Therapeutic Aspects of Pulmonary Emphysema

¹ Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, Medical College of Alabama; Acting Chief, Tuberculosis, Birmingham Veterans Administration Hospital; Consultant, Pulmonary Diseases, Lloyd Noland Foundation, Fairfield, Alabama.

1. Some of the important physiolgical aberrations in severe pulmonary emphysema are reviewed. The cumulative effect of these defects frequently results in complications involving the cardio-vascular system.

2. The abuse of sedatives, narcotics and oxygen therapy is emphasized. Their relationship to the potentiality of inducing uncompensated respiratory acidosis is stressed.

3. A positive approach to therapy is presented—bronchodilators, secretory expectorants, detergents, antimicrobial therapy, pressure breathing, breathing exercises, steroid therapy, venesection, pneumoperitoneum and radio-active iodine.