Foreign body. Atelectasis is common in children who have inhaled an object, such as a peanut or small toy part, into their lungs. Narrowing of major airways from disease. Chronic infections, including fungal infections, tuberculosis and other diseases, can scar and constrict major airways. Tumor in a major airway.
He'll be placed on blood thinners to break up the clots...which can take from days to weeks. This is also a very dangerous time for him, as a clot could travel and lodge in a coronary artery on his heart, causing a heart attack, or it could travel and lodge in an artery in his brain causing a stroke.
In some cases, anti-clotting drugs such as warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven, Marfarin) are given as treatment for a period of six to 12 months after the blood clot. However, two years after stopping the warfarin, 15% to 20% of patients have a repeat clot. While the anti-clotting treatment can be extended beyond 6-12 months, it carries a risk of bleeding. While on the drugs, called anticoagulant therapy, patients must also get frequent blood tests to see if the dose is correct.