Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive lung disease characterized by difficulty breathing. It is caused by long-term exposure to irritating gases and particulate matter, primarily from cigarette smoking. Symptoms include a productive cough, breathlessness, and chest infections. The disease is diagnosed through pulmonary function tests and imaging. Treatment focuses on reducing symptoms through bronchodilators and antibiotics for infections. Nursing care involves assessing symptoms, monitoring diagnostic tests, and teaching patients about prevention, treatment, and managing exacerbations.

1. Chronic obstructiveChronic obstructive
pulmonary diseasepulmonary disease
((COPDCOPD((
Dr. Walaa NasrDr. Walaa Nasr
Lecturer of Adult NursingLecturer of Adult Nursing
Second yearSecond year

2. COPDCOPD
 Out linesOut lines
 What is the COPD?What is the COPD?
 OverviewOverview
 Causes of COPDCauses of COPD
 Symptoms of COPDSymptoms of COPD
 What's the difference between COPD andWhat's the difference between COPD and
asthma?asthma?
 Diagnostic tests needed for COPDDiagnostic tests needed for COPD
 Medical management of COPDMedical management of COPD
 Preventive measuresPreventive measures
 Nursing interventionNursing intervention
 Outlook and PrognosisOutlook and Prognosis

3. COPDCOPD
DefinitionDefinition
COPDCOPD, or chronic, or chronic
obstructive pulmonaryobstructive pulmonary
disease, is a progressivedisease, is a progressive
disease that makes it harddisease that makes it hard
to breathe. "Progressive"to breathe. "Progressive"
means the disease getsmeans the disease gets
worse over time.worse over time.

4. COPDCOPD
OverviewOverview

5. COPDCOPD
OverviewOverview
 In COPD, less air flows in and out of
the airways because of one or more of
the following:
 The airways and air sacs lose their
elastic quality.
 The walls between many of the air
sacs are destroyed.
 The walls of the airways become thick
and inflamed.
 The airways make more mucus than
usual, which tends to clog them.

6. COPDCOPD
CausesCauses
SmokingSmoking
Air pollutionAir pollution
geneticgenetic (hereditary) risk(hereditary) risk

7. COPDCOPD
SymptomsSymptoms
 Productive cough
 Breathlessness
 Chest infection
 Other symptoms of COPD can
be more vague, weight loss,
tiredness and ankle swelling.

8. Difference between COPD and
Asthma
 In COPD there is permanent damage to the airways.
The narrowed airways are fixed, and so symptoms are
chronic (persistent). Treatment to open up the
airways, is therefore limited.
 In asthma there is inflammation in the airways which
makes the muscles in the airways constrict. This
causes the airways to narrow. The symptoms tend to
come and go, and vary in severity from time to time.
Treatment to reduce inflammation and to open up the
airways usually works well.
 COPD is more likely than asthma to cause a chronic
(ongoing) cough with sputum.

9. Difference between COPD and asthma
(cont…(
 Night time waking with breathlessnessNight time waking with breathlessness
or wheeze is common inor wheeze is common in asthmaasthma andand
uncommon in COPD.uncommon in COPD.
 COPDCOPD is rare before the age of 35is rare before the age of 35
whilst asthma is common in under-35.whilst asthma is common in under-35.

10. COPDCOPD
Diagnostic tests
 Symptoms
 Physical examination
 Sample of sputum
 Chest x-ray
 High-resolution CT (HRCT scan)
 Pulmonary function test
(spirometery)
 Arterial blood gases test
 Pulse oximeter

12. COPDCOPD
Medical management
 Give antibiotics to treat infection
 Give bronchodilators to relieve bronchospasm, reduce
airway obstruction, mucosal edema and liquefy
secretions.
 Chest physiotherapy and postural drainage to improve
pulmonary ventilation.
 Proper hydration helps to cough up secretions or
tracheal suctioning when the patient is unable to
cough.
 Steroid therapy if the patient fails to respond to more
conservative treatment.

13. COPDCOPD
Medical management (cont…(
 SStop smokingtop smoking
 OOxygenation with low concentration during the acute episodesxygenation with low concentration during the acute episodes
 InIn asthma adrenaline ( epinephrine) SC if the bronchospasmasthma adrenaline ( epinephrine) SC if the bronchospasm
not relieved.not relieved.
 AAminophylins IV if the above treatment does not help.minophylins IV if the above treatment does not help.
 IVIV corticosteroids for patients with chronic asthma or frequentcorticosteroids for patients with chronic asthma or frequent
attack.attack.
 SSedative or tranquilizers to calm the patient.edative or tranquilizers to calm the patient.
 IIncrease fluids intake to correct loss of diaphoresis andncrease fluids intake to correct loss of diaphoresis and
inaccessible loss of hyperventilation.inaccessible loss of hyperventilation.
 IIntubations and mechanical ventilation if there is respiratoryntubations and mechanical ventilation if there is respiratory
failurefailure..

14.  To prevent irritation and infection of theTo prevent irritation and infection of the
airways, instruct the patient to:airways, instruct the patient to:
 Avoid exposure to cigarette, pipe, and cigarAvoid exposure to cigarette, pipe, and cigar
smoke as well as to dusts and powders.smoke as well as to dusts and powders.
 Avoid use of aerosol sprays.Avoid use of aerosol sprays.
 Stay indoors when the pollen count is high.Stay indoors when the pollen count is high.
 Stay indoors when temperature andStay indoors when temperature and
humidity are both highhumidity are both high
COPD
Preventive measures

15.  Use air conditioning to help decrease
pollutants and control temperature
 Avoid exposure to persons known to have
colds or other respiratory tract infection
 Avoid enclosed, crowded areas during cold
and flu season.
 Obtain immunization against influenza and
streptococcal pneumonia.
COPD
Preventive measures (cont…(

16. COPD
Preventive measures (cont…(
 To ensure prompt, effective treatmentTo ensure prompt, effective treatment
of a developing respiratory infection,of a developing respiratory infection,
instruct the patient to do theinstruct the patient to do the
following:-following:-
 Report any change in sputum colorReport any change in sputum color
character, increased tightness of thecharacter, increased tightness of the
chest, increased dyspnea, or fatigue.chest, increased dyspnea, or fatigue.
 Call the physician if ordered antibioticsCall the physician if ordered antibiotics
do not relieve symptoms within 24do not relieve symptoms within 24

17. COPD
Nursing interventionNursing intervention
 AssessmentAssessment
 HistoryHistory
 Patient's environmentPatient's environment
 Work history, exercise pattern,Work history, exercise pattern,
smoking habitssmoking habits
 The onset & development ofThe onset & development of
symptomssymptoms
 Sleeping positionsSleeping positions

18. COPD
Nursing intervention (contNursing intervention (cont…(…(
 Physical examination
Signs of heavy smokers
 Observe for clubbing
 Distended neck vein on expiration
 The presence of barrel chest
 Observe for abdominal breathing
 The use of pursed lips breathing and
chest movement
 Auscultate the chest& listen for
musical wheezes characteristics of
chronic bronchitis

20. COPD
Nursing intervention (contNursing intervention (cont…(…(
 review the results of diagnostic procedure:
 Arterial blood gases
 Pulmonary function tests
 X-ray films
 Nursing diagnosis
 Ineffective breathing pattern related to increase
need of O2
 Ineffective airway clearance related to excessive
accumulation of secretions
 Impaired gas exchange related to impaired
expiration &co2 retention

21. COPD
Nursing intervention (contNursing intervention (cont…(…(
 Activity intolerance related to inadequate
oxygenation
 High risk for ineffective individual coping
related to chronic disease, its effects& its
treatment
 High risk for altered health maintenance
related to insufficient knowledge of
prevention, identification and treatment of
respiratory complication of COPD