Abstract

[Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is prognosticated to become the 3rd most prevalent cause of early lethality. It’s main etiology is long-term smoking which induces chronic inflammation and obstruction of the airways as well as elastolysis of the pulmonary interstitium which lead to emphysema. Increased resistance of the intrathoracic airways and emphysema induce hyperinflation of the lung and chest which increases the work-load of the respi­ratory muscles. COPD patients are typically hypoxaemic and normocapnic. Finally, fatigue of the respiratory muscles cause the development of global respiratory failure (hypercapnia and severe hypoxaemia). Most effective intervention is smoking cessation. Maintanance treatment includes inhalational long-acting bronchodilators with or without inhalational corticosteroids. Acute exacerbation is treated with O2 supplementation, inhalational bronchodilators, systemic steroids and/or antiobiotics. Frequency and severity of acute exacerbations prognosticate shorter survival. In chronic respiratory failure long-term home O2 therapy can be provided.]

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