Author: Celli, Bartolome R.

Source: Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews, Volume 4, Number 4, November 2008 , pp. 312-320(9)

Publisher: Bentham Science Publishers

Abstract:

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) currently ranks as the fourth cause of death in the United States and it is an increasingly important health problem for the rest of the world [1-3]. Its prevalence has increased as overall mortality from myocardial infarction and cerebro-vascular accident, the two organ system affected by the same risk factor (namely cigarette smoking), have decreased. Although preventable and treatable, once diagnosed and symptomatic COPD is progressive and in some patients leads to disability usually due to dyspnea, at a relatively early age (6th or 7^th decade) [4,5]. Limitation to airflow occurs as a consequence of destruction of lung parenchyma or to alterations in the airway itself. One of the most important consequences is the development of static and dynamic hyperinflation with important clinical consequences such as dyspnea with exercise and decreased survival. This chapter integrates the pathologic changes of COPD with the known adaptive and maladaptive consequences of those changes. These factors should help us understand the rationale behind the therapeutic strategies aimed at decreasing lung volume and addressing the complications of patients with COPD.

Keywords: Dyspnea; dynamic hyperinflation; respiratory drive; oxygen; flow limitation; respiratory muscles; lung volume reduction surgery

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/157339808786263734

Publication date: 2008-11-01

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• Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews publishes frontier reviews on all the latest advances on respiratory diseases and its related areas e.g. pharmacology, pathogenesis, clinical care, and therapy. The journal's aim is to publish the highest quality review articles dedicated to clinical research in the field. The journal is essential reading for all researchers and clinicians in respiratory medicine.

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