Respiratory Case Examples

Question 1

FEV1 and FVC reduced

Answer 1

Indicates severe obstructive lung disease.The reduced FVC results from pathological airway closure during expiration, which is a feature of COPD

Question 2

Severe COPD

Answer 2

-hyperinflation limits inspiration
-airway closure limits expiration
-hyperventilation limits expiratory reserve
in COPD loss of elasticity leads to decreased recoil, reduced expiration.

Question 3

Sarcoidosis

Answer 3

-uncommon chronic inflammatory condition which produces granulomata in various tissues and organs
fatigue and breathlessness are common features
restrictive lung disease results from extensive deposition of inflammatory infiltrates; it also produces enlarged hilarity lymph nodes

Question 4

severe pulmonary fibrosis

Answer 4

reduced FVC
REDUCED FEV1
FEV1/FVC EQUAL OR INCREASED
lungs cannot expand normally because of restriction

Question 5

Asthma

Answer 5

FVC same
FEV1 decreased
FEV1/FVC decreased
obstructive

Question 6

TLCO=Transfer factor of the lung for carbon monoxide

Answer 6

CO has high affinity for Hb,is highly soluble in blood and is usually v low concentration
a fraction of CO will be transferred from alveoli to blood during max inspiration

Question 7

TLCO

Answer 7

how much diffused across alveolar/cap membrane compared against predicted value
-effectively measures the overall function of the alveolar-capillary membrane
any lung disease that increases thickness of A-C membrane or reduces functioning alveolar surface are will lead to reduced TLCO