COPD Flashcards
What is COPD? divided into what 2 things?
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Chronic = Not going away, Not getting better
Not reversible
-Includes Emphysema and Chronic Bronchitis
describe the patho of emphysema?
Increased proteases breakdown elastin causing damage to alveoli and small airways
- ->Loss of elasticity in lungs
- ->Hyperinflation of lungs
- ->Collapsed small airway
- -> Alveoli drop in number, some become large and flabby
=Reduced gas exchange
What is air trapping? what does it lead to?
Elastic recoil dysfunction
- ->Hyperinflation of lungs causes flattening of diaphragm
- ->Use of accessory muscles to breathe
- ->Increased work of breathing (actually uses more oxygen)
what does air trapping result in?
- Air hunger
- Uncoordinated breathing pattern
- Needs additional oxygen due to demand from work of breathing
what is chronic bronchitis? most common cause?
Inflammation of the bronchi and bronchioles: Caused by irritants
- Most common cause is smoking
- Irritant causes inflammation, vasodilation, mucosal edema, congestion and bronchospasm
- Increased mucous production –> Infection
=Results in: Impaired Airflow & gas exchange
(smaller lumen + build up of gas unexchanged)
what is alpha 1 antitrypsin deficiency? how do you get it?
Risk factor for COPD
- AAT inhibits excessive protease activity (so that protease doesn’t cause airway damage)
- Having low levels of AAT (or no AAT) may allow the lungs to become damaged.
- This allows neutrophil elastase (normally kept at bay by AAT) to destroy lung tissue, causing lung disease
AAT gene is recessive
- If one allele is affected and the other is normal- Carrier-
- If both alleles are affected – Disease (young age)
signs of COPD
Impaired Gas Exchange
- ->Decreased PaO2 in blood
- ->Increased PaCO2 in blood
- Hypoxemia (low oxygen in tissue level)
- Acidosis
- Respiratory Infections
- Respiratory Failure
- Dysrhythmias
- Cor Pulmonale (right sided heart failure)
sxs of COPD
SHOB Breathing Problems Wheezing Coughing Mucous Production Increase Orthopnea Sexual Activity Decrease Basic ADL’s Difficulty Progression of symptoms Changes in weight Decrease
risk for copd
Age (older) Gender (females more at risk) Occupational History Family History History of Smoking (Pack Year)
general appearance of someone with COPD
Neglect of basic hygiene Weight distribution: Enlarged Neck Muscles, Thin Arms Position : Orthopneic/ Tripod Barrel Chest Fatigue
COPD respiratory assessment
-Increased Breathing Rate
-Breathing Pattern: Shallow, Uncoordinated
-Use of accessory muscles
-Retractions
-Clubbing
-ANXIETY
-Adventitious breath sounds (may be normal)
Wheezing
Rhonchi
Diminished
cardiac assessment copd?
Edema Pallor Cyanosis Tachycardia Arrhythmias
pink puffer=
emphysema
blue bloaters =
chronic bronchitis
labs for copd?
-ABG’s
-Establish Baseline
-“CO2 Retainers” : compensatory metabolic
alkalosis
-PaO2 low, PaCO2 high, HCO3 high
(compensatory)
-Sputum Cultures
-WBC Count
-Serum Alpha1 Antitrypsin
-H & H - create more RBC to carry more /o2
-Electrolytes