J Dent Anesth Pain Med.  2018 Aug;18(4):271-275. 10.17245/jdapm.2018.18.4.271.

Diagnosis and treatment of obstructive atelectasis after general anesthesia in a patient with abscess in the maxillofacial area: A case report

• Um BK
• Ku JK
• Kim YS

• KMID: 2419070
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.17245/jdapm.2018.18.4.271

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to report and discuss the diagnosis and treatment of obstructive atelectasis secondary to pus obstruction in a patient who had developed a maxillofacial abscess, and to review the literature on similar cases. Persistently discharging pus within the oral cavity can act as an aspirate, and may lead to obstructive atelectasis. Additionally, maxillofacial surgery patients should be carefully assessed for the presence of risk factors of obstructive atelectasis, such as, epistaxis after nasotracheal intubation, oral bleeding, and mucus secretion. Furthermore, patients with these risk factors should be continuously followed up by monitoring SPOâ‚‚, breath sounds, and chest x-ray.

Keyword

Atelectasis; Maxillofacial Abscess; Nasotracheal Intubation

MeSH Terms

Abscess*
Anesthesia, General*
Diagnosis*
Epistaxis
Hemorrhage
Humans
Intubation
Mouth
Mucus
Pulmonary Atelectasis*
Risk Factors
Suppuration
Surgery, Oral
Thorax

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Preoperative Chest X-ray image. No active pulmonary parenchymal lesions or nodular masses can be observed in either lung.

• 

  Fig. 2 Chest X-ray image taken 1 hour after the operation. Right upper lobe collapse due to endobronchial obstruction combined with pneumonia is visible in the right lower lobe

• 

  Fig. 3 Chest X-ray image obtained 6 hours after suctioning. The right upper lobe collapse is improved, but subtle remnant parenchymal opacity is visible in the right lung.

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