Complete obstruction of an airway leading to resorption of the oxygen trapped in the alveoli defines which type of atelectasis?

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The scenario describes resorption (absorptive) atelectasis. When an airway is completely blocked, the air in the distal alveoli is gradually absorbed into the blood, and with no air entering to replace it, the alveoli collapse. This is the hallmark of obstructive or resorptive atelectasis.

This differs from contraction atelectasis, which arises from fibrotic scarring or external compression that pulls on and shrinks lung tissue, reducing volume without gas being absorbed from the alveoli. Pulmonary edema isn’t a form of atelectasis; it involves fluid accumulation in the lungs that can cause impaired gas exchange but not the collapse of alveolar airspaces due to gas resorption.