COPD Case Study
COPD
Salve Aguilar
West Coast University
Pathophysiology
Dr. Isabelle Tardif
August 7, 2015
Abstract
The case study presents the outcome of smoking that resulted to RS’ chronic bronchitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. His ABGs’ show partially compensated respiratory acidosis as manifested by decreased pH, increased PaCO2, decreased PaO2 and increased HCO3. RS most likely has the following clinical findings caused by COPD: enlarged right heart along with the signs and symptoms of the right-sided failure, secondary polycythemia, hypoxemia and hypercarbia. The fact that he has chronic bronchitis, his cough is productive with thick mucus, breath sounds are coarse rales and chest is tight. Expected symptoms in emphysema …show more content…
He exhibits the signs and symptoms of the right-sided heart failure such as increased shortness of breath, and swelling in legs and feet. He experiences continuous cough accompanied by thick mucus production, chest tightness, coarse rales and wheezing upon auscultation of this breath sounds. Other clinical findings are secondary polycythemia from elevated hematocrit, hypoxemia, and hypercarbia due to low pH, increased PaCO2, increased PaO2 levels. On the other hand, emphysematous COPD results from destruction of alveoli and small airways due to release of proteolytic enzymes. Symptoms of emphysema include dyspnea, weight loss, a low flat diaphragm, barrel chest and use of accessory muscles when breathing. Patient can have a normal oxygen level and CO2 may be normal or low as a result of hyperventilation until late in the …show more content…
It decreases resistance in the airway and increases the airflow to the lungs. It relieves the symptoms, reverses airway obstruction, delays disease progression and slows down the decline in lung function. B2 agonist, also a bronchodilator, relaxes and dilates the airways in the lungs making breathing easier. It is effective in improving lung function such as shortness of breath. Both of these drugs strengthen the bronchodilator effect, they relax and open up airways to reduce exacerbations. Thus, they improve the patient’s pulmonary function with better oxygen
Salve Aguilar
West Coast University
Pathophysiology
Dr. Isabelle Tardif
August 7, 2015
Abstract
The case study presents the outcome of smoking that resulted to RS’ chronic bronchitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. His ABGs’ show partially compensated respiratory acidosis as manifested by decreased pH, increased PaCO2, decreased PaO2 and increased HCO3. RS most likely has the following clinical findings caused by COPD: enlarged right heart along with the signs and symptoms of the right-sided failure, secondary polycythemia, hypoxemia and hypercarbia. The fact that he has chronic bronchitis, his cough is productive with thick mucus, breath sounds are coarse rales and chest is tight. Expected symptoms in emphysema …show more content…
He exhibits the signs and symptoms of the right-sided heart failure such as increased shortness of breath, and swelling in legs and feet. He experiences continuous cough accompanied by thick mucus production, chest tightness, coarse rales and wheezing upon auscultation of this breath sounds. Other clinical findings are secondary polycythemia from elevated hematocrit, hypoxemia, and hypercarbia due to low pH, increased PaCO2, increased PaO2 levels. On the other hand, emphysematous COPD results from destruction of alveoli and small airways due to release of proteolytic enzymes. Symptoms of emphysema include dyspnea, weight loss, a low flat diaphragm, barrel chest and use of accessory muscles when breathing. Patient can have a normal oxygen level and CO2 may be normal or low as a result of hyperventilation until late in the …show more content…
It decreases resistance in the airway and increases the airflow to the lungs. It relieves the symptoms, reverses airway obstruction, delays disease progression and slows down the decline in lung function. B2 agonist, also a bronchodilator, relaxes and dilates the airways in the lungs making breathing easier. It is effective in improving lung function such as shortness of breath. Both of these drugs strengthen the bronchodilator effect, they relax and open up airways to reduce exacerbations. Thus, they improve the patient’s pulmonary function with better oxygen