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1. 1
Pulmonary Pathophysiology

2. 2
Reduction of Pulmonary Function
1. Inadequate blood flow to the lungs –
hypoperfusion
2. Inadequate air flow to the alveoli -
hypoventilation

3. 3
Nosocomial infections
• Factors that reduce airflow also compromise
particle clearance and predispose to infection.
• Restricted lung movement and ventilation may
arise due to:
– Positioning
– Constricting bandages
– Central nervous system depression
– Coma
• High rate of pneumonia in hospital patients due
in large part to impaired ventilation and
clearance.

4. 4
Signs and Symptoms of Pulmonary
Disease
• Dyspnea – subjective sensation of
uncomfortable breathing, feeling “short of
breath”
• Ranges from mild discomfort after exertion
to extreme difficulty breathing at rest.
• Usually caused by diffuse and extensive
rather than focal pulmonary disease.

5. 5
Dyspnea cont.
• Due to:
– Airway obstruction
• Greater force needed to provide adequate
ventilation
• Wheezing sound due to air being forced
through airways narrowed due to
constriction or fluid accumulation
– Decreased compliance of lung tissue

6. 6
Signs of dyspnea:
• Flaring nostrils
• Use of accessory muscles in breathing
• Retraction (pulling back) of intercostal
spaces

7. 7
Cough
• Attempt to clear the lower respiratory
passages by abrupt and forceful expulsion
of air
• Most common when fluid accumulates in
lower airways

8. 8
Cough may result from:
• Inflammation of lung tissue
• Increased secretion in response to
mucosal irritation
– Inhalation of irritants
– Intrinsic source of mucosal disruption – such
as tumor invasion of bronchial wall
• Excessive blood hydrostatic pressure in
pulmonary capillaries
– Pulmonary edema – excess fluid passes into
airways

9. 9
• When cough can raise fluid into pharynx,
the cough is described as a productive
cough, and the fluid is sputum.
– Production of bloody sputum is called
hemoptysis
• Usually involves only a small amount of
blood loss
• Not threatening, but can indicate a serious
pulmonary disease
–Tuberculosis, lung abscess, cancer,
pulmonary infarction.

10. 10
• If sputum is purulent, and infection of lung
or airway is indicated.
• Cough that does not produce sputum is
called a dry, nonproductive or hacking
cough.
• Acute cough is one that resolves in 2-3
weeks from onset of illness or treatment of
underlying condition.
– Us. caused by URT infections, allergic rhinitis,
acute bronchitis, pneumonia, congestive heart
failure, pulmonary embolus, or aspiration.

11. 11
• A chronic cough is one that persists for
more than 3 weeks.
• In nonsmokers, almost always due to
postnasal drainage syndrome, asthma, or
gastroesophageal reflux disease
• In smokers, chronic bronchitis is the most
common cause, although lung cancer
should be considered.

12. 12
Cyanosis
• When blood contains a large amount of
unoxygenated hemoglobin, it has a dark red-
blue color which gives skin a characteristic
bluish appearance.
• Most cases arise as a result of peripheral
vasoconstriction – result is reduced blood flow,
which allows hemoglobin to give up more of its
oxygen to tissues- peripheral cyanosis.
• Best seen in nail beds
• Due to cold environment, anxiety, etc.

13. 13
• Central cyanosis can be due to :
– Abnormalities of the respiratory membrane
– Mismatch between air flow and blood flow
– Expressed as a ratio of change in ventilation
(V) to perfusion (Q) : V/Q ratio
• Pulmonary thromboembolus - reduced
blood flow
• Airway obstruction – reduced ventilation
• In persons with dark skin can be seen
in the whites of the eyes and mucous
membranes.

14. 14
• Lack of cyanosis does not mean
oxygenation is normal!!
– In adults not evident until severe hypoxemia is
present
– Clinically observable when reduced
hemoglobin levels reach 5 g/ dl.
– Severe anemia and carbon monoxide
poisoning give inadequate oxygenation of
tissues without cyanosis
– Individuals with polycythemia may have
cyanosis when oxygenation is adequate.

15. 15
Pain
• Originates in pleurae, airways or chest
wall
• Inflammation of the parietal pleura causes
sharp or stabbing pain when pleura
stretches during inspiration
– Usually localized to an area of the chest wall,
where a pleural friction rub can be heard
– Laughing or coughing makes pain worse
– Common with pulmonary infarction due to
embolism

16. 16
• Inflammation of trachea or bronchi
produce a central chest pain that is
pronounced after coughing
– Must be differentiated from cardiac pain
• High blood pressure in the pulmonary
circulation can cause pain during exercise
that often mistaken for cardiac pain
(angina pectoris)

17. 17
Clubbing
• The selective bulbous enlargement of the
end of a digit (finger or toe).
• Usually painless
• Commonly associated with diseases that
cause decreased oxygenation
– Lung cancer
– Cystic fibrosis
– Lung abscess
– Congenital heart disease

18. 18

19. 19
Respiratory Failure
• The inability of the lungs to adequately
oxygenate the blood and to clear it of
carbon dioxide.
• Can be acute:
– ARDS or pulmonary embolism
– Direct injury to the lungs, airways or chest
wall
– Indirect due to injury of another body system,
such as the brain or spinal cord.

20. 20
• Chronic respiratory failure
– Due to progressive hypoventilation from airway
obstruction or restrictive disease
• Respiratory failure always presents a serious
threat
– Dysnpea always present, but may be difficult to
detect a change in a chronic patient
– Since nervous tissue it highly oxygen-dependent,
see CNS signs and symptoms
– Memory loss, visual impairment, drowsiness
– Headache due to increased intracranial pressure
due to cerebral vasodilation

21. 21
Two principal patterns:
1. Hypoxic Respiratory Failure:
Seen when pO2 falls to or below 60 mm Hg
Typically seen in chronic bronchititis and
emphysema, in lung consolidation due
to bacterial infection, or in lung collapse,
pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary
embolism and ARDS.
Initially, produces headache and nervous
agitation, soon followed by a decline in
mental activity, and confusion.

22. 22
• With a progressive lowering of pO2, more
widespread tissue damage and loss of
consciousness can be expected.
• In the event of brain stem hypoxia, CNS
output to the heart and systemic arterioles
can produce circulatory shock
• Renal hypoxia can cause loss of
homeostatic balance and accumulation of
wastes to complicate the problem

23. 23
Hypoxic-Hypercapnic Respiratory
Failure
• When arterial pCO2 (normally 40 mm Hg)
exceeds 45 mm HG, condition is called
hypercapnia
• Most often, obstructive conditions produce
this form of respiratory failure, as can
hypoventilation from CNS problem,
thoracic cage or neuromuscular
abnormalities

24. 24
• Attempts to compensate include increased
heart rate and vasodilation, which
produces warm, moist skin.
• CNS effects produce muscular tremors,
drowsiness and coma.
• Hypercapnia also produces acidosis.

25. 25
Pulmonary Disorders
• Acute Respiratory Failure:
–Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
(or Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome)
• Rapid and severe onset of respiratory
failure characterized by acute lung
inflammation and diffuse injury to the
respiratory membrane with
noncardiogenic edema.

26. 26
ARDS
• Identified in last 25 years
• Affects 200 -250 thousand people each
year in U.S.
• Mortality in persons < 60 is 40% (↓ 67%)
• Those over 65 and immunocompromised
still have mortality over 60 %
• Most survivors have almost normal lung
function 1 year after acute illness.

27. 27
Pathophysiology of ARDS
• All disorders causing ARDS acutely injure
the respiratory membrane and produce
severe pulmonary edema, shunting, and
hypoxemia.
– Shunting: blow flow is normal, but gas
exchanged is decreased. V/Q ratio changes:
the same effect as if blood were shunting or
bypassing the lungs.

28. 28
• Damage can occur directly:
–Aspiration of acidic gastric contents
–Inhalation of toxic gases
• Or indirectly:
–Chemical mediators from systemic
disorders

29. 29
Result is massive inflammatory response by
lungs
• Initial injury damages the pulmonary
capillary epithelium, causing platelet
aggregation and intravascular thrombus
formation.
• Platelets release substances that attract
and activate neutrophils.
• Damage also activates the complement
cascade which also activates neutrophils
and the inflammatory response.

30. 30
• Role of neutrophils is central to the
development of ARDS.
• Neutrophils release inflammatory mediators:
– Proteolytic enzymes
– Toxic oxygen products
– Prostaglandins and leukotrienes
– Platelet activating factors
• These damage the respiratory membrane and
increase capillary permeability, allowing fluids,
proteins, and blood cells to leak into alveoli →
pulmonary edema and hemorrhage

31. 31
• Reduces pulmonary ventilation and
compliance
• Neutrophils and macrophages release
mediators that cause pulmonary
vasoconstriction → pulmonary hypertension
• Type II alveolar cells also damaged, see
decreased surfactant production
• Alveoli fill with fluid or collapse.
• Lungs become less compliant, and
ventilation decreases.

32. 32
• After 24 – 48 hours hyaline membranes
form
• After about 7 days, fibrosis progressively
obliterates the alveoli, respiratory
bronchioles and interstitium
• Result is acute respiratory failure

33. 33
• In addition, chemical mediators often
cause widespread inflammation,
endothelial damage and increased
capillary permeability throughout the body
• This leads to systemic inflammatory
response syndrome, which leads to
multiple organ dysfunction syndrome
(MODS)
• Death may not be caused by ARDS alone,
but by MODS

34. 34
Clinical manifestations:
• Symptoms develop progressively:
– Hyperventilation→ repiratory alkalosis→
dyspnea and hypoxemia→ metabolic acidosis→
respiratory acidosis → further hypoxemia →
hypotension, decreased cardiac output, death

35. 35
Evaluation and Treatment
• Diagnosis based on physical examination,
blood gases and imaging
• Treatment is based on early detection,
supportive therapy and prevention of
complications, esp. infection
• Often requires mechanical ventilation

36. 36
• Many studies underway for treatment:
– Prophylactic immunotherapy
– Antibodies against endotoxins
– Inhibition of inflammatory mediators
– Inhalation of nitric oxide to reduce pulmonary
hypertension
– Surfactant replacement

37. 37
Postoperative Respiratory Failure
• Same pathophysiology as ARDS, but usually
not as severe.
• Smokers are at risk, esp. if have pre-existing
lung disease.
• Also individuals with chronic renal failure,
chronic hepatic disease, or infection
• Thoracic and abdominal surgeries carry
greatest risk
• Individuals usually have a period of
hypotension during surgery, and many have
sepsis.

38. 38
Prevention includes:
• Frequent turning
• Deep breathing (spirometry)
• Early ambulation to prevent atelectasis
and accumulation of secretions
• Humidification of air to loosen secretions
• Supplemental oxygen and antibiotics as
appropriate
• Respiratory failure may require
mechanical ventilation for a time.

39. 39
Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
• Characterized by airway obstruction that is
worse with expiration. More force is required to
expire a given volume of air, or emptying of
lungs is slowed, or both.
• The most common obstructive diseases are
asthma, chronic bronchitis, and emphysema.
• Many people have both chronic bronchitis and
emphysema, and together these are often
called chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease - COPD

40. 40
• Major symptom of obstructive pulmonary
disease is dyspnea, and the unifying sign
is wheezing.
• Individuals have increased work of
breathing, V/Q mismatching, and a
decreased forced expiratory volume.

41. 41
Asthma
• More intermittent and acute than COPD,
even though it can be chronic
• Factor that sets it apart from COPD is its
reversibility
• Occurs at all ages, approx. half of all
cases develop during childhood, and
another 1/3 develop before age 40
• 5 % of Adults and 7-10 % of children in
U.S. have asthma

42. 42
• Morbidity and mortality have risen in past 20
years in spite of increased numbers and
availability of antiasthma medications.
• Runs in families, so evidence genetics plays a
role.
• Environmental factors interact with inherited
factors to increase the risk of asthma and
attacks of bronchospasm
• Childhood exposure to high levels of allergens,
cigarette smoke and/or respiratory viruses
increases chances of developing asthma.

43. 43
• The major pathological feature of asthma
is inflammation resulting in
hyperresponsiveness of the airways.
• Major events in an acute asthma attack
are bronchiolar constriction, mucus
hypersecretion, and inflammatory
swelling.

44. 44
• Exposure to allergens or irritants causes
mast cells to release granules and trigger
the release of many inflammatory
mediators such as histamine, interleukins,
immunoglobulins, prostaglandins,
leukotrines and nitric oxide.
• See vasodilation and increased capillary
permeability
• Chemotactic factors attract neutrophils,
eosinophils and lymphocytes to the area –
bronchial infiltration

45. 45
• Smooth muscle spasm in bronchioles due
to IgE effect on autonomic neurons - ACh
• Vascular congestion
• Edema formation
• Production of thick, tenacious mucus
• Impaired mucociliary function
• Thickening of airway walls
• Increased bronchial responsiveness
• Untreated, this can lead to airway
damage that is irrevesible.

46. 46
• Obstruction increases resistance to air
flow and decreases flow rates
• Impaired expiration causes hyperinflation
of alveoli distal to obstruction, and
increases the work of breathing

47. 47
Clinical manifestions
• During remission individual is
asymptomatic and pulmonary function
tests are normal
• Dyspnea
• Often severe cough
• Wheezing exhalation
• Attacks usually of one to two hours
duration, but may be severe and continue
for days or even weeks.

48. 48
• If bronchospam is not reversed by usual
measures, the individual is considered to
have severe bronchospasm or status
asthmaticus
• If continues can be life threatening.

49. 49
Management
• Avoid triggers (allergens and irritants)
• Patient education
• Acute attacks treated with corticosteroids and
inhaled beta-agonists
• Chronic management based on severity of
asthma and includes regular use of inhaled
antiinflammatory medications – corticosteroids,
chromolyn sodium or leukotriene inhibitors.
• Inhaled bronchodilators ***
• Immunotherapy – allergy shots, etc.

50. 50
• Bronchoconstriction may be a normal
means of restricting airflow and intake of
irritants and allergens. Their long term use
may actually increase exposure to these
factors and cause more pronounced and
chronic symptoms.
• Antiinflammatory agents have better long
term effects.

51. 51
COPD
• Pathological changes that cause reduced
expiratory air flow
• Does not change markedly over time
• Does not show major reversibility in
response to pharmacological agents
• Progressive
• Associated with abnormal inflammatory
response of the lungs to noxious particles
or gases.

52. 52
• Fourth leading cause of death in U.S.
• Increasing in incidence over the past 30
years
• Primary cause is cigarette smoking
• Both active and passive smoking have
been implicated
• Other risks are occupational exposures
and air pollution
• Genetic susceptibilities identified

53. 53
Chronic Bronchitis
• Hypersecretion of mucus and chronic
productive cough for at least 3 months
(usually winter) of the year for at least two
consecutive years.
• Incidence may be increased up to 20
times in persons who smoke and more in
persons exposed to air pollution.

54. 54
Pathophysiology
• Inspired irritants result in inflammation of the
airways with infiltration of neutrophils,
macrophages, and lymphocytes into the
bronchial wall.
• Causes bronchial edema and increases size
and number of mucus glands and goblet cells.
• Mucus is thick and tenacious, and can’t be
cleared because of impaired ciliary function.
• Increases susceptibility to infection and injury

55. 55
• Initially affects only larger bronchi, but
eventually all airways involved.
• Airways collapse in early expiration,
blocked by mucus, and air is trapped in
distal portion of the tract.
• Leads to ventilation/perfusion mismatch
• Hypoxemia occurs
• Air trapping prevents respiratory muscles
from functioning efficiently (barrel chest),
and get hypoventilation and hypercapnia.

56. 56
Treatment
• Best treatment is PREVENTION because
changes are not reversible.
• Cessation of smoking halts progression of
the disease
• Bronchodilators, expectorants, and chest
physical therapy are used as needed.
• Acute attacks may require antibiotics,
steroids and possibly mechanical
ventilation.
• Chronic oral steroids as a last resort.
• Home oxygen therapy

57. 57
Emphysema
• Abnormal, permanent enlargement of the
gas-exchange airways and destruction of
the alveolar walls.
• Obstruction results from changes in lung
tissue rather than mucus production and
inflammation.
• Major mechanism is loss of elastic recoil

58. 58
• Major cause is cigarette smoking
• Other causes are air pollution and
childhood respiratory infections
• Primary emphysema linked to an inherited
deficiency of the enzyme alpha 1-
antitrypsin which inhibits action of many
proteolytic enzymes which can affect lung
tissue.
• With this deficiency, smokers are even
more susceptible.

59. 59
Pathophysiology
• Begins with the destruction of the alveolar
septa, which eliminates portions of the
capillary bed, and increases the volume of
air in the alveolus.
• Inhaled oxidants inhibit the activity of
endogenous antiproteases, and stimulate
inflammation with increased activity of
proteases.

60. 60
• See continued alveolar loss and loss of
elastic recoil
• Expiration becomes difficult
• Hyperinflation of alveoli produce large air
spaces (bullae) and air spaces adjacent
to the pleura (Blebs)
• These are not effective in gas exchange
and result in hypoxemia
• Air trapping causes hyperexpansion of the
chest, which puts respiratory muscles at a
mechanical disadvantage.

61. 61
• This makes breathing so difficult that late
in the disease individuals develop
hypoventilation and hypercapnia.

62. 62
Clinical manifestations
• Dyspnea
• Barrel chest
• Minimal wheezing
• Prolonged expiration
• Hypoventilation and polycythemia late in
the progression of the disease

63. 63
Treatment
• Similar to chronic bronchitis
• Stop smoking
• Bronchodilating drugs
• Breathing retraining
• Relaxation exercises
• Antibiotics for acute infections
• Severe COPD may require inhaled or oral
steroids, and home oxygen
• Some can benefit from lung reduction
surgery or lung transplant.