Emphysema

Abstract

Emphysema is defined in terms of pathological enlargement of the airspaces permanent distal to the bronchioles terminals, with wall destruction alveolar, with or without fibrosis manifest. It is a chronic disease falls along with chronic bronchitis in the disease chronic obstructive pulmonary (COPD) (Agarwal, 2010). The name comes from the Greek emphysema which means "blowing air" or "breathe". In this paper, we try to focus on the Emphysema. The paper, discuss about the pathology which can be demonstrated radio graphically.

Emphysema

Introduction

The consumption of cigarettes is the most common cause of emphysema. It is thought that in the lungs, a balance exists between synthesis and degradation of elastin, a wall component of the alveoli essential to maintain the elastic properties of the lung. Emphysema occurs when an imbalance occurs, either because it increases the elastolytic capacity or by decreasing the activity antielastolítica. It is believed that the smoke snuff and other pollutants cause the release of chemicals (primarily oxidants) that damage the walls of the alveoli. The damage gets worse over time. People with this disease have air sacs that are able to fill with fresh air, but cannot eject easily, which affects the supply of oxygen to the body.

A substance that exists naturally in the lungs called alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT) can protect against this damage. AAT, produced by hepatocytes, is the inhibitor of protease most abundant human serum and the primary defense of the lung against elastase.

Discussion

Emphysema is primarily a disease of people over 40 years and is more common in men than in women, although the increased incidence in women is remarkable in recent years. The most common cause of emphysema is smoking or smoking.

Causes and symptoms

Most emphysema patients are older than 40 years, with a long history of dyspnea (difficulty breathing) to the effort and cough nonproductive. These patients frequently show weight loss due to the use of accessory muscles to breathe, while only healthy individuals using the diaphragm to produce ventilatory movements (Smatt, 2007).

Emphysema is characterized by loss of elasticity lung, destruction of structures supporting the alveoli and destruction of capillaries that supply blood to the alveoli. The result of all this is the collapse of small airways during respiration, leading to airway obstruction and air retention in the lungs. These disorders result in symptoms of dyspnea, although initially the effort is evolving even may come to have dyspnea at rest. Weight loss, anxiety, edema and fatigue often accompanied in many cases. The cough and wheeze are much less frequent than in chronic bronchitis.

In patients with emphysema characteristic findings are tachypnea (increased respiratory rate), a prolonged expiratory phase, chest in inspiratory position (barrel chest), use of the muscles of respiration accessories (especially the sternocleidomastoid) and breathing lips pursed (blowing). On radiological examination, have inflated the lungs, diaphragm depressed and increased poster anterior diameter (barrel chest).

As have a high respiratory rate and a higher initial volume can maintain a saturation of hemoglobin in near normal. Therefore usually not cyanotic , referring to them as blowers pink, as opposed to patients ...