MEDizzy - A 7-year-old boy accidentally inhales a small peanut, which

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Respiratory System

A 7-year-old boy accidentally inhales a small peanut, which lodges in one of his bronchi. A chest x-ray reveals the mediastinum to be shifted toward the side of the obstruction. Which of the following pulmonary abnormalities is most likely present in this boy?

ExplanationAtelectasis refers to lung collapse. It is divided into four types. Absorptive (obstructive) atelectasis results from airway obstruction, such as occurs with mucus, tumors, or foreign bodies. The air within the lungs distal to the obstruction is absorbed, the lung collapses, and the mediastinum then shifts toward the collapsed lung. With compression, atelectasis fluid within the pleural cavity, such as seen with congestive heart failure (CHF), causes increased pleural pressure, which collapses lung tissue. In this instance, the mediastinum shifts away from the collapsed lung. In contraction, atelectasis fibrosis causes the collapse of lung tissue. Patchy atelectasis may result from loss of pulmonary surfactant, which is seen in hyaline membrane disease of the newborn.