Acute dyspnoea

The aim of this topic is to revise the pathological basis of acute dyspnoea. A wide variety of conditions are associated with acute dyspnoea, including such common and important diseases as asthma, pulmonary emboli, and pulmonary oedema. Other causes such as pneumothorax, upper airway obstruction, adult respiratory distress syndrome may be considered.

Learning objectives:

At the completion of this topic you should be able to:

1. Define the term "dyspnoea", and provide a comprehensive list of conditions that may cause it.
2. Describe the factors that predispose to the development of pulmonary thromboembolism, explain its possible clinical consequences, and outline an appropriate sequence of investigations to confirm the diagnosis.
3. Outline the common causes of heart failure, describe the physiological consequences of left ventricular and right ventricular failure, and relate those changes to the usual radiographic appearances in this condition.
4. List the factors that may trigger asthma. Describe the pathological changes that occur in this disease, and the effects that these changes have on respiratory function.
5. Discuss common conditions that may lead to upper airway obstruction, including trauma, foreign bodies, infections and immune-mediated events.
6. Outline the pathological changes seen in extrinsic allergic alveolitis and adult respiratory distress syndrome.
7. Describe conditions of the chest wall that may lead to acute dyspnoea.
8. Discuss the role of arterial blood gas analysis in the investigation of acute dyspnoea.

1. Compare and contrast the pathophysiology of allergic and non-allergic asthma.
2. Outline the pathophysiology of fatal pulmonary embolism.

Other relevant protocol - 44

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