True or False: Atelectasis is irreversible and predisposes to infection.

• A. False
• B. True
• C. Not determinable
• D. Sometimes

Answer: (A)

Atelectasis is collapse of air-filled lung tissue that can range from partial to complete. It is not inevitably permanent; many cases are reversible when the underlying cause is addressed—such as relieving an airway obstruction, suctioning mucus, improving ventilation, or removing external compression. While persistent atelectasis can indeed lead to infection due to mucus retention and poor clearance, the condition itself is not inherently irreversible. That makes the statement false overall.