COPD Flashcards
What is the normal driver for breathing? What is the driver for breathing in COPD? What does this mean in terms of oxygen therapy?
Normal: hypercapnia (CO2)
COPD: hypoxaemia –> therefore low percentage oxygen flow is used with lower target saturations
What are the resting inspiratory muscles?
Diaphragm + external intercostals
What are the accessory inspiratory muscles?
Sternocleidomastoid, scalenes, pec minor
What are the muscles involved in passive expiration?
None - elastic recoil
What are the muscles involved in active breathing/expiration?
internal intercostals, abdominals
What is the most common cause of COPD in the UK? What about in developing countries?
Smoking (UK)
Bio-mass fuel used for cooking (developing countries)
What is the other name for emphysema?
Pink puffers
What is the other name for chronic bronchitis?
Blue bloaters
What is COPD defined as?
Chronic airways obstruction caused by damaged and irreversible airway changes
How does COPD lead to cor pulmonale (R sided HF?)
Hypoxia –> vasoconstriction of pulmonary arteries –> ^ pulmonary vascular resistance –> pulmonary HTN –> RVH –> cor pulmonale
What is alpha1 anti-trypsin?
An anti-protease - prevents the destruction of essential elastic fibres in the lung by neutrophil/WBC proteases
What produces alpha1-anti-trypsin?
The liver
Why is there low PaCO2 in emphysema?
Due to the high alveolar ventilation
