Atelectasis

partly or completely collapse lungs
not a disease but a condition associated w/ many respiratory disorders.

Cause:
obstruction of the bronchus, may be small or the entire lobe.
compression of the lung by pneumothorax, pleural effusion, or tumor; loss of surfactant or inability to keep an alveoli open

Manifestation:
for small atelectasis - diminished breath sounds over the affected area
bigger one - absent breath sounds, tachycardia, tachypnea, hypoxemia, dyspnea, cyanosis, reduced chest expansion

do a chest x-ray or ct scan to determine cause

Tx:
prevention is important for high risk patients - chest physiotherapy
cough, deep breath, spirometry, chest therapy
bronchoscopy if there is an obstruction that needs to be remove
antibiotic therapy to treat infectious cause (focus is treating the underlying cause)

position on the unaffected side to promote gravity drainage of the affected side
frequent position change, ambulation, coughing, deep breathing
fluids will help liquify secretions