COPD

Question 1

What does COPD stand for?

Answer 1

Chronic Obstruction Pulmonary Disease

Question 2

Describe COPD?

Answer 2

An umbrella term for respiratory conditions that result in obstructed airways. It is a progressive chronic condition not intermittent.

Question 3

What are the two main conditions within COPD?

Answer 3

Chronic Bronchitis and Emphysema

Question 4

COPD pathophysiology?

Answer 4

Lifestyle - smoking
Smoke = immune response including inflammation and enzyme release causing damage to lung tissue. Oxidants of smoke also damage lung cells and cilia.
Result is destruction of alveoli and excess mucous production with fewer cilia to clear.

Question 5

Discuss Chronic Bronchitis

Answer 5

Inflammation narrows the airways, increased mucous production, decreased cilia. Vulnerable to episodes of acute bronchitis which is an infection on the bronchial lining
S&S include:
Chronic productive cough
thick discoloured mucous
Wheezing
Chest Pain
Dyspnoe

Question 6

Discuss Emphysema

Answer 6

Destruction of the alveoli by enzymes. This leads to collapse of airways reducing surface area of lungs and consequently the amount of O2 able to be uptakes into the blood

Question 7

Discuss COPD S&S

Answer 7

FEATURES
Dyspnoe
-Increased Sputum production
-increased cough or wheeze
-reduced exercise tolerance
-fluid retention
-increased fatigue
-pursed lip breathing/ nasal flaring
SEVERE
-Marked Dyspnoea
-tachypnoea
-Use of accessory muscles
-New onset cyanosis
-acute confusion
-new onset peripheral oedema
-marked reduction in activities of daily living

Question 8

Discuss COPD management

Answer 8

-Assess and manage .
-ABCDE
-Time critical? (TC if extreme breathing difficulty, cyanosis, hypoxia <88%)
-Start correcting any ABCDE problems
-TC Transfer with ATMIST
IF NOT TC
-ABCDE
-Does patient have treatment plan
Consider positioning, ventilation, does patient have breathing technique
-O2 (88-92% via venturi mask)
-bronchodilator therapy
-Is this severe COPD? - chest pain and fever are NOT common COPD symptoms
-Nebulisation (6mins tops)
See JRCALC

Question 9

Discuss relevant drugs for COPD management?

Answer 9

Salbutamol

Ipratropium Bromide