Pulmonary Diseases

How RTs assess and manage an acute COPD exacerbation — controlled oxygen to 88–92%, combined SABA/SAMA bronchodilators, steroids, antibiotics, and NIV for hypercapnic respiratory acidosis.

Severity assessment and treatment of an acute asthma exacerbation — high-dose SABA, ipratropium, early steroids, oxygen, and the ominous signs of impending respiratory failure that a normal CO₂ can hide.

The Berlin definition, pathophysiology, and lung-protective ventilation of ARDS — 6 mL/kg of predicted body weight, plateau ≤ 30 cmH₂O, permissive hypercapnia, PEEP titration, and prone positioning.

Clinical guide to community-acquired, hospital-acquired, and ventilator-associated pneumonia: pathophysiology, severity scoring with CURB-65, assessment findings, and RT management priorities including oxygenation targets and VAP prevention.

Pulmonary embolism obstructs the pulmonary arterial circulation, creating alveolar dead space, V/Q mismatch, and acute RV strain. Covers Virchow's triad, the PERC rule, capnography changes, risk stratification, and RT priorities for massive and submassive PE.

Covers the full pneumothorax spectrum from primary spontaneous to tension, plus three-chamber drainage system management, air-leak troubleshooting, and ventilator barotrauma prevention for respiratory therapists.

A clinical guide to cystic fibrosis covering CFTR pathophysiology, sweat chloride diagnosis, daily airway clearance techniques, the correct inhaled therapy sequence, and disease-modifying CFTR modulators for respiratory therapists.

A clinical guide to non-CF bronchiectasis covering the vicious cycle of infection and inflammation, HRCT diagnosis with the signet-ring sign, daily airway clearance techniques, mucoactive therapy, and antibiotic strategies for stable disease and exacerbations.

Interstitial lung disease inflames and scars the lung interstitium, producing a restrictive defect with impaired diffusion. Covers IPF, the UIP pattern, oxygen therapy, antifibrotic awareness, and PFT interpretation for respiratory therapists.

Pulmonary hypertension is elevated pressure in the pulmonary circulation that strains and ultimately fails the right ventricle. Covers the WHO five-group classification, hemodynamic definition, the diagnostic role of right heart catheterization, and why group-specific therapy matters.

COPD drug therapy — maintenance bronchodilators and inhaled corticosteroids by class, GOLD group-based initial therapy, and the pharmacology of an acute exacerbation, with bedside RT notes.

GINA stepwise asthma therapy — the Track 1 (ICS-formoterol reliever) and Track 2 (SABA reliever) pathways across steps 1–5, controller and reliever roles, and exacerbation pharmacology.

The severity systems RTs must recognize — COPD GOLD spirometric grades, asthma severity and control, the ARDS Berlin definition, and CURB-65 for pneumonia — in one scannable reference.