A patient has a tracheal deviation toward the affected side that can be caused by

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The trachea is midline in the suprasternal notch.The normal midline position of the trachea is maintained by the counterbalancing forces of the air in the alveoli in the right and left lungs.In atelectasis and pneumonia,alveoli are closed to some degree or filled with exudate.Fewer aerating alveoli are present,and therefore,the trachea is slightly pushed by the healthy lung to the affected side,which contains less air.A tension pneumothorax,pleural effusion,a tumor,or an enlarged thyroid can each generate enough pressure to force the trachea toward the unaffected side.

A Patient Has a Tracheal Deviation Toward the Affected Side