After surgery, a patient must lie supine in bed. Because of this, atelectasis is thought to have developed. What chest radiograph finding would confirm this?
a. Depression of the hemidiaphragms
b. Pulmonary interstitial emphysema (PIE)
c. Increased density in both upper lobe areas
d. Increased density in both posterior lower lobe areas
D
If atelectasis develops in a supine patient, the chest radiograph will show increased density in both posterior lower lobe areas where the atelectasis is located. Depression of the hemidiaphragms and PIE are associated with lung hyperinflation. A supine patient is unlikely to develop atelectasis in the upper lobes and show increased density in those areas.
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