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Explain all respiratory disorders

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"All respiratory disorders" covers a whole specialty, so I'll map it out first and then go deep on the area you pick.

Topic breakdown

  1. Obstructive airway diseases: asthma, COPD (chronic bronchitis, emphysema), bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis, bronchiolitis
  2. Restrictive and interstitial lung diseases: idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, sarcoidosis, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, pneumoconioses (silicosis, asbestosis), drug-induced and connective tissue disease-related ILD
  3. Respiratory infections: pneumonia (community-acquired, hospital-acquired, aspiration), tuberculosis, lung abscess, empyema, fungal infections, viral infections (influenza, COVID-19, RSV)
  4. Pulmonary vascular disease: pulmonary embolism, pulmonary hypertension, cor pulmonale, pulmonary edema
  5. Pleural diseases: pleural effusion, pneumothorax, empyema, mesothelioma
  6. Lung neoplasms: small cell and non-small cell lung cancer, paraneoplastic syndromes, metastases
  7. Respiratory failure and critical care: type 1 and type 2 failure, ARDS, ventilation strategies, oxygen therapy
  8. Sleep and ventilatory control disorders: obstructive sleep apnea, obesity hypoventilation, central apnea
  9. Upper airway and congenital or pediatric disorders: croup, epiglottitis, laryngeal and tracheal disease, neonatal respiratory distress syndrome, bronchopulmonary dysplasia
  10. Chest wall and neuromuscular causes: kyphoscoliosis, myasthenia gravis, Guillain-Barré syndrome, ALS

Overview

Respiratory disorders are usually grouped by the physiological problem they cause.
  • Obstructive diseases (asthma, COPD, bronchiectasis) limit expiratory airflow. Spirometry shows a reduced FEV1/FVC ratio, and patients typically have wheeze, cough and breathlessness.
  • Restrictive diseases (interstitial lung disease, chest wall and neuromuscular disorders) reduce lung volumes. FEV1/FVC is preserved or raised, and the diffusing capacity (DLCO) is often low in parenchymal disease.
  • Infectious and neoplastic diseases are diagnosed mostly by imaging, microbiology and tissue sampling.
  • Vascular and pleural diseases cause problems of perfusion or of the pleural space.
  • Respiratory failure is the common end point. It is classified as hypoxemic (type 1) or hypercapnic (type 2) by arterial blood gases, and the cause determines treatment.
A useful approach for any patient is to ask four things:
  1. Is the problem in the airway, the parenchyma, the pleura, the vessels, or the pump (chest wall and muscles)?
  2. Is it acute or chronic?
  3. What do spirometry, imaging and blood gases show?
  4. What are the likely triggers, such as smoking, occupational exposure, infection or drugs?
Asking for Preferences

Which area of respiratory disorders should I explain in detail?

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