Pathophysiology Case Study: Pneumonia in an 82-Year-Old Patient

This case study analyzes pneumonia in an 82-year-old female with a history of rheumatoid arthritis, coronary artery disease, chronic bronchitis, and hypertension. The patient, residing in a skilled nursing facility, presents with symptoms indicative of pneumonia, including fever, confusion, and rust-colored sputum. The analysis explores the probable classification of pneumonia, considering the patient's comorbidities and smoking history. It also discusses diagnostic tests, such as pleural fluid culture and pulse oximetry, to assess the patient's condition. Furthermore, the study touches on COPD, its causes, prevalence, and the importance of patient education and preventative measures like vaccination and smoking cessation. Desklib provides access to similar case studies and solved assignments for students.

Running head: PATHOPHYSIOLOGY 1
Pathophysiology
Name
Institution

PATHOPHYSIOLOGY 2
Cryptogenic Organizing Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an infection inside one or both lungs. Cryptogenic organizing pneumonia
(COP) also known as (BOOP) bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia is a condition
where lungs and bronchioles surrounding tissues have been irritated. It is often a complication of
an existing chronic inflammatory disease such as chronic bronchitis, rheumatoid arthritis, or a
side effect of prolonged toxic fumes and certain medications such as amiodarone. Symptoms for
COP are fever, night sweats, chills, weight loss, fatigue, coronary artery disease, hypertension,
and chronic bronchitis. (Mackenzie, 2016)
Chronic bronchitis is the probable cause of ND’s pneumonia, which is brought about by
an infection in the lungs through the airways. Bronchitis can be caused by very limited mobility,
the age limit of under the age of two years or over the age of 65 years, have difficulty
swallowing, have had hypertension and stroke, smoke or take other illicit drugs. (Young &
Fisher, 2018). ND smoked for 52 years of her life and this caused her the health problems even if
she never experienced it in her early life and she is 82 years old who spends most of her days on
a wheelchair or the bed and this caused bronchitis.
To diagnose ND’s condition Pleural fluid culture test will be done where a fluid is
collected by inserting a needle between the ribs and tested at a laboratory and examined through
a microscope for the infection. Pulse oximetry test can also be used to determine the level of
oxygen in her blood and confirm if oxygen is being sent accordingly to parts of her body to
determine if she needs extra oxygen. ("Pneumonia Symptoms and Diagnosis", 2018)

PATHOPHYSIOLOGY 3
COPD
COPD includes enlarged and damaged air sacs. Smoking is the main cause of COPD,
second-hand fumes, chemicals, air pollution, and respiratory infections. (Mannino, Homa,
Akinbam, Ford & Redd, 2002). In America, 16 million adults are estimated to have COPD. In
2016, 8.9 million Americans were diagnosed with chronic bronchitis. About 75 percent of those
with the illness were adults over the age of 45 years. It was discovered more than 7 million
women have a very high rate of COPD in United State than men this is because women come
into contact secondhand smoke and other lung irritants like organic cooking oil which causes
COPD.
COPD is a burden to society in the United State since it is the fourth death causing
illness. Diseases like heart attack and stroke and deaths caused by COPD have increased. Carer
to take care of the COPD patients at home is high in terms of health status and health-related
quality of life. The morbidity is usually compromised by frequent underdiagnose and undertreat
diseases associated with COPD.
Working on the front lines of disease management, I would educate the society on
COPD, they should be aware of the illness, sign, and symptoms; and how to get medication and
management. I will provide vaccines to them since many have a high chance of having COPD
either directly or indirect and so vaccination will help prevent the infection, encourage them to
stop smoking, eat right and exercise.

PATHOPHYSIOLOGY 4
References
Mackenzie, G. (2016). The definition and classification of pneumonia. Pneumonia, 8(1). doi:
10.1186/s41479-016-0012-z.
Mannino, D., Homa, D., Akinbam, L., Ford, E., & Redd, S. (2002). CDC - COPD Home Page -
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Retrieved from
https://www.cdc.gov/copd/index.html.
Pneumonia Symptoms and Diagnosis. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.lung.org/lung-health-
and.../pneumonia/symptoms-and-diagnosis.html Feb 14, 2018
Young, B., & Fisher, k. (2018). Can Bronchitis Turn Into Pneumonia? Prevention and
Identification. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/health/can-bronchitis-turn-
into-pneumonia.
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