Question:hard

Type 3 respiratory failure occurs due to which of the following?

Show Hint

Type 3 is the perioperative form, caused by atelectasis after surgery.
Updated On: Jun 24, 2026
  • Post-operative atelectasis
  • Kyphoscoliosis
  • Flail chest
  • Pulmonary fibrosis
Show Solution

The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Recall the four-type scheme of respiratory failure. Type 1 = oxygenation failure, Type 2 = ventilation/pump failure, Type 3 = perioperative, Type 4 = circulatory shock related.

Step 2: Zoom in on Type 3. It is essentially Type 1 occurring around surgery, driven by collapse of dependent alveoli when functional residual capacity falls and the diaphragm and abdominal wall behave abnormally under anaesthesia.

Step 3: Match the trigger. Post-operative atelectasis is the textbook cause of this perioperative collapse, so it is the Type 3 answer.

Step 4: Rule out the rest - chest wall problems like kyphoscoliosis and flail chest impair the pump and give Type 2, while parenchymal disease such as pulmonary fibrosis impairs gas exchange and gives Type 1.

\[\boxed{\text{Post-operative atelectasis (Type 3 / perioperative failure)}}\]
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