The therapist has been asked to evaluate the chest radiograph of a 3-month-old boy with atelectasis. Which pulmonary lobe has the greatest tendency to collapse in young infants?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The right middle lobe, which has the poorest collateral air circulation and smallest bronchial opening of the major lung segments, is particularly prone to mucus plugging and collapse. Intubated patients, particularly young infants, have a propensity toward right upper lobe collapse. This is most likely related to their supine positioning and tendency toward obstruction of the right upper lobe bronchus (the most proximal of all the lobar bronchi) by a migrating ETT.

The Therapist Has Been Asked to Evaluate the Chest Radiograph