COPD Flashcards
What does COPD stand for
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Define the term: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
COPD is an umbrella term for group of lung conditions that cause breathing difficulties. It includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterised by what?
Persistent airflow limitation that is not fully reversible.
Patients with COPD are susceptible to exacerbations during which there is worsening of their lung function. Exacerbations are often triggered by
Infections and these are called infective exacerbations.
COPD is an umbrella term for group of lung conditions.
Name the two lung conditions
Chronic bronchitis
Emphysema
Define chronic bronchitis
Lung condition in the COPD family
Defined as cough and sputum for at least 3 consecutive months in each of 2 consecutive years.
Chronic bronchitis is defined as a cough and sputum for how long
for at least 3 consecutive months in each of 2 consecutive years.
Define emohysema
defined histologically as abnormal permanent enlargement of the airspaces distal to the terminal bronchioles, accompanied by destruction of the alveolar walls and without obvious fibrosis.
What is the most important aetiological factor for COPD
Tobacco Smoking
- Accounting for over 90% of cases.
- However only 10-20% of heavy smokers develop COPD indicating individual susceptibility.
- Individual’s risk is directly proportional to their pack years.
Name some of the risk factors associated with COPD
COPD is caused by long-term exposure to toxic particles and gases.
Prevalence of COPD is directly related to the prevalence of risk factors.
Risk factors include:
- Tobacco smoking
- Genetic - alpha 1 antitrypsin deficiency
- Occupational exposures such as coal dust exposure
- Indoor air pollution such as cooking with biomass fuels in poorly ventilated areas.
- Low socioeconomic status
Define the term “pack year”
Pack year is a clinical quantification of tobacco smoking used to measure a person’s exposure to tobacco. This is used to assess their risk of developing pathologies related to cigarette exposure such as COPD.
What is the equation for pack year
1 pack year = 20 cigarettes/day/year
A pack year is defined as twenty cigarettes smoked every day for one year.
What is the genetic deficiency associated with COPD
Alpha 1 antitrypsin deficiency
What percentage of COPD cases are associated with alpha 1 antitrypsin deficiency
1-3%
When should alpha 1 antitrypsin deficiency be suspected
Suspected in patients with COPD who are young, non-smokers or have a positive family history.
Where is Alpha-1 antitrypsin produced
In the liver
What is the function of Alpha-1 antitrypsin
Acts as a protease inhibitor - inhibiting the action of neutrophil elastase
Describe the pathogenesis of how Alpha 1 Antitrypsin deficiency can lead to COPD
Alpha 1 Antitrypsin is a protease inhibitor and inhibts the action of neutrophil elastase
Neutrophil elastase acts by damaging bacteria however if left unchecked (as in alpha 1 antitrypsin deficiency) it can cause the breakdown of elastin in the lungs.
Elastase is a protein important to the structural integrity of the alveoli.
Breakdown of the elastase in the lungs causes emphysema leading to COPD
The emphysema related to alpha 1 antitrypsin deficiency is different to that caused by smoking.
How do they differ
Differ in location
alpha 1 antitrypsin deficiency - the emphysema is characteristically pan-acinar with a lower zone predominance.
Smoking – the emphysema is characteristically centri-acinar.
What 4 changes in the lungs can chronic bronchitis cause
- Goblet cell hyperplasia
- Mucus hypersecretion
- Chronic inflammation and fibrosis
- Narrowing of small airways
What immune cells infiltrate and are activated as part of the action of emphysema in COPD
Neutrophilic and CD8+ infiltration
What immune cells infiltrate and are activated as part of the action of asthma
Eosinophil infiltration with CD4+ T lymphocytes.
What are the 3 cardinal symptoms of COPD
- Dyspnoea (laboured breathing)
- Chronic cough
- Sputum production
Name some of the symptoms a patient may experience with COPD
- Chronic cough: usually productive
- Sputum production
- Breathlessness: usually on exertion in early stages
- Frequent episodes of bronchitis. Mostly during the winter months.
- Wheeze
Name some of the signs a patient may experience with COPD
- Dyspnoea (laboured breathing)
- Other physical signs are seldom obvious until the disease is advanced.
- Pursed lip breathing - prevents alveolar collapse by increasing the positive end expiratory pressure
- Wheeze
- Coarse crackles may accompany infection
- Loss of cardiac dullness: due to hyper-expansion of lungs from emphysema
- Downward displacement of liver: due to hyper-expansion of lungs from emphysema
-
Signs of carbon dioxide retention
- Drowsy
- Asterixis (flapping tremor; tremor of the hand when the wrist is extended)
- Confusion
-
Signs of cor pulmonale
- Peripheral oedema
- Left parasternal heave: caused by right ventricular hypertrophy
- Raised JVP
- Hepatomegaly
- Pitting oedema as a consequence of salt and water retention caused by renal hypoxia and hypercapnia.
There are two classic phgenotypes of a patient with COPD. Pink puffers and blue bloaters
Pink puffers is used to describe what kind of patient
Used to describe patients where emphysema dominates.
There are two classic phgenotypes of a patient with COPD. Pink puffers and blue bloaters
Blue bloaters is used to describe what kind of patient
used to describe patients where chronic bronchitis dominates.
What type of COPD patient is breathless but not cyanotic:
a) Pink puffers
b) Blue bloaters
a) Pink puffers
What type of COPD patient is not breathless but cyanotic:
a) Pink puffers
b) Blue bloaters
b) Blue bloaters
What type of respiratory failure is associated with pink puffer COPD patients
Type 1 respiratory failure
What type of respiratory failure is associated with blue bloaters COPD patients
Type 2 respiratory failure
Why are the pink puffers (COPD patient) are typically thin
Patients are typically thin because they use so much energy because they have a high respiratory drive and because they are using the accessory muscles.
They have a high respiratory drive i.e. they have a high breathing effort.
Often using their accessory muscles and pursed lip breathing to help draw oxygen in.
Often patients are hunched-over with their arms resting stabilising their upper arms to allow the muscles e.g. sternocleidomastoid, pectoralis major, and trapezius, to work purely as accessory muscles for respiration.
Why are pink puffers have a barrel chested
Due to air trapping
Name some of the characteristics of pink puffer of COPD
- Tachypnoea (rapid breathing)
- Severe dyspnea (shortness of breath)
- Hyper-resonance on chest percussion
What will be the radiological features of a pink puffer COPD on chest x ray
Hyperinflation of lungs
Flattened diaphragm