Give your own definition of COPD.

Chronic bronchitis pulmonary disease is a chronic, inflammatory disease where the airways are hyper-responsive to stimuli that trigger the inflammatory process in the airways and lead to narrowing of the airways

• Briefly describe the proposed aetiology and pathophysiology of chronic bronchitis and emphysema.

The airflow limitation of COPD is believed to reflect an abnormal inflammatory response of the lung to noxious particles or gases. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic inflammatory lung disease that causes obstructed airflow from the lungs. It is a condition involving constriction of the airways and difficulty or discomfort in breathing. Although asthma and COPD are both characterized by airway inflammation, reduction in maximum expiratory flow, and episodic exacerbations of airflow obstruction, most often triggered by viral respiratory infection.

• Which types of therapy are included in the treatment of a COPD patient?

ICPS therapy

Maintenance therapy

Oxygen therapy

• Why is ipratropium more effective in the treatment of chronic bronchitis than in the treatment of bronchial asthma?

Because it has an influence on the vagus nerve, it is a muscarinic Ach receptor antagonist which prevents the function of parasympathetic nervous system. The function includes: the production of bronchial secretions as well as constriction. If this is prevented it will result in bronchodilation and less secretions. Ipratropium is therefore more effective in the treatment of chronic bronchitis since it is characterized by increased mucus secretion. With bronchial asthma, the increased mucus secretion does not have the same effect.

• In which way do the skeletal muscle effects of theophylline have advantages in the treatment of COPD?

Theophylline improves the contraction function of diaphragm; therefore, it leads to an increase in patient’s ventilatory capacity.

• What is the role of oxygen therapy in COPD?

To improve airflow into the lungs thus improving breathing.