Pulmonary System Pathology

Ventilation and Perfusion

Imbalance of these results in impairment of gas exchange

Hypoxemia

• deficiency of oxygen in the blood

Shortness of breath, confusion, tachycardia, drowsiness

symptoms of hypoxemia

inflammation, fibrosis, embolism and infarction, edema and congestion

Pathological processes present during pulmonary pathologies

Fibrosis

• excessive formation of connective tissue

• thickens and stiffens lung tissue, resulting in compromise of surface area and effectiveness of air exchange in alveoli

Embolism and infarction

• substance carried to another site and localized necrotic cells

• blood flow in the area is blocked

Pulmonary Embolism

• embolus lodges in the pulmonary arteries

Edema and congestion

• fluid and blood build-up in the lungs

• fluid in the interstitial spaces, within the alveoli

• common in inflammation or heart failure

Obstructive lung disease

• airway obstruction, air cannot go OUT

• difficulty in EXHALING

• May be partial or complete

• air resistance ot airflow

Restrictive lung disease

• Air cannot get INTO the lungs

  • Airway filling is impaired

• Difficulty inhaling

• Lung volume and capacities are reduced

• Lungs’ ability to expand is restricted

Extrapulmonary restrictive lung disease

• Extrinsic, problem in the chest wall, neuromuscular junction, diaphragm, or pleura

• Caused by obesity and kyphoscoliosis

• Externally impairs lung filling

Intrapulmonary Restrictive lung disease

• Intrinsic, problems WITHIN the structure of the lung itself

• May be acute or chronic

Acute intrapulmonary restrictive lung disease

• develops from minutes to days, secondary to sepsis or shock

• Mainly caused by infection, aspiration, sepsis, severe trauma with shock

• Other causes may be acute pancreatitis, cardiopulmonary bypass, fat emboli, viral infections such as SARS and COVID

• High mortality and permanent damage

chronic intrapulmonary restrictive lung disease

• Causes categorized as work-related, drug-induced, autoimmune, idiopathic

• Interstitial or alveolar lung disease

pulmonary vascular abnormalities

• Structural issues with the vessels of the lungs

• Diagnosed with image tests and take note of the following:

  • Shortness of breath

  • Coughing

  • Chest pain

• Treated with medication or surgery

Congenital pulmonary vascular abnormalities

• Malformations or abnormal connections

• Valve stenosis

Acquired pulmonary vascular abnormalities

• Narrowing, blockage, and destruction of pulmonary vessels

Infectious disease or pneumonia

• Not completely separate between the types of pneumonia

• Involve infection with bacteria, viruses, fungi

Abcess, epyema, fibrosis, scarring

• evidences of pneumonia

Meningitis, arthritis, endocarditis

• pneumonia can lead to complications such as

Community-acquired typical and atypical, nosocomial, aspiration, necrotizing, chronic, immunocompromised hosts

• different pneumonias

pulmonary neoplasms

• formation of tumors

• often associated with smokin

non-small cell lung carcinoma, small cell lung carcinoma

• pulmonary neoplasms may be:

metals, dust, smoke and fumes

• workplace hazards related to pulmonary pathologies

shortness of breath, tachypnea, tachycardia, sharp pain, cough, pale clammy cyanotic skin, hyperhidrosis, anxious lightheaded fainting

• detection of signs of distress