What’s Hot Now in Medicine

Definition:
Empyma is a collection of pus in the pleural space (the cavity between the lung and the membrane that surrounds it).

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Empyema is caused by an infection that spreads from the lung and leads to an accumulation of pus in the pleural space. The infected fluid can build up to a quantity of a pint or more, which puts pressure on the lungs, causing shortness of breath and pain. Risk factors include recent pulmonary (lung) conditions including bacterial pneumonia, lung abscess, thoracic surgery, trauma or injury to the chest, or rarely, thoracentesis (a needle inserted through the chest wall to draw off fluid in the pleural space).

Treatment:

The goal of treatment is to cure the infection and remove the collection of pus from the lung. Antibiotics are prescribed to control the infection. A doctor will place a chest tube to completely drain the pus. A surgeon may need to perform a decortication (peeling away the lining of the lung) if the lung does not expand properly.

Expectations (prognosis):
Usually empyema does not result in permanent pulmonary damage.

Complications:
A possible complication is pleural thickening.

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Definition: Dyspnea is a term used to describe difficulty in breathing. Dyspnea is a common symptom of many lung diseases.

Pronunciation: DISp nyuh

Also Known As: Shortness of breath, short of breath, difficulty breathing, breathing difficulty

Common Misspellings: dispnea, dysnea, disnea

Examples: Emphysema patients experience dyspnea, so they are often times on oxygen therapy to help with breathing.

Source: Lung Cancer by Lorraine Johnston

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Definition: The diaphragm is the muscular partition located between the chest cavity and the abdominal cavity. It plays a major role in respiration.

During inspiration, the diaphragm descends, the inspiratory muscles contract, and the rib cage rises.

During expiration, the diaphragm rises, the inspiratory muscles relax, and the rib cage descends.

Pronunciation: die’ uh fram

Common Misspellings: diaphram, diafram, diafragm

Examples: During respiration, the diaphram relaxes and contracts

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Definition: Decortication is removal of part or all of the outer surface of an organ such as the lung, kidney, or brain.

In decortication, a small incision is made in the chest cavity. Surgeons may also use a video-assisted thoracoscope inserted between the ribs. The procedure is done under general anesthesia.

Source: MedicineNet.com and abcnews.go.com

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Definition: Cytology is the science used for evaluating the appearance of cells to determine if they are cancerous.

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Definition: Cyanosis is a condition in which the skin, lips and nails become bluish or purplish in color. It occurs when there is an insufficient amount of oxygen in the blood. Cyanosis may appear suddenly, as in acute lung disease, or gradually over time as a lung disease progresses.

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Definition: Corticosteroids, such as Flovent, Pulmicort, Azmacort, and Vanceril are inhaled anti-inflammatory drugs that reduce swelling of the airways, which also reduces mucus production. This type of drug is also available in pill and liquid form.

Corticosteroids are often prescribed if bronchodilators alone cannot control airway obstruction. Inhaled steroids improve breathing, reduce COPD symptoms, and can improve the effects of bronchodilators on the lungs. They must be used regularly for maintenance, not for immediate relief. Bronchodilators should be used for immediate relief.

Always rinse your mouth thoroughly with water after using a corticosteroid to prevent thrush. Thrush is a fungal infection causes creamy white patchy eruptions on your mouth, tongue, and throat.

Is is important not to take cough suppressants or sedatives as they can depress your respiratory system and can cause a buildup of pulmonary secretions.

Source: Coping With COPD by Elaine Fantle Shimberg

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Definition: Microscopic hair-like structures on the cells lining the inner surface of the airways and lungs that wave continuously in an upward direction to remove mucus from the lung.

Source: Lung Cancer by Lorraine Johnston

Pronunciation: SIL ee uh

Common Misspellings: silia, cillia, sillia

Examples: Cilia in smokers are often times immobile

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Definition: Chrysotile asbestos, the fibrous variety of the mineral serpentine, is by far the most important type of asbestos. It forms in metamorphic rock, that is, rock that has been altered by intense heat and pressure.

Chrysotile is a less dusty material and is more easily eliminated from the human body than amphiboles. It is also the only type of asbestos used today. The industry now only markets dense and non-friable materials in which the chrysotile fibre is encapsulated in cement or resin.

90% of the world production of chrysotile is used in the manufacture of chrysotile-cement, in the form of pipes, sheets and shingles. These products are used in some sixty industrialized and developing countries.

According to a group of experts convened by the World Health Organization (WHO), chrysotile-cement products do not present risks of any significance to public health (e.g.
asbestosis and mesothelioma) or the environment. Moreover, workers in this industry, whether employed in the manufacture, installation or removal of materials, are not exposed to any detectable risk when effective prevention and control measures are applied.

Source: Asbestos Institute

Also Known As: White Asbestos

Common Misspellings: chrisotile crysotile crisotile

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Definition: Atelectasis is a partial or total collapse of the lung. It occurs when all the gas in the alveoli is absorbed and not replaced.

Pronunciation: at el EK’ te sis

Examples: Atelectasis occurs in chronic bronchitis when blocked airways prevent oxygen from entering

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