RC 230 - Cardiopulmonary Disease

Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to:

• describe the pathogenesis of and current classification scheme for pneumonia;
• recognize the common causes of lower respiratory tract infection in specific clinical settings;
• describe how the respiratory therapist aids in the diagnosis and management of patients with suspected pneumonia;
• identify the latest recommendations regarding what antibiotic regimens are used to treat various types of pneumonia, both empirical and pathogen-specific; and
• describe what strategies can be used to prevent pneumonia.

Unit II: Obstructive Lung Disease: COPD, Asthma, and Related Diseases

Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to:

• identify how many Americans are diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and how many deaths from COPD occur each year;
• describe what two major risk factors are associated with the onset of COPD;
• identify what common signs and symptoms are associated with COPD;
• develop a treatment plan for the patient with stable COPD and the patient with an acute exacerbation;
• identify what factors are associated with the onset of asthma;
• describe what clinical presentation is typical for the patient with asthma;
• describe what treatment is typical for the patient with asthma;
• identify what treatment is currently available for the patient with acute asthma; and
• identify what treatment is currently available for patients with bronchiectasis.

Unit III: Interstitial Lung Disease

Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to:

• describe how to classify the wide variety of pulmonary disorders grouped under the term interstitial lung disease (ILD);
• describe how to interpret the common clinical signs and symptoms of ILD;
• describe how to interpret common pulmonary function testing abnormalities in patients with ILD;
• identify what specific characteristics are associated with some of the more common types of ILD; and
• describe how some specific ILDs can be managed.

Unit IV: Pleural Diseases

Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to:

• describe why diagnostic thoracentesis is an important tool for the assessment of pleural effusion;
• describe why spirometric improvements after thoracentesis usually are modest;
• describe why it is important to know the physiology of ventilation and oxygenation when treating patients with pleural effusion or pneumothorax;
• describe how to properly manage chest tubes and water-seal chambers; and
• describe how to manage ventilators for patients with bronchopleural fistulas.

Unit V: Pulmonary Vascular Disease

Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to:

• describe how many patients will develop venous thromboembolism each year;
• describe how and where thromboemboli originate;
• describe how pulmonary emboli alter lung and cardiac function;
• identify what clinical features, electrocardiographic, chest x-ray, and arterial blood gas findings are associated with pulmonary embolism;
• describe how pulmonary embolism is diagnosed and managed;
• describe what characteristics are associated with primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH);
• describe what possible mechanisms are believed to be responsible for the onset of PPH;
• identify who is at risk of development of PPH;
• describe the clinical features that are associated with PPH;
• describe the treatment used to care for patients with PPH; and
• describe the pathogenesis and management of pulmonary hypertension associated with COPD.

Unit VI: Acute Lung Injury, Pulmonary Edema, and Multiple System Organ Failure

Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to:

• describe what clinical conditions lead to hydrostatic pulmonary edema (congestive heart failure [CHF]);
• describe what criteria are considered for the diagnosis of CJF, ARDS, and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS);
• describe how hydrostatic and non-hydrostatic pulmonary edema are differentiated from one another in the clinical setting;
• describe what principles of supportive care are followed for patients with ARDS;
• describe how ventilator settings (e.g., tidal volume, positive end-respiratory pressure) are adjusted for patients with ARDS and MODS;
• describe how mechanical ventilation can cause lung injury and how ventilator-induced lung injury can be avoided; and
• identify what approaches to the management of ARDS and MODS are being implemented.

Unit VII: Lung Neoplasms

Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to:

• identify what the incidence of lung cancer in the United States is;
• describe what relationship exists between smoking and lung cancer;
• describe the major histopathologic types of cancer;
• identify how lung cancer is staged;
• describe what current approaches are being implemented in lung cancer treatment; and
• describe how lung cancer can be prevented.

Unit VIII: Neuromuscular and Other Diseases of the Chest Wall

Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to:

• describe what major components make up the respiratory neuromuscular system and how their dysfunction can affect ventilation;
• describe what major effects neuromuscular disease has on the respiratory system;
• describe how to assess patients for signs and symptoms of neuromuscular weakness of the ventilatory muscles;
• describe what common pulmonary function abnormalities appear in patients with neuromuscular weakness of the respiratory muscles;
• describe abnormalities of respiration with spinal cord injury; and
• describe thoracic cage deformities such as flail chest and scoliosis and their effects on the respiratory system.