Treatment and prognosis of lobar and segmental atelectasis in cystic fibrosis.

Lobar atelectasis occurred in 30 (4.1 per cent) and segmental atelectasis occurred 
in 6 (0.8 per cent) of 728 patients with cystic fibrosis. 
The right lung was involved in all 11 patients less than 
5 years of age and in 18 of 26 episodes in 
19 older patients. Five of the younger patients died within 5 
years of the initial episode. Bronchoscopy (with or without local lavage) 
performed in addition to intensified medical therapy did not appear to 
improve the outcome. Future studies of therapeutic measures (including bronchoscopy) for 
treatment of atelectasis complicating cystic fibrosis must include appropriate control patients 
who receive only medical therapy. 