atelectasis (redirected from congenital atelectasis)

atelectasis

 or lung collapse

Lack of expansion of pulmonary alveoli (see pulmonary alveolus). With a large-enough collapsed area, the victim stops breathing. In adhesive atelectasis, obstruction or lack of surface tension keeps a newborn's alveoli from expanding. Compression atelectasis is caused by external pressure. Obstructive atelectasis may be caused by blockage of a major airway or when pain from abdominal surgery keeps breathing too shallow to clear bronchial secretions; treatment involves removal of obstruction or fluids, control of infection, and lung reinflation.

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atelectasis [‚ad·əl′ek·stə·səs]

(medicine)

Total or partial collapsed state of the lung.

Failure of the lung to expand at birth.