Symptoms and treatment of adhesions in the lungs
Content:
- Symptoms of adhesions in the lungs
- Causes of adhesions in the lungs
- Diagnosis of adhesions in the lungs
- Treatment of lung adhesions
Adhesions in the lungs are overgrown connective tissue cords, which are most often located between the serous membranes of the pleural cavity. Also, adhesions in the lungs are called pleurodiaphragmatic adhesions. They can be both total and occupy all parts of the pleura, and single planar, formed as a result of fusion of the pleural sheets.
Adhesions can form in any place where there is connective tissue, so the pleura of the lungs is no exception for the manifestation of this pathological process. Adhesions have a negative effect on the functioning of the respiratory system, making it difficult to work, limiting natural mobility. Sometimes adhesions can even lead to a complete overgrowth of cavities, provoking severe painful sensations, respiratory failure, which requires emergency medical attention.
Symptoms of adhesions in the lungs
Symptoms of adhesions in the lungs can be as follows:
- Dyspnea
- Pain with localization in the chest area.
- Heart palpitations.
- With an exacerbation of the process, respiratory failure may develop. It is expressed in increased shortness of breath, lack of air and requires emergency medical attention.
- A person is more susceptible to respiratory pathologies, since the natural process of ventilation of the lungs is impaired.
- Purulent sputum, increased coughing and shortness of breath, and increased body temperature will indicate the infection. Especially a lot of phlegm will be observed in the morning.
- Chronic adhesive pulmonary disease causes disturbances in the body as a whole. He will suffer from oxygen starvation, from intoxication. Anemia often develops with pallor of the skin.
Causes of adhesions in the lungs
The causes of adhesions in the lungs lie in the following pathological processes:
- In the first place are pleurisy of various etiologies, as well as pneumonia.
- Acute and chronic bronchitis.
- Past pneumonia.
- Infection of the lungs with parasites (amebiasis, ascariasis, paragonism, echinococcosis, etc.).
- The defeat of the lungs with a stick of Koch.
- Lungs' cancer.
- Lung infarction.
- Congenital malformations of the lungs.
- Sarcoidosis
- Occupational hazards, inhalation of industrial dust.
- Poor environmental situation in the living area.
- Lung injury.
- Allergic reactions of the body and frequent contact of the respiratory system with the allergen.
- Smoking.
- Internal bleeding.
- Chest surgery.
Diagnosis of adhesions in the lungs
The main method for detecting disorders in lung tissues is fluorography. It must be carried out annually, and for the categories of people at risk for lung diseases - twice a year. If there is a suspicion of pleural adhesions, then the patient is sent for an x-ray of the lungs.
A direct sign indicating the presence of adhesions is the shadows that are visible on x-rays. Moreover, it does not change during exhalation and inhalation of the patient. The transparency of the pulmonary field will also be reduced. Deformations of the chest and diaphragm are possible. In addition, the diaphragm may be restricted in its mobility. Most often, these adhesions are located in the lower part of the lung.
Treatment of lung adhesions
Treatment of adhesions of the lung should be built on the basis of the neglect of the adhesions and on the basis of what led to its development. Surgical intervention is indicated only if adhesions lead to the formation of pulmonary insufficiency and other life-threatening conditions. In other cases, they are limited to conservative therapy, as well as physiotherapy.
If the patient has an exacerbation of the adhesive process in the lungs, then therapy is reduced to the sanitation of the bronchi and suppression of the purulent-inflammatory process. For this, antibacterial drugs and bronchoscopic drainage are prescribed. Antibiotics can be given both intravenously and intramuscularly. Endobrochial administration of drugs during sanitation bronchoscopy is not excluded. For this purpose, drugs from the group of cephalosporins and penicillins are most often used.
In order to improve the discharge of sputum, expectorant drugs, alkaline drinks are prescribed.
When the exacerbation is removed, chest massage, breathing exercises, inhalation, electrophoresis are performed.
It is important that the patient receives a healthy diet rich in protein and vitamins. Without fail, the menu must contain meat, fish, vegetables, fruits, cottage cheese.
To exclude exacerbation of adhesive pulmonary disease, it is necessary to engage in breathing exercises, undergo spa treatment.
Surgical intervention is reduced to removing the part of the lung that is filled with adhesions. This operation is called lobectomy. However, most often such operations are performed for health reasons.
As a prevention of exacerbations, one should abandon bad habits, lead a healthy lifestyle, be more often in the fresh air, play sports and breathing exercises, and avoid hypothermia.
Article author: Mochalov Pavel Alexandrovich | d. m. n. therapist
Education: Moscow Medical Institute. IM Sechenov, specialty - "General Medicine" in 1991, in 1993 "Occupational Diseases", in 1996 "Therapy".
