This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Sign in
Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

Aetiology

Authoring team

A collapsed lung may occur as a result of:

  • absorption collapse: due to a bronchial obstruction
    • intraluminal, for example mucus, pus, clot, foreign body
    • mural, for example lung cancer
    • extramural, for example peribronchial lymphadenopathy, aortic aneurysm
  • compression, for example lung cancer, pleural effusion, pneumothorax
  • phrenic nerve palsy

Note that in an absorption collapse the mediastinum shifts to the affected side. In a collapse due to fluid or air in the pleural space then the mediastinum may shift to the opposite side.

Related pages

Create an account to add page annotations

Create a free account

Annotations allow you to add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation. E.g. a website or number. This information will always show when you visit this page.

The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Connect

Copyright 2024 Oxbridge Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of OmniaMed Communications Limited. All rights reserved. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions receives funding from advertising but maintains editorial independence.