Pulmonary pathophysiology Flashcards
- What are the main functions of the respiratory system and what do they do?
Ventilation – eliminates CO2 that is produced in the tissues and Oxygenation – provides O2 to be used by the tissues
- Increased ventilation results in increased/decreased CO2 in the blood.
decreased
- What happens to CO2 levels in hypoventilation?
They increase
- What 5 requirements need to be intact for normal ventilation?
CNS control, nerves to respiratory muscles, chest wall anatomy, airway patency, and respiratory muscle function
- What mechanism caused by Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD), weakness, and pleural disease result in hypoventilation?
Decreased stroke (breath) volume
- What mechanism caused by asthma and bronchitis results in hypoventilation?
Increased airway resistance
- What are some causes of hyperventilation?
Fever, sepsis, medications, metabolic acidosis, maximum exercise, hypoxemia, and anxiety
- What are some causes of hypoxemia and what do those terms mean?
1) Hypoventilation means increased CO2 results in decreased O2,
2) Low V/Q means venous blood in the pulmonary capillaries is not coming into contact with inflated alveoli and the blood is unable to make the CO2/O2 exchange – blood is not oxygenating.
3) Shunt means venous blood is not being pumped through the lungs to be oxygenated,
4) Low FIO2
5) Diffusion impairment
- Explain residual air volume, what is its purpose?
The volume of air left in the lungs after all the air is exhaled out, it helps the airway passages stay open which eases the next breath
- Explain tidal volume.
The volume of air in normal inspiration and exhalation
- What happens to the acid/base balance when CO2 is elevated?
Acidosis
- What is the physiologic response to acidosis (high CO2)?
Hyperventilation
- Explain the difference between hyperinflation and restriction.
Hyperinflation refers to increased total lung capacity and restriction refers to decreased total lung capacity
- Emphysema is a disease of hyperinflation/restriction of lung volume.
hyperinflation
- Fibrosis is a disease of hyperinflation/restriction of lung volume.
restriction of lung volume.
- What disease of hyper-inflated lung tissue results in chronic obstruction of the airways from chronic bronchitis, emphysema or a mixture of the two?
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
- What disease of hyper-inflated lung tissue results in loss of elastic recoil of the airways and inability to fully expire air?
Emphysema
- Parenchymal lung disease, ALS, and a flail chest are examples of
restriction/hyperinflation.
- How is chronic bronchitis diagnosed?
Chronic productive cough for three months or more per year over a period of two years or longer
- What are the pathogenic features of chronic bronchitis?
Mucus gland hyperplasia, goblet cell hyperplasia, thickening of bronchial wall, increase in smooth muscles, excess mucus in airways, inflammatory cell infiltration
- What are the treatments for chronic bronchitis?
Prevent and treat infections, vaccines for influenza and pneumonia, bronchodilator drugs, inhaled O2 if PaO2 is low, mechanical ventilation
- What are the pathologic features of emphysema?
Enlargement of air spaces distal to terminal bronchioles with destruction of bronchial walls
- What is the congenital cause for 1% of emphysema cases?
Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency
- What are the symptoms of emphysema?
Progressive shortness of breath, airway obstruction, chest hyperinflation, hypoxia, and weight loss
- What are the treatments for emphysema?
Oxygen, quit smoking, bronchodilators, and lung transplant
- What are the pathologic characteristics of asthma?
Reversible airway obstruction, airway inflammation, increased airway responsiveness
- What are the clinical symptoms of asthma?
Episodic symptoms, cough, wheezing, and dyspnea, reversible airway obstruction, can lead to respiratory failure and death
- What are the treatments for asthma?
Bronchodilators, anti-inflammatory drugs, and monoclonal antibodies
