Chronic Bronchitis & Emphysema
Chronic Bronchitis & Emphysema
Chronic Bronchitis & Emphysema
Faculty of Nurse
Semester VII
Course Name
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY II
Chest x-ray
Sputum (mucus coughed up from the
lunges, to tested on analyzing presence of
bacteria )
Pulmonary function test( check for signs of
asthma or emphysema by measuring how
well you are able to breathe)
CT scan , high resolution x-rays of the
body from various angles.
Treatment and prevention
Medical treatment
Bronchodilator( for example albuterol) medicine
that opens the airways in your lungs by relaxing
the smooth muscles that encircle the bronchi.
Steroids ( example: prednisone) reduces the
inflammatory reaction and thus decreased the
bronchial swelling and secretions of mucus.
Improve breathing and overall well-being
Supplemental oxygen therapy
Give antibiotic drug
Over- the- counter( OCT) cough
suppressants such as dextromethorphan
Prevention
Life style changes
quit smoking
physical activity to strengthen the muscle
and help breathing
Flu and pneumococcal vaccines to prevent repeated
infections
Avoiding air-borne chemicals and dust with
appropriate masks
EMPHYSEMA
Emphysema: is long -term progressive disease
that gradually damages the air sacs(alveoli) in the
lungs, causing shortness of breath.
In emphysematous lungs the elastic fibers are
damaged, when air enters the alveolus stretch
but are unable to recoil, trapping old air, leaving
no room for fresh one.
Bronchioles become inflamed and scarred leaving
a narrower lumen.
Symptoms of emphysema
Chronic cough
Blue skin coloration
Difficult in breathing
wheezing
Causes of emphysema
Cigarette smoking is the most dangerous
behavior that causes development of
emphysema
Smoke causes mucous secretion increase
degrease ability to clear the secretions
Mucous that build up traps bacteria and
other irritants causing infection.
Immune system releases destructive
enzyme , leads to loss of protein
responsible for keeping the lunges elastic
Alpha1 anti-trypsin deficiency cause
inability to fight destructive effects of
trypsin when released in the lungs, lunge
tissue slowly destroyed , degreasing the
ability of the lungs to preform
appropriately.
Diagnosing emphysema
Chest x-ray
Lung function test – involve having you
breathe in to a tube connected to a
computer or monitoring device that
measures how much air your lungs can
hold, how quickly lungs can expel air
during expiration.
Lab tests( blood test for white cell count,
and atrial blood gas)
Treatment and prevention
Medical treatment
Bronchodilating medications-( albuterol),
ipratropium bromide ( atrovent),
theophylline, keeps air passageways open.
Steroid medications ( decrease
inflammation in the body)
Antibiotic
Supplemental oxygen
Prevention
Life style change
stop smoking
exercise regularly
Avoid respiratory irritants
Getting vaccination to prevent respiratory
infections
Any