What I have learned from Respiratory System at a Glance

Book Name: Ward, Jeremy PT, Jane Ward, and Richard M. Leach. The respiratory system at a glance. Vol. 19. John Wiley & Sons, 2010.

1. Examination of respiratory diseases

1) General

Hands, face and neck, tongue

2) Chest examination

3) Forced expiatory test

4) Lung volumes test and others

• CX: X-ray and CXR: two-dimensional image

source: https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.webmd.com%2Fdtmcms%2Flive%2Fwebmd%2Fconsumer_assets%2Fsite_images%2Farticles%2Fhealth_tools%2Flung_cancer_overview_slideshow%2Fprinc_rm_photo_of_lung_cancer_xray.jpg&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.webmd.com%2Flung-cancer%2Fss%2Fslideshow-lung-cancer-overview&docid=2VD3qaZUPJK1PM&tbnid=TwFDmmeQOSpTIM%3A&vet=10ahUKEwjt2PzW4PDTAhXJLsAKHf_VAJgQMwhQKAAwAA..i&w=493&h=335&hl=en&authuser=0&bih=416&biw=730&q=x-ray%20for%20lung%20cancer&ved=0ahUKEwjt2PzW4PDTAhXJLsAKHf_VAJgQMwhQKAAwAA&iact=mrc&uact=8

• CT: allow thin slide

source: http://www.aboutcancer.com/lung_xrays_abnormal.htm

• Bronchoscopy

source: https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003857.htm

• Pulmonary angiography

source: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/421904-overview

2. Treatment

1) Respiratory failure: caused by COPD and asthma, feel breathless

— Airway maintenance, clearance of secretions, oxygen therapy

2) Asthma. Hospitalization is required for Typical PEFR<= 30% (very severe asthma)

— Step-wise long term control: inhaled compounds.—justify health insurance

3) COPD:  Reduced expiratory airflow and increased work of breathign. COPD includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema

–No therapy can reverse COPD, smoking cessation is needed, and oxygen therapy

* Death usually occurs from infection, acute respiratory failure, pulmonary embolus or cardiac arrhythmia

4) Occupational and environmental-related lung disease (i.e. coal worker pneumoconiosis (CWP) )

Sulphur dioxide is one of the main causes: combustion of fossil fuels, mining

CWP is often symptomless. The surviving year of usual interstitial pneumonitis (VIP) is less than 5 years—justify importance of screening and early diagnose

–Oral corticosteroid, lung transplantation for patients with advanced fibrosis

5) Pneumonia: due to infection, includes community- , hospital-acquired and other pneumonia

–Early identification of likely pathogens is crucial –justify the health center, refer to a critical care unit

• Oxygen by face mask and intravenous fluids and inotropic drugs
• Ventilatory support

6) Lung cancer: demonstration of malignancy, staging and suitability for therapy.

• Stage I, II and IIIA: surgical research is optimal
• Stage IIIB or IV are treated with chemotherapy and radiation therapy. IV has a surviving time of 6-12 month

3. Technology of treatment

1) Mechanical Ventilation

source: http://www.rtmagazine.com/2016/02/managing-patient-mechanical-ventilation/

2) Acute oxygen therapy: life-saving if correct, careful monitoring of oxygen therapy is essential

3)  Antibiotic therapy: if infection

source: http://healthdrip.com/antibiotic-therapy-in-peridontal-disease/