Which of the following is false about absorption atelectasis?

Absorption atelectasis occurs when the alveoli collapse due to the reabsorption of gases, primarily oxygen, leaving behind the nitrogen that normally helps to keep the alveoli open.

The statement that absorption atelectasis only occurs when breathing supplemental oxygen is false because it can also happen under conditions of low fraction of inspired oxygen, not exclusively in the presence of supplemental oxygen. For instance, during anesthesia or in certain clinical situations where patients are breathing low oxygen concentrations, absorption atelectasis can still occur as the body consumes the oxygen in the alveoli while nitrogen does not get replenished effectively.

Increased risks associated with low tidal volumes enhance the likelihood of absorption atelectasis because less ventilation means that there is a reduced volume of fresh gas reaching the alveoli, which can lead to a more pronounced reabsorption effect of the available oxygen, ultimately promoting collapse.

While mechanisms such as deep breathing or utilizing intermittent positive pressure breaths can reduce the risk of absorption atelectasis by ensuring adequate oxygen flow and maintaining alveolar expansion, the outcome of increased physiologic shunt fraction occurs when areas of the lung remain perfused but are not ventilated due to collapsed alveoli. Hence, the incorrect statement misrepresents the broader contexts in which absorption