Alveolar recruitment maneuvers in the control of lung atelectasis ABSTRACT: The partial or total collapse of the lung or a lung lobe called atelectasis is one of the major complications of patients assisted with mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit and in the peri-operative period. The main factors which come into atelectasis in alveoli are: pulmonary tissue compression, alveolar gas absorption, and loss of alveolar surfactant function. To counteract atelectasis, several maneuvers for alveolar recruitment are used which aim to reopen