Pathophysiology of Respiratory Conditions

Pathophysiology

Discuss the pathophysiology of each of the following respiratory conditions in the format
below: EXAMPLE
ASTHMA PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
Trigger factors affect the airway

Local antigen/antibody reaction on mast cells lining the respiratory tract

Mast cells rupture releasing histamine and other inflammatory substances

Bronchospasm Mucosal oedema Mucus plugging

Small airways obstruction

Air continues to enter the lungs with decreased air expired

Hypoxia and CO2 retention (leads to
respiratory acidosis)

Gas trapping

hyperinflation

Decreased venous return

Decreased CO

Decreased cerebral perfusion

Coma/death
a. epiglottitis
b. pneumonia
c. emphysema
d. chronic obstructive airway disease
a) Airway in the paediatric population

Severe sore throat

Hoarse or muffled voice

Bacterial infections

Chemical burns
b) Pneumonia


Chest pain when you breathe or cough

Fatigue

Shortness of breath

Cough, which may produce phlegm
c) Emphysema

inner walls of the lungs' air sacs

Mild and moderate

Very severe
d) Chronic obstructive airway disease

Chronic inflammatory lung disease

Airflow from the lungs
Research and discuss the pathophysiology and signs & symptoms of the following brain
injuries.
a. Concussion
b. Contusion
c. Haematomas
d. Diffuse Axonal Injury (DAI)
a) A concussion can be referred to as a complex pathophysiological process which mainly
affects the brain and is induced by traumatic biochemical forces. It is secondary to the direct
and indirect forces to the head (Ford, Corcoran and Berry, 2018). The signs and symptoms
of a concussion include a constant headache that does not go away with painkillers, dizziness,
feeling sick, trouble with balance and memory loss.
b) A contusion is caused by blunt trauma to the outer aspect of the muscle which results in
damage of the tissues as well as cells along with bleeding deep within the muscle. The signs
and symptoms of contusions include persistent headache, seizures, draining of clear fluids
from ears or nose, inability to awaken from sleep and so on.
c) Haematomas are usually caused by an injury to the wall of a blood vessel in the body. This
prompts the blood to seep out of the blood vessel into the tissues surrounding it. They can be
a result of an injury to any kind of blood vessel. The signs and symptoms of haematomas