Adult respiratory

A fulminant form of respiratory failure characterized by acute lung inflammation and diffuse alveolocapillary injury.

Asthma

An obstructive lung disease that features chronic inflammation of the airways and is characterized by recurrent episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and coughing.

Chronic bronchitis

Hypersecretion of mucus and chronic productive cough that continues for at least 3 months of the year.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary

Pathologic lung changes consistent with emphysema or chronic bronchitis.

Cystic Fibrosis

An autosomal recessive condition with abnormal chloride channel function, producing lung and pancreatic disease in children.

Emphysema

Abnormal permanent enlargement of gas-exchange airways (acini) accompanied by destruction of alveolar walls and without obvious fibrosis.

Infant respiratory distress

A lung disease of premature infants due to deficient surfactant production which causes atelectasis and increased work of breathing.

Pneumonia

Infection of the lower respiratory tract caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, or parasites.

Acute bronchitis

Acute infection or inflammation of the airways or bronchi. Commonly follows a viral illness and is usually self-limiting.

Atelectasis

The collapse of lung tissue. Differentiate between compression atelectasis and absorption atelectasis.

Bronchiectasis

Persistent abnormal dilation of the bronchi.

Dyspnea

The subjective sensation of uncomfortable breathing, the feeling of being unable to get enough air.

Empyema

The presence of pus in the pleural space.

Lung Cancer (bronchogenic carcinoma)

Cancer that arises from the epithelium of the respiratory tract. As such, the term lung cancer excludes other pulmonary tumors (sarcomas, lymphomas, blastomas, hematomas, and mesotheliomas).

Pleural effusion

Presence of fluid in the pleural space.

Pleurisy

Inflammation of the pleura.

Pneumothorax

The presence of air or gas in the pleural space caused by a rupture in either the visceral pleura or the parietal pleura/chest wall. Loss of negative pressure in the pleural space results in the natural inward recoil of the lung causing collapse toward the hilus.

Pulmonary edema

Excess fluid in the lung. Most common cause is heart disease.

Occlusion of a portion of the pulmonary vascular bed by an embolus (thrombus, tissue fragment, lipids, or an air bubble)

Pulmonary fibrosis

An excessive amount of fibrous or connective tissue in the lung, which causes a marked loss of lung compliance.

Pulmonary hypertension

High blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)

An acut viral respiratory illness caused by the SARS-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV).  There was an outbreak in 2003 (approximately 8000 people with a 10% death rate) but currently there is no known SARS transmission anywhere in the world.