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What Is The Difference Between Atelectasis And COPD?

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Posted on Wed, 14 Jun 2017
Question: What is the difference between aetelasis and copd?
Does atelesias stay with you after abdominal surgery ?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Atelectesis is partial collapse of part of lung.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on HealthcareMagic.
I can understand your concern.

Atelectesis is partial collapse of part of lung.
It is not complete collapse.
COPD is obstructive Airway disease.
Atelectesis is reversible with treatment while COPD is controlled with treatment.
So once a COPD, always a COPD, it won't become normal. While atelectesis can turn into normal with treatment.
Risk of atelectesis is high with any surgery done under GA (general Anaesthesia), especially abdominal surgery.
This is because, lower lobes are static for long time during and after surgery.
Best treatment for such atelectesis is
1. Chest physiotherapy
2. Deep breathing exercises
3. Mucolytic and expectorant drugs.
Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Remy Koshy
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (8 hours later)
On a radiology report what does dependent atelectatic mean?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Dependent atelectesis means atelectesis in lower lobes posteriorly.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
Dependent atelectesis means atelectesis in lower lobes posteriorly.
It is common after abdominal surgery.
Due to this lower parts of lung don't move actively. So secretions tend to accumulate and cause atelectesis in the dependent parts.
Can you send me x ray which I issue showing atelectesis in dependent part?
I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (7 hours later)
How do you tell if it is atelectesis or copd from a ct scan or X-ray?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (6 hours later)
Brief Answer:
COPD is not radiological diagnosis.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
COPD is not radiological diagnosis.
It is combination of symptoms, PFT (Pulmonary Function Test) findings. On chest x ray or CT scan, COPD gives emphysematous changes. So if emphysematous changes are seen along with symptoms and PFT (obstructive Airway defect) abnormality then COPD is more likely.
Atelectesis is purely a radiological diagnosis. It is seen as partial collapse of part of lung.
Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Remy Koshy
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Answered by
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Dr. Drkaushal85

Pulmonologist

Practicing since :2008

Answered : 15003 Questions

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What Is The Difference Between Atelectasis And COPD?

Brief Answer: Atelectesis is partial collapse of part of lung. Detailed Answer: Thanks for your question on HealthcareMagic. I can understand your concern. Atelectesis is partial collapse of part of lung. It is not complete collapse. COPD is obstructive Airway disease. Atelectesis is reversible with treatment while COPD is controlled with treatment. So once a COPD, always a COPD, it won't become normal. While atelectesis can turn into normal with treatment. Risk of atelectesis is high with any surgery done under GA (general Anaesthesia), especially abdominal surgery. This is because, lower lobes are static for long time during and after surgery. Best treatment for such atelectesis is 1. Chest physiotherapy 2. Deep breathing exercises 3. Mucolytic and expectorant drugs. Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.