Emphysema

Question 1

What type of emphysema is seen in cigarette smoking?

Answer 1

Centriacinar (affects respiratory bronchioles)

Question 2

What is the defining pathology in emphysema?

Answer 2

Destruction of the alveolar wall without fibrosis, leading to bnormal, permanent enlargement of air spaces distal to the terminal bronchiole

Question 3

What is the pathological process underlying smoking-related centriacinar emphysema?

Answer 3

IMAGE

Question 4

How does emphysema cause airway obstruction?

Answer 4

Loss of supporting elastic tissue around small airways leads to dynamic airway collapse during forced expiration (i.e. there is loss of elastic recoil)

Question 5

List 3 complications of emphysema

Answer 5

Hypoxia
Chronic hypoxia can cause pulmonary hypertension and cor pulmonale
Pneumothorax

Question 6

What causes hypoxia in late-stage emphysema?

Answer 6

Loss of diffusion capacity due to decreased SA caused by loss of alveolar septa

Question 7

What is bullous emphysema?

Answer 7

Form of emphysema seen in young adults

Characterised by localised areas of emphysema which can burst and cause pneumothorax