Full Answer
What is lobar collapse of the lung?
Lobar collapse refers to the collapse of an entire lobe of the lung. As such it is a subtype of atelectasis (collapse is not entirely synonymous with atelectasis, which is a more generic term for 'incomplete expansion'). Individual lobes of the lung may collapse due to obstruction of the supplying bronchus.
How is lobar collapse identified on CT?
Lobar collapse is usually trivially easy to identify on CT, but identification of the cause is not always easy, as the collapsed lung can make identification of an obstructing lesion difficult. The density of the collapsed lobe is high post contrast administration. 1. Proto AV, Tocino I. Radiographic manifestations of lobar collapse.
What factors influence the typical appearance of lobar collapse?
Several factors may influence the typical appearance of lobar collapse, including pre-existing lung disease, amount of volume loss, concomitant consolidation, pleural effusion or the presence of pneumothorax.
What are the classical rules of lobar collapse?
There a several classical rules that a lobar collapse follows 9: Several factors may influence the typical appearance of lobar collapse, including pre-existing lung disease, amount of volume loss, concomminant consolidation, pleural effusion or the presence of pneumothorax.
What causes lobar collapse?
Lobar collapse may be caused by bronchial obstruction, which may be extrinsic, intramural, or intraluminal, from within the lung by infection and scarring, or from mass effect outside the lung by direct extrinsic compression. Many signs on the chest radiograph, which suggest lobar collapse, have been described.
What is a lobe collapse?
Atelectasis (at-uh-LEK-tuh-sis) is a complete or partial collapse of the entire lung or area (lobe) of the lung. It occurs when the tiny air sacs (alveoli) within the lung become deflated or possibly filled with alveolar fluid. Atelectasis is one of the most common breathing (respiratory) complications after surgery.
How is lobar collapse treated?
Nebulized bronchodilators and humidity may help liquefy secretions and promote their easy removal. In the case of lobar atelectasis, vigorous chest physiotherapy frequently helps re-expand the collapsed lung. When these efforts are not successful within 24 hours, flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy could be performed.
What is the most common cause of lobar atelectasis?
Lobar atelectasis occurs in a variety of medical conditions, such as a critical illness, a postoperative complication, a trauma, or lung cancer. The main etiology of lobar atelectasis is bronchial obstruction by mucus plugs from buildup of copious purulent secretions due to defective clearance mechanisms.
How serious is a collapsed lung?
Symptoms usually include sudden chest pain and shortness of breath. On some occasions, a collapsed lung can be a life-threatening event. Treatment for a pneumothorax usually involves inserting a needle or chest tube between the ribs to remove the excess air. However, a small pneumothorax may heal on its own.
How do you fix a collapsed lung?
Some people with a collapsed lung need extra oxygen. Lung surgery may be needed to treat collapsed lung or to prevent future episodes. The area where the leak occurred may be repaired. Sometimes, a special chemical is placed into the area of the collapsed lung.
Is collapsed lung reversible?
Atelectasis usually resolves itself with time or treatment, while lung or airway collapse is reversible. For example, most people who develop atelectasis due to surgery recover 24 hours afterward. However, if atelectasis is left undiagnosed or untreated, serious complications can develop.
What happens if a collapsed lung does not inflate?
The blood delivers the oxygen to organs and tissues throughout your body. When air sacs become deflated because of atelectasis, they cannot inflate properly or take in enough air and oxygen. If enough of the lung is affected, your blood may not receive enough oxygen, which can cause health problems.
How do you inflate a collapsed lung?
inserting a chest drain. This is a small plastic tube that's inserted through the chest wall. The drain allows air out but not back in, so your lung can re-inflate. The tube is secured and stays in place until the air leak is fixed and the lung re-inflated. You will have to stay in hospital until it has been fixed.
What is the best treatment for atelectasis?
TreatmentPerforming deep-breathing exercises (incentive spirometry) and using a device to assist with deep coughing may help remove secretions and increase lung volume.Positioning your body so that your head is lower than your chest (postural drainage). ... Tapping on your chest over the collapsed area to loosen mucus.
Should I worry about atelectasis?
Large areas of atelectasis may be life threatening, often in a baby or small child, or in someone who has another lung disease or illness. The collapsed lung usually reinflates slowly if the airway blockage has been removed. Scarring or damage may remain. The outlook depends on the underlying disease.
Can you have a collapsed lung and not know it?
If only a small area of the lung is affected, you may not have symptoms. If a large area is affected, you may feel short of breath and have a rapid heart rate. A chest x-ray can tell if you have it. Treatment depends on the underlying cause.
Can a partially collapsed lung heal itself?
Depending on the cause and the size of the leak, the lung can often heal itself, but in order to do so, the extra air in the pleura space needs to be removed to reduce the pressure so the lung can re-expand.
What causes lungs to collapse?
Collapsed lung can be caused by an injury to the lung. Injuries can include a gunshot or knife wound to the chest, rib fracture, or certain medical procedures. In some cases, a collapsed lung is caused by air blisters (blebs) that break open, sending air into the space around the lung.
Can one lobe of lung collapse?
Individual lobes of the lung may collapse due to obstruction of the supplying bronchus.
What causes right middle lobe collapse?
Among the benign tumors that can cause obstruction are hamartomas, but malignant causes include primary lung cancer and metastases [3,9]. The most common cause of extrinsic compression of the right middle lobe bronchus is enlargement of the peribronchial lymph nodes [4].
What is a lobar collapse?
In a lobar collapse, there is a complete collapse of one of the lobes in either lung. When this happens, we see structures on the chest x-ray in places that they shouldn't be because of volume loss. For example, in left lower lobe collapse, the left lower lobe reduces in volume as air is resorbed from the alveoli.
What happens when the lobar collapses?
In a lobar collapse, there is a complete collapse of one of the lobes in either lung. When this happens, we see structures on the chest x-ray in places that they shouldn't be because of volume loss. For example, in left lower lobe collapse, the left lower lobe reduces in volume as air is resorbed from the alveoli. As the volume decreases, the mediastinum is pulled towards the left side of the chest.
What is the cause of a lung collapse?
Lobar collapse is relatively common and occurs following obstruction of a bronchus. Gas is resorbed from the lung parenchyma distal to the obstruction resulting in the collapse of the lung, with volume reduction and negative mass effect.
What causes a lobar collapse?
Several factors may influence the typical appearance of lobar collapse, including pre-existing lung disease, amount of volume loss, concomitant consolidation, pleural effusion or the presence of pneumothorax.
What are the factors that influence the appearance of a lobar collapse?
There are several classical rules that a lobar collapse follows 9: Several factors may influence the typical appearance of lobar collapse, including pre-existing lung disease, amount of volume loss, concomitant consolidation, pleural effusion or the presence of pneumothorax.
What causes a collapse of the lobe?
Most often collapse of most or all of a lobe is secondary to bronchial obstruction causing resorptive atelectasis.
Why do lobes collapse?
Individual lobes of the lung may collapse due to obstruction of the supplying bronchus.
Can you identify a collapsed lung on CT?
Lobar collapse is usually trivially easy to identify on CT, but identification of the cause is not always easy, as the collapsed lung can make identification of an obstructing lesion difficult. The density of the collapsed lobe is high post contrast administration.
Which segment is more often involved in lobar collapse?
Segmental collapse predominates over lobar collapse ( Fig 6 ). The medial segment is more often involved than the lateral segment. Distinction between complete and segmental volume loss may be extremely difficult.
Which view is most helpful when examining lobar collapse?
Here, the lordotic view is most helpful. With total lobar collapse the process is seen to extend to the lateral chest wall.
What happens when the RUL collapses?
As the RUL loses volume, the hyperexpansion of the middle lobe and lower lobe “squeeze the upper lobe.” When completely collapsed, the RUL is either pancaked medially, simulating mediastinal widening or a mediastinal mass, or superiorly, simulating an apical pleural cap.
Why is hilar diminution so difficult to detect?
Hilar diminution is often difficult to detect because of the small volume of the RUL. Additionally, tumor masses can actually cause the hilus to enlarge.
What is the most common finding of LUL collapse?
The lateral roentgenogram is critical in the diagnosis of LUL collapse. Anterior displacement of the major fissure is the most frequent finding of LUL collapse. The LUL collapses in an anterosuperior direction, bringing the fissure anterior and elevating its superior position.
What is the result of LLLC?
With left lower lobe collapse (LLLC), obliteration of the descending aorta occurs. On the right, inferior vena caval obliteration is a result.
Which radiography is used to diagnose collapse?
but conventional radiography remains the mainstay in the diagnosis of collapse.
