyan's current disclosures
Revisions:
8 times, by
6 contributors -
see full revision history and disclosures
Systems:
Tags:
Synonyms:
- passive atelectasis
- relaxation atelectasis
Passive atelectasis, also known as relaxation atelectasis, refers to a form of lung atelectasis due to loss of the negative pressure state in the pleural space. With a loss of the negative intrapleural pressure, the lung is no longer held against the chest wall and is said to relax back to its normal volume. There may not be a significant increase in density from the atelectasis as perfusion of the affected lung also decreases.
On this page:
Clinical presentation
The clinical presentation would depend on the extent of atelectasis and how quickly it develops. Small and gradually developing areas of atelectasis may be asymptomatic or present as a non-productive cough. Larger areas that develop more quickly can present with features of hypoxia and respiratory failure.
Physical examination of the lung may reveal diminished movement of the affected area, dullness on percussion, decreased or absent breath sounds, and deviation of the trachea to the affected site.
Pathology
Etiology
Causes of passive atelectasis may be grouped into three main categories:
- simple pneumothorax
-
diaphragmatic abnormalities
- diaphragmatic hernia
- paralysis of the diaphragm
- congenital eventration of the diaphragm
- conditions of hypoventilation
- pleural effusion
- hemothorax
- pleural tumor
- chest wall mass lesion
Quiz questions
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References
- 1. W. Richard Webb, Charles B. Higgins. Thoracic Imaging. (2010) ISBN: 9781605479767
- 2. Kumar. Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease, Professional Edition, 8th ed. Saunders. 2009. Purchase from Amazon
- 3. Wolfgang Dähnert. Radiology Review Manual. (2019) ISBN: 9780781766203
- 4. Richard B. Gunderman. Essential Radiology. (2019) ISBN: 9781588900821
- 5. Ray, Komal, Bodenham, Andrew, Paramasivam, Elankumaran. Pulmonary atelectasis in anaesthesia and critical care. (2014) Continuing Education in Anaesthesia Critical Care & Pain. 14 (5): 236. doi:10.1093/bjaceaccp/mkt064
- 6. Woodring JH, Reed JC. Types and mechanisms of pulmonary atelectasis. (1996) Journal of thoracic imaging. 11 (2): 92-108. Pubmed
Incoming Links
Cases:
- Hepatic abscesses and large splenic abscess
- Catamenial pneumothorax
- Kidney injury due to fall
- Small bowel obstruction due to wandering gastrostomy tube
- Clostridioides difficile colitis
- Ivor Lewis esophagectomy complication
- Pleural sarcomatoid mesothelioma
- Chronic pancreatitis with intrahepatic and intrasplenic pseudocysts
- Delayed traumatic splenic rupture
- Massive aortic aneurysm, dissection and pericardial effusion
Multiple choice questions:
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