Devasahayam Joe, LaFreniere Kilian, Naik Roopa
University of South Dakota
McLaren Greater Lansing
Pulmonary emphysema is defined as a pathological, permanent dilatation of distal airways (respiratory bronchioles, alveolar ducts, and alveolar sacs) due to the destruction of the walls of the airways without fibrotic changes. Emphysema destroys the essential ventilatory units and interrupts the gas exchange. Functionally, emphysema causes obstructive ventilatory defect evidenced in the spirometry and is included in the collective diseases of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, commonly termed as COPD. Advanced emphysema is a common and serious cause of chronic respiratory failure and acute decompensation that could be life-threatening. Due to its high morbidity and mortality, recognizing and treating this condition in its early stages is vital. Emphysema is differentiated from interstitial pneumonia by the absence of fibrosis of the pulmonary interstitium. Notwithstanding, combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema (CPFE) has been documented as a separate clinical entity, in many patients with proven emphysema. Repeated exacerbations of emphysema and subsequent decompensation cause a rapid decline in lung function greater than expected from age.
肺气肿的定义是，由于气道壁破坏而无纤维化改变，导致远端气道（呼吸性细支气管、肺泡管和肺泡囊）出现病理性、永久性扩张。肺气肿破坏了基本的通气单位，中断了气体交换。在功能上，肺气肿导致阻塞性通气缺陷，这在肺量计检查中得到证实，并且它被纳入慢性阻塞性肺疾病这一统称的疾病范畴，通常简称为COPD。晚期肺气肿是慢性呼吸衰竭和急性失代偿的常见且严重原因，可能危及生命。由于其高发病率和高死亡率，在早期阶段识别和治疗这种疾病至关重要。肺气肿与间质性肺炎的区别在于肺间质无纤维化。尽管如此，在许多已确诊为肺气肿的患者中，合并肺纤维化和肺气肿（CPFE）已被记录为一种独立的临床实体。肺气肿的反复加重及随后的失代偿会导致肺功能比预期年龄下降得更快。
