Respiratory Rally » lung scarring

What happens to TLC (Total Lung Capacity) and VC (Vital Capacity) in patients with fibrosis? Severe emphysema?

admin — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 07:10:49 +0000

from my knowledge, fibrosis scars the lungs, causing the lungs to become stiff and have more recoil. on the contrary, emphysema causes lung tissue to be destroyed, and therefore reducing recoil.

so would fibrosis increase VC but reduce TLC, but emphysema decrease VC and increase TLC?

You’re right as far as fibrosis is scar tissue and causes the lungs to become stiff.. But as they get stiffer, losing compliance, the VC decreases. Fibrosis can occur in the alveoli, connective tissue(which provides structure and support for the various segments and lobes), or in the interstitial spaces. This can be the result of injury, infection or what’s called idiopathic when they don’t know what caused it. Sometimes it’s an immunological disorder. Anyway, It causes the person to have to work harder to expand their lungs and reduces their ability to exhale it thereby reducing VC. TLC is decreased in fibrotic disorders. On a PFT the first sign of a compliance problem is a reduced VC.
Now, that is restrictive disease as opposed to an obstructive disorder such as emphysema. COPD, chronic bronchitis, asthma, bronchiectasis etc. are airway diseases. In other words the flow through the bronchi and bronchioles is limited by inflammation, mucous and/or bronchospasm. At the beginning this can be detected on the PFT by looking at the flowrates, especially on exhalation. The airways normally narrow on exhalation anyway but obstructive disorders exaggerate this narrowing eventually to the point of shutting down completely thereby trapping air in the alveolus. Over time this trapping causes the alveolar septums to stretch and become permanently hyperinflated. This is Emphysema. You can see how chronic bronchitis or chronic untreated asthma can lead to this.
Sorry to be so lengthy in my answer.
So anyway, this hyperinflation leads to a loss of connective tissue, which is what holds bronchioles open(they lack the cartilaginous rings found in bronchi. That’s the anatomical difference between bronchi and bronchioles). This leads to more air trapping and can eventually lead to Bullous Emphysema, which looks very much like blisters on the lungs. But they are whole segments of the once grape-like structure of the alveoli made confluent by the stretching.In emphysema you do see a reduced VC also but it’s from a different mechanism, airway obstruction as opposed to loss of compliance.
In regards to the TLC in emphysema it may remain normal or could decrease slightly. The more important measurement on the PFT is the RV/TLC ratio. When the Residual Volume increases due to the airtrapping This ratio increases. Normal is about 20-25%(don’t quote me on that) and anything >40% is indicative of Emphysema.
Hope this helps clear it up for you.
God bless.

Does pneumonia leave scars in your lungs?

admin — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 17:36:24 +0000

Could x-rays show possible scar tissue from past episodes of pneumonia, or even suffering of collapsed lung during a surgical procedure?

as far as i know yes, i believe my doctor told me that the scar tissuewould remain on your lungs

what do the scars from having a lung removed look like?

admin — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 10:00:11 +0000

They are usually kind of long and follow the direction of the ribs, it may wrap around the back. You will also see a roundes or another slit scar from the chest tube the was used to drain the excess blood/ fluid from the chest cavity.

hi to all im planning to go dubai nxt yr but my problem is i have a lung scar is it possible to find a work?

admin — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 03:30:20 +0000

are you smoking or drinking, then stop it right now. sometimes, you just have to rely on your luck. i have this friend who applied for a job to taiwan, on "A" agency, but she didnt get the job, because it was found out on her x-ray that she has a lung scar too, but she didnt smoke. so she transferred to "B" agency, for another job in taiwan, and they did another xray and there was no scar on her lungs and shes in taiwan right now. so, i’d say its still possible to find wok, most cold countries require for you to have good lungs, they are strict when it comes to that, but others, i’m not sure. also, maybe you should also try to do what my friend did, i think she drank a lot of kalamansi juice and right before she had another xray, she drank milk, i think you should do that too. dont worry, you’ll find work.

I had a skin test done for TB results showed positive. had ct scan done, have scarring on lungs. does anyone k

admin — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 03:25:22 +0000

i have had a cough since september. treated with asthma, (which never had befoore). now treated for hiatus hernia. Just want to know is it tb i have. or hiatus hernia.does having positive mean that tb is present.

A positive TB test and a scar on CT will not tell you if you have active tuberculosis. At the most, it can tell you that you may have had TB. Usually the diagnosis of TB depends on not just a positive skin test or x-rays but a host of other factors. Usually, with x-rays or CT, the doctors will depend not on just one x-ray or CT examination. Usually they will have to compare your results with previous x-ray or CT results to see if there are any radiologic changes pointing to disease activity. With regard to the TB test, it will only tell you that you have been exposed to TB. Now it depends on the size of the induration of the skin test. There is a cut-off diameter that doctor measure to say that it is positive. A very large diameter way above the cut-off may give the doctors an idea that you have active tuberculosis. Other factors that I mentioned earlier are sputum AFB examination, exposure to TB and signs and symptoms of TB. The combination of all these factor help the doctor diagnose tuberculosis. Amore definite diagnosis for TB is when they culture your sputum and out of the cultures grow tuberculosis but it usually take some time for TB to grow. Another quicker way is to have a PCR test for TB.

What pain management is given for VATS? Surgery on my lung.?

admin — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:56:38 +0000

And also chest tubes? My doctor really wants me to have pleurodesis done and also removing bits of my lung and repair of my diaphragm, but I am thinking it will be a lot of pain.

What kind of scars will I end up with? Can I wear a swimsuit without looking like I had major surgery?

hey!don’t think about ur appearance,do wat the doctor say,ur inner is ur inner,don’t care about ur outer juz do wat the doctor say

Can you get TB (tuberculosis) without lung scarring?

admin — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 10:22:19 +0000

Is it possible to survive TB (inactive or active) without getting scars in your lungs?

There is no such disease as,"inactive TB" The term,"inactive" refers to the state of being exposed to mycobacterium tuberculinum, (the germ that causes TB) without developing the disease. This does not mean that there will be no changes on a chest x-ray. People exposed to the bacteria may have a,"primary nodule" on their chest x-ray. This occurs when the body encapsulates the bacteria in a fibrous sac preventing the bacteria from multiplying and infecting the lungs or other organ systems,(milliary tuberculosis) A combination of drugs is used to fight the infection,(commonly rifampin and INH.) The course of treatment is generally one year. It is important to remember that the lungs have built-in capacity to compensate for damage and unless scarring is very extensive, you probably never would notice a change. Like all diseases early detection and treatment can minimize damage.

Biology – Lung Volumes & Capacity?

admin — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:13:12 +0000

Please help with the following questions.

1.Exposure to occupational hazards such as coal and dust and asbestos may lead to fibrosis or scarring of lung tissue. With this condition the lungs become stiff and have more "recoil", What would happen to the TLC and VC under these conditions? why?

2. In severe emphysema there is destruction of lung tissue and reduced recoil. What would you expect to happen to TLC and VC? why?

3. What would you expect to happen to your expiratory reserve volume when you are treading water in a lake? why?

Thanks,
Ana

1. Decreased total lung capacity and vital capacity. Because these changes decrease the elasticity of the lungs.

2. Increased TLC and VC because the collagen necessary for elasticity is destroyed. There is also an increase in volume because there alot of dead space.

3. Well, this depends on if you are smart enough to realize a higher lung volume will make treading water easier. Increasing the air in the lungs decreases the overall density and makes treading water easier. If one doesn’t realize that and succumbs to the increased abdominal and thoracic pressures of the water, treading water will cause fatigue.

What is perslip breathing? I have respiratory problems and have been advised to use it. Does it help?

admin — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 11:53:00 +0000

I’ve been told that perslip breathing (in through the nose and out through the mouth?) increases the amount of oxygen getting into the bloodstream. My lungs are scarred (pulmonary fibrosis), and apparently this has damaged their ability to carry out this function. Will perslip breathing do me any good? Should I try to do it at all times, or just during exercise?

I have copd and i use perslip breathing. you breathe in through your nose to the count or two and breath out slow to the count of four with your lips pursed or almost closed. you can use it during exercise OR when you feel short of breath

tuberclosis lungs scar is acceptence to oman medical checkup?

admin — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:48:56 +0000

20 Year back i suffered from Tuberclosis. That time i take medicine and cure from that dieses. Now only in lungs scar is founded when i was take X-rays. Now this scar is accerpted for getting visa from oman country

If you do not have active TB you should be eligible to go to any country.