A member asked:
24 days ago i broke 4 ribs (right side) with pneumothorax (right side) and a grade 3 liver laceration. i'm home now but i have a cough now, why?
A doctor has provided 1 answer
Atelectasis: You say you have to cough? Do you mean your doctors told you to cough or you have the sensation on needing to cough. After surgery or trauma, particularly pneumothorax (air in the lungs, most likely from the ribs puncturing the rib cage or the lungs itself) the lung collapses and needs to be re-expanded. Deep breathing and coughing helps do that to prevent a condition called atelectasis.
Answered 4/29/2015
2.9k views
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