The pathophysiology of emphysema: considerations for critical care nursing practice.

Full Abstract

Emphysema is caused by exposure to cigarette smoking as well as alpha(1)-antitrypsin deficiency. It has been estimated to cost the National Health Service (NHS) in excess of 800 million pounds per year in related health care costs. The challenges for Critical Care nurses are those associated with dynamic hyperinflation, Auto-PEEP, malnutrition and the weaning from invasive and non-invasive mechanical ventilation. In this paper we consider the impact of the pathophysiology of emphysema, its effects on other body systems as well as the impact acute exacerbations have when patients are admitted to the Intensive Care Unit.

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Author information

Author/s: Mattison, Sue (S); Christensen, Martin (M);

Affiliation: Bournemouth University, Christchurch Road, Bournemouth, United Kingdom.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Review

Journal: Intensive & critical care nursing : the official journal of the British Association of Critical Care Nurses (Intensive Crit Care Nurs), published in Scotland. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-Dec; vol 22 (issue 6) : pp 329-37

Dates: Created 2006/11/19; Completed 2007/02/02; Revised 2007/11/15;

PMID: 16901700, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Acute Disease
Anoxia - etiology
Bundle-Branch Block - etiology
Cost of Illness
Critical Care - organization & administration
Edema - etiology
Great Britain - epidemiology
Health Care Costs - statistics & numerical data
Humans
Hypertension, Pulmonary - etiology

Hypertrophy, Right Ventricular - etiology
Malnutrition - etiology
Nurse's Role
Positive-Pressure Respiration, Intrinsic - etiology
Pulmonary Emphysema - complications; epidemiology; physiopathology; therapy
Pulmonary Heart Disease - etiology
Respiration, Artificial - adverse effects; methods; nursing
Smoking - adverse effects
State Medicine - economics
Ventilator Weaning - nursing

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