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Related Concept Videos

Factors Affecting Pulmonary Ventilation01:19

Factors Affecting Pulmonary Ventilation

Besides the pressure difference between the external environment and the lungs, the airflow rate and ease of pulmonary ventilation are also influenced by three other factors: surface tension of the fluid in the alveoli, compliance of the lungs, and airway resistance.
Alveolar Surface Tension
The alveolar fluid lines the luminal surface of the alveoli and exerts a force called surface tension. This force is caused by the polar water molecules in the liquid being more strongly attracted to each...
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-I: Introduction01:20

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-I: Introduction

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a long-lasting respiratory condition requiring continuous attention and care. It is a progressive lung disease that leads to breathing challenges due to airflow obstruction. It manifests as persistent respiratory symptoms and restricted airflow resulting from abnormalities in the airways and alveoli, usually due to long-term exposure to harmful particles or gases. COPD mainly consists of two primary conditions: emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-IV: Assessement and Diagnostic Studies01:27

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-IV: Assessement and Diagnostic Studies

Assessing and diagnosing Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) involves a detailed approach that includes a comprehensive review of medical history, physical examination, and a variety of diagnostic tests. This thorough evaluation is essential to ensure an accurate diagnosis and guide effective management strategies.
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Pulmonary Function Tests01:25

Pulmonary Function Tests

Pulmonary Function Tests (PFTs)
Pulmonary Function Tests are crucial diagnostic tools for assessing respiratory function, particularly in patients with chronic respiratory disorders. They comprehensively evaluate lung volumes, ventilatory function, breathing mechanics, diffusion, and gas exchange. These tests help diagnose pulmonary diseases and play a significant role in monitoring disease progression, evaluating disability, and assessing response to therapy.
PFTs involve using a spirometer, a...
Atelectasis II: Pathophysiology01:10

Atelectasis II: Pathophysiology

Atelectasis develops when alveoli lose their air and collapse inward. Because lung tissue is naturally elastic, these air sacs shrink rather than remaining open. Collapsed alveoli are no longer ventilated, reducing their role in gas exchange. Blood flow may continue in these regions, creating a ventilation–perfusion mismatch. Clinical findings include decreased breath sounds, dullness to percussion, reduced chest expansion, and decreased tactile fremitus as sound transmission through collapsed...
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease III: Chronic Bronchitis Features01:24

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease III: Chronic Bronchitis Features

Chronic bronchitis is a key phenotype of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), characterized by airway-centered inflammation and mucus overproduction. It develops from long-term exposure to harmful particles or gases, most commonly cigarette smoke, which triggers a persistent inflammatory response.Cellular and Structural ChangesInflammation initially affects the large bronchi and later the smaller airways, with infiltration by immune cells, including neutrophils, macrophages, and...

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Employing the Forced Oscillation Technique for the Assessment of Respiratory Mechanics in Adults
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Peripheral lung function in patients with stable and unstable asthma.

Bruce R Thompson1, Jo A Douglass, Matthew J Ellis

  • 1Department of Allergy, Immunology and Respiratory Medicine, The Alfred Hospital and Monash University, Melbourne, Australia. b.thompson@alfred.org.au

The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
|April 9, 2013
PubMed
Summary

Severe asthma exacerbations involve airway inflammation and obstruction. This study links asthma severity to small-airway dysfunction, particularly in the acinar lung zone, which improves with treatment.

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Area of Science:

  • Pulmonary Medicine
  • Respiratory Physiology

Background:

  • Asthma exacerbations involve airway inflammation and obstruction.
  • Small airways, including acinar spaces, are implicated but not well-studied in vivo.
  • Peripheral small-airway function in acute severe asthma requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the link between asthma severity and small-airway function.
  • To assess acinar and conductive ventilation heterogeneity in patients with acute severe asthma.
  • To correlate small-airway function with asthma severity and treatment requirements.

Main Methods:

  • Multiple-breath nitrogen washout used to measure acinar (S(acin)) and conductive (S(cond)) ventilation heterogeneity.
  • Lung function tests performed on 18 patients with acute asthma exacerbations and 19 with stable asthma.
  • Asthma severity assessed using Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) scores.

Main Results:

  • Patients with acute asthma showed significantly higher S(acin) and S(cond) values compared to stable patients.
  • FEV1 (forced expiratory volume in 1 second) correlated with S(acin) but not S(cond).
  • GINA scores correlated with S(acin), indicating greater dysfunction in more severe asthma.

Conclusions:

  • Unstable asthma exhibits combined abnormalities in acinar and conductive lung zones.
  • Acinar lung zone dysfunction is particularly linked to airflow obstruction and treatment needs in severe asthma.
  • These functional abnormalities demonstrate partial reversibility after treatment.