The Curbsiders Internal Medicine Podcast #86 COPD: Diagnosis, treatment, PFTs, and nihilism
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Mar 12, 2018 Dr. Denitza Blagev, a pulmonologist and medical director, shares her expertise on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). She discusses the nuances of diagnosing COPD using pulmonary function tests and the importance of effective patient communication. The conversation dives into comprehensive management strategies including inhalers, medications, and non-invasive ventilation. They also touch on the emotional challenges healthcare providers face when discussing prognosis with patients, emphasizing the importance of empathy in medical practice.
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COPD Diagnosis
- Consider COPD in smokers over 40 with chronic cough, shortness of breath, and exacerbations.
- Confirm COPD diagnosis with spirometry, but remember PFTs aren't pathognomonic.
COPD, Emphysema, and Chronic Bronchitis
- Emphysema is a radiographic/pathologic diagnosis, confirmed by CT or biopsy.
- Chronic bronchitis is a clinical diagnosis, requiring chronic productive cough.
Patient Counseling
- Explain COPD to patients using both terms COPD and emphysema, as they may recognize one but not the other.
- Describe COPD as lung inflammation and destruction from chronic tobacco or biofuel smoke.
