Hypostatic pneumonia: causes and diagnosis

Hypostatic pneumonia is a complex lesion of the respiratory system( bronchi and lungs) that develops in patients bedridden.

General concept of the disease

Lying people are deprived of the opportunity to move normally and even turn from side to side. This causes a deterioration in the ventilation of the lungs and the accumulation of sputum in the bronchi. However, her patient simply can not cough it out. As a result, hypostatic pneumonia develops in the organs.

This pathological condition is considered very dangerous. The fact is that at first it is practically not manifested at all. The patient does not even have anxiety. For effective treatment, timely detection of symptoms is very important.

The causative agent of pathology can be pneumococcus, streptococcus, staphylococcus. It begins to develop in the lower part of the right lung. If the process is two-sided, then it will be difficult to cure it.

Why does the disease occur?

Hypostatic pneumonia in the elderly also occurs often, even if they are not bedridden. Here the cause is a weak contraction of the diaphragm, as well as a worsening of the elasticity of the lung tissue.

Also at risk are patients who are:

• Chained to bed or their movements are severely limited.
• Are in the postoperative rehabilitation period.
• Have a deformity of the thorax or curvature of the spinal column.
• Are at the last stage of development of cancer.
• Suffer from bronchial asthma, hypertension, pulmonary emphysema, cardiosclerosis or atherosclerosis.

Hypostatic pneumonia also develops due to stagnant processes in the small circulation.

Stages of the development of the disease

Symptomatology of pathology can be manifested as early as the 2-3rd day, and may be absent even a few weeks. At this time the disease continues its development. There are only 3 stages of pneumonia:

1. First. At this stage, there is a slowdown in the outflow of blood in a small circle of blood circulation. The veins become very crowded, and the small vessels expand and expand. Then there is an alveolar collapse - the cells of the lung tissue are squeezed by capillaries. This stage can already be seen on the radiographic picture. It shows a marked decrease in tissue transparency, as well as a vascular pattern.
2. Second. Here, sweat of blood serum from the vessels to the alveoli and stroma occurs. In the picture, you can already notice the inflammatory process in the bronchi.
3. Third. At this stage, the swelling of the interstitial tissue occurs, and the scar tissue grows and replaces the normal one.

In bedridden patients, the main complication is hypostatic pneumonia. ICD-10( International Classification of Diseases) assigned her the code J.18.2.

How does the pathology manifest itself?

Hypostatic pneumonia has these symptoms:

• Shortness of breath and hard breathing.
• Febrile state.
• Rapid heartbeat.
• Cough with blood.
• During the listening, there are wet loud rattles.
• Distraction of viscous sputum containing pus.
• Increased sweating and chills.
• Constant slight increase in temperature.
• The person is not able to tolerate any physical activity.

The intensity of symptoms depends on how long the disease develops.

Features of diagnosis of

Disease Hypostatic pneumonia in elderly recumbent people is very common. To make an accurate diagnosis of the patient should be carefully examined. He is assigned:

1. Listening to the lungs and external examination. If possible, the doctor should ask the patient about his feelings.
2. Chest X-ray, which shows the affected dark areas of the lungs.
3. Biochemical and general blood count.
4. Electrocardiogram.
5. Bronchoscopy.
6. Ultrasound examination of the pleural area.
7. MRI.
8. Laboratory test of urine and estimation of gas composition of blood.
9. Microscopic analysis of sputum.

Thanks to this survey, you can put an accurate diagnosis and prescribe an effective therapy.

Features of treatment of pathology

Treatment of hypostatic pneumonia is mostly conservative. It provides for the destruction of pathological microflora, elimination of pulmonary edema, and restoration of their normal ventilation.

As for medicines, the following drugs are used for pneumonia therapy:

• Antibiotics: Ampicillin, Erythromycin, Cefuroxime. Also used is "Augmentin".
• Expectorants: Lazolvan, ACTS, Erespal. The rate of reception of such funds is a month.
• Antioxidant preparations.
• Immunomodulators.
• Preparations for improvement of metabolic processes in the heart: Trental, Digitalis.
• Diuretics: Furosemide, Hypothiazide.

In addition to medication, the patient is prescribed physiotherapeutic procedures: oxygen therapy, inhalation and exercise therapy. Naturally, the treatment of such pathology can not be performed at home.

The use of folk recipes

To eliminate pneumonia of this type, folk medicine is used as a supplement to complex treatment. Effectively fighting the disease such recipes:

1. Infusion based on herb thyme. For cooking, you need 2 tablespoons of crushed raw material, which is filled with half a liter of boiling water. After cooling, the infusion is filtered and used for half a cup. On the day, the remedy is drunk up to 4 times.
2. To clean the bronchi, the infusion of dried viburnum is suitable. In a clean thermos should pour 2 tablespoons of berries and pour a glass of boiling water. The medicine is infused all night. The patient should be given a medication on the throat after eating. You can add lime honey to the liquid.
3. Expectoration improves well the broth of dogrose. Use for its preparation can be both dry and fresh berries. Every time it is better to cook a fresh broth, as it will be more effective.
4. Excellent effect has lemon or raspberry tea.
5. Sputum also well removes the syrup based on the root of elecampane. For cooking you need 2 tbsp.l.raw materials, which is filled with a glass of boiling water. Further it is necessary to boil the mixture on a small fire for 30 minutes. After cooling, the liquid is filtered. Now honey should be added to it, so that the taste is both sweet and bitter. For a patient, such a drug must be taken before meals at 2 tbsp.l.

Prognosis and prevention of

Hypostatic pneumonia should be detected on time. The main thing is to prevent complications. Otherwise, the prognosis for the development of pathology will be unfavorable. If the treatment was carried out correctly, the patient recovers after 3-4 weeks. Naturally, bilateral hypostatic inflammation is much more difficult to cure.

Naturally, it is desirable not to allow the development of the disease. Prevention of hypostatic pneumonia involves the implementation of such rules:

1. Air in the room where the patient is lying, should have the necessary level of humidity.
2. It is advisable to use an orthopedic mattress, which does not lead to deformation of the spine.
3. Nutrition patient must be diverse and full. Well, if the products will contain enough vitamins.
4. Useful is a special gymnastics, as well as a massage of the back and chest.
5. The position of the patient's body should be periodically changed.
6. If possible, the patient should be taken to fresh air.

In order to determine in time the onset of the development of pneumonia, you should carefully listen to the patient's breathing. Caution should rattles and gurgling sounds. It should be remembered that any disease in the elderly is more complex than that of the young, so they must be monitored. Be healthy!