[Specifics of atelectasis after lumbotomy]

The results three years observation of postoperative lung atelectasis have shown that it is not so frequent, by urological patients in the decubito lateral position. The five cases were all on the left lung, as explained in the previous text. Their maximal incidence begins 24 hours after the operation. If it is suspected on atelectasis, there is no problem in diagnosing it, and for the treatment of it you only need bronchial catheter 6-8 CH. and a lung X-ray. Don't give up with the first try of disobstruction of the bronch or leave the patient and wait. Conservative treatment leads to all the complications mentioned in the former text, if the airing of atelectasis area is not carried out in time. The temperature always promptly falls if the reexpansion of lungs is achieved. We must very certainly differ a pneumonia from atelectasis, because a failure may be disastrous. This process is reversible, if the treatment is begun in time. All this shows that a clinical doctor must seriously observate the patient's postoperative course and every sign and symptom.