PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM

Degree course: 
Academic year when starting the degree: 
2018/2019
Year: 
2
Academic year in which the course will be held: 
2019/2020
Course type: 
Compulsory subjects, characteristic of the class
Credits: 
2
Period: 
First Semester
Standard lectures hours: 
24
Detail of lecture’s hours: 
Lesson (24 hours)
Requirements: 

None

The exam consists of an oral exam. Students will be asked some questions, both broad and more specific. The objective of the exam is to verify the level of achievement of the above-mentioned training objectives, assessing the level of knowledge and depth of the topics discussed, and especially the ability to link and compare different aspects of the lessons learned.

Assessment: 
Voto Finale

Aim of the course is to systematically discuss most common respiratory
diseases.
In particular, for every disease the following topics will be discussed:
definition, epidemiology, aetiology, pathophysiology, symptoms and
signs, diagnosis, prognosis, therapy (hints)

• Symptoms and signs of respiratory disease
• Bronchial asthma
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• Pneumonias
• Interstitial and inflammatory lung diseases
• Respiratory failure
• Sleep apnea syndrome

Symptoms and signs of respiratory disease:
• to address the symptoms and the signs of respiratory disease
commonly encountered by the pulmonologist
• to understand the significance of the most important pulmonary
function tests (spirometry, lung volume measurement, bronchodilator
response, diffusing capacity, bronchoprovocation and measurements of
arterial blood gases)
• to address the principles of thoracic imaging
• to address the principles of bronchial endoscopy
Bronchial asthma:
• to review the current definition of asthma
• to understand the epidemiology, the pathology and pathophysiology of
asthma
• to learn the clinical presentation and to address the diagnosis
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease:
• to review the current definition of COPD
• to understand the epidemiology, the pathology and pathophysiology of
COPD
• to learn the clinical presentation and to address the diagnosis
(differential diagnosis between asthma and COPD)
Pneumonia:
to review the epidemiology, the clinical features and the diagnostic
methods of community-acquired pneumonia and nosocomial pneumonia
Interstitial and inflammatory lung diseases:
to describe the salient epidemiologic, clinical, physiologic, and radiologic
features of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and sarcoidosis
Respiratory failure:
• to review the definition and to understand the pathophysiologic
classification
• to describe the clinical presentation and the therapeutical approach
Sleep apnea syndrome:
to understand the definition, the epidemiology, the pathophysiology, the
clinical presentation and the therapeutical approach, with special
reference to obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

• Harrison – Principi di medicina interna; A.S. Fauci, E. Braunwald, D.L. Kasper, S.L. Hauser, D.L. Longo, J.L. Jameson, J. Lo scalzo; ed. McGraw-Hill
• Rugarli – Medicina interna sistematica; C. Rugarli et al., ed. Elsevier, Sesta edizione

Convenzionale

Frontal lessons, with the help of texts, diagrams, a rich illustrative
apparatus and practical examples; the student will be guided to the
understanding of the different pathological processes. If required by the
students, the teacher can devote the first part of each lesson to
clarification and insights on the topics discussed in the previous lessons.
Students can also ask for clarifications on specific topics during the
lesson.

Reception by appointment emailing antonio.spanevello@uninsubria.it