To the best of my layperson’s ability to explain it, Atelectasis can be a side effect from any number of things:

- side effect from surgery
- side effect from pneumonia(s)
- scarring of the lung tissue after colds or pneumonias

…the upshot being a chicken vs egg situation where both are present when one has weak lungs, lots of coughs and cold, etc., etc., etc.

From this article published by the Mayo Clinic, Bivasilar just means that the bottom of BOTH lungs are damaged and showing signs of Atelectasis (lung scarring and/or deterioration):

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/...

I have been told I have atelectasis, but not whether or not it’s the bivasilar version.

I hope this answer helps, @A MyCOPDTeam Member.

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A MyCOPDT...

Atelectasis - Symptoms and causes

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/atelectasis/symptoms-causes/syc-20369684

JoanneC , thank you. !!! I appreciate that . That's some info I can look into