ATELECTASIS

Course overview

THE WORD "ATELECTASIS" IS GREEK IN ORIGIN; IT IS A COMBINATION OF THE GREEK WORDS ATELEZ (ATELES) AND EKTASIZ (EKTASIS) MEANING "IMPERFECT" AND "EXPANSION" RESPECTIVELY. IT IS CAUSED BY THE PARTIAL OR COMPLETE, REVERSIBLE COLLAPSE OF THE SMALL AIRWAYS RESULTING IN AN IMPAIRED EXCHANGE OF CO2 AND O2 - I.E., INTRAPULMONARY SHUNT. THE INCIDENCE OF ATELECTASIS IN PATIENT'S UNDERGOING GENERAL ANESTHESIA IS 90% THIS ACTIVITY DISCUSSES THE ETIOLOGY, EPIDEMIOLOGY, EVALUATION, AND TREATMENT OF ATELECTASIS. FURTHERMORE, IT HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPORTANCE OF TEAMWORK AMONG ALL INVOLVED CAREGIVERS TO ENSURE ADEQUATE PATIENT EDUCATION, PREVENTION, EARLY RECOGNITION, TREATMENT, AND, ULTIMATELY IMPROVE PATIENT OUTCOMES.