, atelectrauma (at″ĕl-ek″tŏ-tro′mă) (-ek″tro′mă) [ atelectasis + trauma] Injury to the lung caused by shearing forces as alveoli that are next to each other collapse and re-expand during mechanical ventilation. The condition may be prevented by applying enough positive end-expiratory pressure to limit alveolar collapse at end expiration.