COPD Flashcards
COPD
-Presence of airflow obstruction due to chronic bronchitis or emphysema
Obstruction is generally progressive
-+/- airway hyper-reactivity
-+/- PARTIALLY reversible
-Most patients with COPD have features of both emphysema and chronic bronchitis
key points
-common, preventable and treatable disease
-persistent respiratory symptoms and airflow limitation that is due to airway and/or alveolar abnormalities usually caused by significant exposure to noxious particles or gases
-MC respiratory symptoms include dyspnea, cough and/or sputum production -> may be under-reported by pts
-main risk factor is tobacco smoking but other environmental exposures such as biomass fuel exposure and air pollution may contribute
epidemiology of COPD
-14 million Americans diagnosed with COPD
-Equal number thought to be afflicted but remain undiagnosed.
-Fourth leading cause of death in US
-Over 120,000 deaths reported annually
chronic bronchitis
-Clinical diagnosis*
-Excessive secretion of bronchial mucous
-Daily* productive cough for 3 months or more for at least 2 consecutive years*
emphysema
-Pathologic diagnosis*
-Abnormal permanent enlargement of air spaces distal to the terminal bronchiole, with destruction of their walls and without obvious fibrosis
overlap
-emphysema
-COPD
-asthma
-all overlap
risk factors
-CIGARETTE SMOKING
-Occupational dusts and chemicals
-Air pollution
-Airway infection
-Familial factors
-Hereditary factors (deficiency of α1-antiprotease)
emphysema
-excessive lysis of elastin and other structural proteins in lung matrix by elastase and other proteases derived from lung neutrophils, macrophages, and mononuclear cells
-Permanent enlargement of alveolar sacs
-Destruction of tissue and pulmonary capillaries
-Airways floppy (increased compliance)- Destraction of connective tissue
-Air flow obstruction
-V/Q Mismatch
-Cor pulmonale
air trapping in COPD
-loss of alveolar attachments
-thickened (inflammated airway)
-loss of elasticity
-airway collapses on expiration
-a lot of air trapping- trouble breathing out
chronic bronchitis
-Increase in mucous production:
-Hypertrophy bronchial mucous glands (plugging)
-Goblet cells increase in number
-Damaged cilia
-Bronchial mucosa inflammation
-Bronchial smooth muscle hyper-reactivity -> Bronchospasm
-Air flow obstruction
-V/Q mismatch
-Cor Pulmonale
presentation/symptoms of COPD
-3 typical ways in which pts with COPD present:
-Few complaints, but extremely sedentary lifestyle
-Chronic respiratory symptoms (eg, dyspnea on exertion, cough)
-An acute exacerbation (eg, wheezing, purulent cough, dyspnea, +/- fever)
physical exam
-Early in disease:
-normal or prolonged expiration
-Wheezes
-As severity of airway obstruction increases:
-Hyperinflation, decreased breath sounds, wheezes, rhonchi, crackles, distant heart sounds
-Diaphragm may be depressed
-Increased ap diameter
end stage COPD
-Positions that relieve dyspnea
-Accessory muscles
-Expiration through pursed lips
-Paradoxical retraction of the lower interspaces during inspiration (Hoover’s sign)
-Cyanosis
-Asterixis
-Pneumonia
-Pulmonary HTN, cor pulmonale- Enlarged, tender liver, +/-neck vein distention
-Chronic respiratory failure
2 symptom patterns
-with COPD progression 2 symptom patterns tend to emerge:
-pink puffer- emphysema
-blue bloaters- chronic bronchitis
-simplification of anatomy and pathophysiology
-most COPD pts have pathologic evidence of both disorders
type A pink puffer
-DYSPNEA often severe
-Often presenting after age 50
-Cough rare, with scant clear, mucoid sputum
-Thin, wt loss
-Accessory muscles
-Chest is quiet without adventitious sounds
-No peripheral edema
GOLD ABE assessment tool
-E- any one at risk or who has >= 2 exacerbations OR >= 1 leading to hospitalization
MMRC- modified MRC dyspnea scale
CAT assessment
treatment based on group A, B, E
-group A- CAT<10, mMRC 0-1
-Group B- more symptomatic but still no exacerbations
-Group E- LABA+LAMA (has has exacerbations) -> consider LABA + LAMA + ICS -> prof is hesitant to give steroid ever
