Question

How does the clinical lab assist the medical team in managing a case with a patient with emphysema?

Answer 1

Emphysema is a form of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). Emphysema is characterized by the breakdown of the lung’s (decreased surface area) elastic structure and deterioration of walls of respiratory structures including bronchioles and alveoli. So, this reduces the expiration capacity and the patients are likely to show a decrease in FEV1.

Collaborative care: Diagnosis is based on history and physical examination, pulmonary function tests, chest x-ray, serum alpha-antitrypsin levels, ABG analysis, six-minute walk test, COPD Assessment Test(CAT) and BODE index. The immediate treatment includes preventing the exposure to predisposing factors, treating the respiratory insufficiency using oxygen, and administering the anti-inflammatory drugs.

Collaborative therapy includes cessation of the smoking, treatment of exacerbations, airway clearance techniques, breathing exercises, and retraining. Drug therapy includes using inhaled bronchodilators like anticholinergics or long-acting beta2-agonists. Pneumovax immunization and influenza vaccination should be done. Surgical treatment includes Lung volume reduction and Lung Transplantation.