Atelectasis needs to be recognised and treated to avoid further complications such as pneumonia, pleural effusion, and empyema.
Atelectasis is most commonly found in the left lower lobe so auscultation should be done either sitting up on lying on right side. Monitoring vital capacity is one of the best ways to detect early problems.
Treatment includes both lung expansion and mobilisation and clearing for secretions. This can be accomplished using different methods:
Assisted coughing (using abdominal thrust or compression)
Use of insufflator/exsufflator (device that delivers a deep breath then sucks the air out - video)
Chest physiotherapy
Placing patient in supine position (increases FEV1 and vital capacity)
Bronchodilator (patients with spinal cord injury often have hyperactive airway due to unopposed cholinergic tone) evidence icon
Abdominal binder (helps reduce residual lung volume in sitting position)
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) or Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure (BPAP)
Suctioning
Increasing tidal volume on ventilator