Cardiovascular, pulmonary, and cancer rehabilitation. 3. Pulmonary rehabilitation

Abstract

This self-directed learning module highlights advances in pulmonary rehabilitation. It is a section of the chapter on cardiovascular, pulmonary, and cancer rehabilitation for the Self-Directed Medical Knowledge Program Study Guide for practitioners and trainees in physical medicine and rehabilitation. This section reviews the anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, and clinical and laboratory findings in pulmonary disorders. Therapeutic modalities for obstructive and restrictive pulmonary disorders are discussed. Advances covered in this section include the pulmonary rehabilitation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients with elevated pCO2, techniques of respiratory muscle rest, pulmonary rehabilitation of the patient with paralytic restrictive respiratory disorders, and the use of noninvasive intermittent positive-airway-pressure-assisted ventilation for long-term assisted ventilation.