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Nasal continuous positive airway pressure in atelectasis
S R Duncan1, R S Negrin, F G Mihm
1Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, CA 94305.
Chest
|October 1, 1987
Summary
Nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) effectively treated severe pulmonary atelectasis in three patients unresponsive to traditional methods. This safe, non-invasive therapy offers a new option for lung collapse treatment.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonology
- Respiratory Medicine
- Critical Care
Background:
- Nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is a standard treatment for sleep disorders.
- Its use in treating adult pulmonary atelectasis remains unexplored.
- Conventional therapies for atelectasis can be ineffective or poorly tolerated.
Observation:
- Three adult patients presented with significant pulmonary atelectasis.
- Atelectasis was refractory to conventional chest physiotherapy.
- Bronchoscopy was not a feasible treatment option for these patients.
Findings:
- Nasal CPAP was initiated at 10-15 cm H2O.
- All patients tolerated the nasal CPAP therapy well.
- Prompt resolution of pulmonary atelectasis was observed in all patients.
Implications:
- Nasal CPAP may be an effective treatment for pulmonary atelectasis in spontaneously breathing adults.
- This modality offers a viable alternative when conventional treatments fail or are not tolerated.
- Further research into nasal CPAP for atelectasis is warranted.