Respiratory Pathophysiology Flashcards
Obstructive Lung Diseases
~Cannot get the air OUT of the lungs
Cystic fibrosis, Cancer, Aspiration pneumonia, Asthma, Emphysema, Chronic bronchitis
Restrictive Lung Diseases
~Cannot get the air INTO the lungs
Chest wall abnormalities, Connective tissue abnormalities (pneumoconiosis)
Upper Infectious Diseases
~Upper Respiratory infection (URI)
Lower Infectious Diseases
~Affect more
~Bronchiolitis (RSV)
~Pneumonia
~SARS/MERS
~TB
~Fungal diseases
Vascular disorders
~Pulmonary edema
~Pulmonary embolism
Expansion disorders
~Atelectasis
~Pleural effusion
~Pneumothorax
Upper Respiratory infection (URI)
~Acute inflammatory process that affects mucus membrane of the upper respiratory tract
~Includes one or more of these problems: Rhinitis, Pharyngitis, Laryngitis, Sinusitis
~Symptoms: Low-grade fever, malaise, sore throat, discharge
~Etiology: >200 different viruses have been implicated, can get 2ary bacterial infection
Lower Respiratory infection
~Pneumonia
~6th leading cause of death in US; incidence highest in elderly
~Etiology: Common bacteria (pneumococcus), Viral most common in children
~Fungi - Coccidiomycosis (Valley Fever)
~Trauma to lungs
~Foreign body aspiration
Lower Respiratory infection
~Tuberculosis (TB)
~TB incidence began increasing in the late 1980’s: HIV population–>opportunistic infections
~Mycobacterium tuberculosis is quite resistant to eradication and can live in an inactive form for long times
~Very contagious via air droplets
~Symptoms: Fever, Chills, Night sweats, Productive cough, Loss of appetite, Weight loss, Fatigue
Lung Cancer
~Broadly classified into 2 types
—>Non-small cell
—>Small cell
~Based upon the microscopic appearance of the tumor
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
~Irreversible progressive obstruction of air flow in lungs
—>Chronic Bronchitis
—–>Bronchiectasis
—>Emphysema
~Air goes into lungs easily but unable to come out; air trapped in distal alveoli, causing hyperinflation & over-distension
Chronic Bronchitis
~Chronic inflammation of mucus membrane
~Chronic mucus producing cough most of the days of the month…
~Hyperplasia of mucosa & destruction of cilia (chronic, deep, productive cough)
~Long-term smoking, certain env. factors such as textile dust fibers
~Symptoms: Productive cough, SOB, wheezing
Bronchiectasis
~Permanent, irreversible DILATION & distortion of bronchi
~Takes years to develop
~Primarily in the lower lobes
~Symptoms: chronic productive cough
Emphysema
~Destructive disease of alveolar septa
~Chest x-ray shows: translucent appearing lungs, flattened diaphragm, & cardiomegaly
~Increased lung compliance
~Decreased lung elasticity
~Lungs expand but due to lack of elasticity, lungs stay out and can’t push air out
Asthma
~Chronic inflammatory disorder associated with airway hyper-responsiveness leading to recurrent episodes
~Often reversible airflow limitation
~Prevalence increasing in many countries, especially in children
Characterized by decreased airway compliance
Restrictive lung diseases (no air in)
2 groups
Abnormalities of chest wall which limits lung expansion
(Restrictive)
Kyphosis, Scoliosis, Polio, ALS, Muscular dystrophy, Burn scar
Disease affecting lung tissue that provides supporting framework
(restrictive)
Occupational diseases (pneumoconiosis), Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (autoimmune disease), Pulmonary edema, Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
Pulmonary edema
~Fluid collection (edema) in all lung tissues
~Affects gas exchange
~Affects lung expansion
~KEY: Pulmonary capillary pressure increases & fluid moves into alveoli
~Capillaries rupture & get bloody sputum (hemoptysis)
~True medical emergency
~Etiology: Left sided heart failure, Inhalation of toxic gases, Lymphatic blockage
Pulmonary Emboli
~Clot of foreign matter that occludes artery in pulmonary system
~Size of embolus & general health of patient determine degree of damage and amount of symptoms
~Thrombus (most common)
—>Air, fat, bacteria, tissue (large bone Fx can result in fat emboli)
~Risk increased by CHF, lung disease, stasis with varicosities
~90% originate from deep veins (primarily in leg)
Atelectasis
~Collapsed pulmonary tissue
~Results in degrees of hypoxia
~Causes: Pleural effusion, Obstruction of the bronchial tree (absorption atelectasis), Compression atelectasis
Pleural Effusion
~Fluid separates the 2 pleural membranes
~Lungs do not expand properly during inspiration since there is no cohesion btw lung/visceral pleura/parietal pleura
~Types:
—>Transudates = hydrothorax
—>Blood = hemothorax
—>Pus = empyema
Pneumothorax
~Collection of air or gas in pleural cavity resulting in collapse (partial/full) of lung
—>Spontaneous-tear in visceral pleura leads to air entering pleural space from lung
—>Open -usually 2ary to trauma
—>Tension
Cor Pulmonale
~Pulmonary heart disease
~Disease of the RIGHT side of the heart from pulmonary hypertension
~Does not include pulmonary hypertension as a result of LEFT sided heart failure
~Causes: COPD, Pulmonary fibrosis, Persistent atelectasis, PE, Pulmonary vascular sclerosis
~Right ventricle develops hypertrophy and over time the right ventricle is unable to maintain cardiac output
