What Causes Postoperative Atelectasis?
Postoperative Atelectasis is often caused by diaphragmatic dysfunction following general anesthesia and/or diminished surfactant activity following a surgery. Acute massive atelectasis almost always results from a postoperative complication of upper abdominal procedures, lung resection, or due to endothelial cell damage resulting from hypothermia (caused by use of ice-chips for slowing down the heart-beats, etc.) during the course of a heart-lung bypass surgery, etc. Other contributory factors include use of large doses of sedatives/opiates during and after a surgical procedure, and abdominal distention.
