Chronic Bronchitis

Question 1

Pathophysiology of chronic bronchitis?

Answer 1

Goblet cells in the epithelium + bronchial mucinous glands in the sub mucosa

So when exposure to smoke + irritant chemicals cause hypertrophy + hyperplasia of mucus gland causing increase in mucus in bronchioles

The mucus causes air to be trapped in the bronchioles + cillia becomes shorter making it harder to move the mucus.

Question 2

What is reid index?

Answer 2

It is test done after death which checks thickness of gland/thickness of wall and if its greater than 40% patient had chronic bronchitis.

Question 3

What are sign and symptoms of chronic brinchitis?

Answer 3

Wheezing
crackles
hypoxemia ( low o2 in blood)
Hypercapmia ( high co2 in blood)
Cyanosis(blue discolouration of skin)

Question 4

Complications of chronic bronchitis?

Answer 4

Pulmonary hypertension
Cor pulmonale
Lung infections in mucus blockages

Question 5

Treatment of chronic bronchitis?

Answer 5

Reduced risk factors(smoking)

Supplemented oxygen

Bronchodilators

Oral prednisolone