Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) is a procedure in which a bronchoscope is passed through the mouth or nose into the lungs to obtain cells and other components from bronchial and alveolar spaces for diagnostic purposes. It is performed to diagnose various lung diseases including infections and malignancies. Bronchoalveolar lavage is a diagnostic procedure similar to flexible […]
Chest Diseases
Loffler syndrome Causes, Symptoms and Treatment
Loffler syndrome or Loeffler syndrome is a transient respiratory illness associated with blood eosinophilia and radiographic shadowing on chest x-ray. It is often caused by parasitic infections and acute hypersensitivity reactions and is a type of pulmonary eosinophilia. It was initially described by Löffler in 1932. Intestinal helminthiases are considered as most common cause. Loffler syndrome […]
Pleurodesis: Indications and Procedure
Pleurodesis is a medical procedure in which the pleural space is artificially obliterated by creating adhesion of the two pleurae. This prevents the accumulation of either air or liquid in the pleural space. It is mostly done for malignant pleural effusions. It can also be required in some benign effusions. Pleurodesis is just a local […]
Pleural Effusion: Causes and Treatment
A pleural effusion is an abnormal collection of fluid in the pleural space resulting from excess fluid production or decreased absorption or bot The estimated prevalence of pleural effusion is 320 cases per 100,000 people. There is no gender predilection, though it may be seen depending on the causative disease. For example, pleural effusion associated […]
Reexpansion Pulmonary Edema
Reexpansion pulmonary edema is a non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema that occurs in the setting of rapid expansion of a collapsed lung. It results in acute onset shortness of breath that usually results within hours of re-expansion but can be delayed by 24 hours in some cases. It occurs following approximately 1% of pneumothorax re-expansions or thoracentesis […]
Abnormal Breathing Patterns
Certain illnesses or injuries can cause changes in breathing. While some changes like change in frequency, depth, and dyspnea are frequently encountered and are quite non-specific, there are certain breathing patterns which indicate towards an underlying set of possible causes. These abnormal breathing patterns need to be understood and identified. Normal Breathing Pattern To define […]
Symptoms of Lung Disease
Symptoms of lung disease can be varied and a patient of lung disease may present with multiple symptoms or combination of symptoms. Moreover these symptoms of lung disease may overlap with some symptoms of heart diseases as well. There are several symptoms that are common in patients with cardiopulmonary disease. Cough Cough is required for […]
Alpha 1 Antitrypsin Deficiency
Alpha 1 antitrypsin deficiency or α1-antitrypsin deficiency is an inherited disorder that may cause lung disease and liver disease. The signs and symptoms of the condition and the age at which they appear vary among individuals. It is an autosomal-codominant condition with more than 120 alleles identified. Out of them, PiZZ is responsible for nearly […]
Pulmonary Tuberculosis – Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment
Pulmonary tuberculosis or chest tuberculosis is a contagious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Mycobacterium tuberculosis appears red when it is stained with carbol fuchsin. The bacterium retains this dye even when it is washed with acid and alcohol in contrast to others which do not retain. That is why it is called acid-fast bacillus or […]
Digital Clubbing or Nail Clubbing – Causes and Grading
Digital clubbing or nail clubbing or finger clubbing is bulbous enlargement of soft parts of the terminal phalanges with both transverse and longitudinal curving of the nails. The swelling of the terminal phalanges in clubbing occurs due to interstitial edema and dilation of the arterioles and capillaries. Digital clubbing is also called fingernail clubbing or […]