Lung: Chronic venous congesion

1.    Describe the key histopathological features shown in this slide.

              Congested pulmonary capillaries

              An intra-alveolar granular pink precipitate is seen.

              In acute pulmonary congestion, there may be associated alveolar septal          oedema or focal intra-alveolar hemorrhage

              In chronic pulmonary congestion, the septa become thickened and fibrotic and alveolar spaces may contain numerous hemosiderin-laden macrophages.

2.    Give a common cause for pulmonary oedema.

              Left-sided congestive heart failure

3.    How would the lung function be affected?

              Impairs the normal respiratory function.

              Increases the thickness of the barrier between the blood capillaries and alveolar spaces.

              Predisposes lung to infection.

4.     What is the macroscopic appearance of the lungs?

               Hemorrhagic and wet

5.     List 5 pathophysiologic categories of oedema.

               Increased hydrostatic pressure

               Reduced plasma osmotic pressure

               Lymphatic obstruction

               Sodium retention

               Inflammation

6.     In congestive cardiac failure, which of the following statements are true?

        There is an absolute increase in plasma volume                      T

               There is an absolute increase in plasma Na content               F

               There is an absolute increase in aldosterone secretion          T

               There is a decrease in cardiac output.                                      T 

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Copyright � Joseph Ong 2003