Aspiration
Aspiration refers to the misdirection of contents of the oral or upper gastrointestinal tract that have passed through the trachea and larynx and entered the lung. The diagnosis rests mostly…
Nonthrombotic Pulmonary Embolism
Fat Embolism Etiology, Prevalence, and Epidemiology The term fat embolism refers to the presence of globules of free fat within the pulmonary vasculature. Fat embolism is common among trauma patients,…
Hydrostatic Pulmonary Edema
Etiology Pulmonary edema is defined as an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the extravascular compartments (interstitial and airspace) of the lung. Traditionally, pulmonary edema has been divided into hydrostatic edema…
Acute Pulmonary Embolism *
Etiology Pulmonary embolism (PE) refers to blood clot(s) within the pulmonary arterial system, usually caused by migration of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) from the lower extremities. Rarely, emboli are from…
Tracheal Diseases
The wide variety of tracheal diseases includes both benign and malignant conditions that may manifest as tracheal masses, focal or diffuse tracheal thickening, or tracheal calcification. Tracheal tumors, inflammatory conditions…
Drug-Induced Lung Disease
Etiology The number of drugs recognized to cause an adverse pulmonary reaction of one kind or another is reported to be more than 600 and continues to rise yearly with…
Permeability Pulmonary Edema
Etiology Pulmonary edema is defined as an excess of fluid in the extravascular compartment of the lung and is classified into four categories based on pathophysiology: hydrostatic edema, permeability edema…
Uncommon Pneumoconioses
The most common pneumoconioses are silicosis, coal workers’ pneumoconiosis, and asbestosis (see Chapters 61 and 62 ). There are numerous rare pneumoconioses related to variable occupational dust exposures. Hard metal…
Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is defined as a mean pulmonary arterial pressure of greater than 25 mm Hg at rest or 30 mm Hg with exercise, with an elevated pulmonary vascular resistance…
