Chest
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Comparative Study
Complete lobar collapse following pulmonary lobectomy. Its incidence, predisposing factors, and clinical ramifications.
To define the most severe form of postlobectomy atelectasis and determine its incidence, predisposing factors, and clinical ramifications. ⋯ We conclude that SPLA as defined in this study is an important postoperative complication with a significant incidence. Although patients undergoing right upper lobectomy are markedly predisposed to this problem, the exact pathophysiology remains unclear. Factors shown to be causes of less severe forms of postoperative atelectasis do not seem to contribute to the formation of SPLA, indicating that these two complications may be two unrelated entities.