Hypostatic pneumonia: causes and diagnosis

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

General concept of the disease

Lying people are deprived of the ability to move normally and even turn from side to side. This provokes a deterioration in lung ventilation and the accumulation of sputum in the bronchi. However, her patient is simply not able to cough. As a result, inflammation develops in the organs - hypostatic pneumonia.

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

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

Why does the disease occur?

Hypostatic pneumonia in the elderly also occurs often, even if they are not bedridden. The reason here is a slight contraction of the diaphragm, as well as a deterioration in the elasticity of the lung tissue.

And at risk include patients who:

• Bedridden or their movements are significantly limited.
• They are in the postoperative rehabilitation period.
• Have chest deformity or curvature of the spinal column.
• They are at the last stage of the development of cancer.
• Suffer from bronchial asthma, hypertension, emphysema, cardiosclerosis or atherosclerosis.

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

Stages of the development of the disease

Symptoms of the pathology may appear already on the 2-3rd day, and may be absent for several weeks. At this time, the disease continues to develop. There are only 3 stages of pneumonia:

1. First one. At this stage, there is a slowdown in the outflow of blood in the pulmonary circulation. At the same time, the veins become very crowded, and small vessels lengthen and expand. Then alveolar collapse occurs - the cells of the lung tissue are squeezed by capillaries. This stage can already be seen in the x-ray image. It shows a decrease in the transparency of tissues, as well as a vascular pattern.
2. The second one. Then there is sweating of blood serum from blood vessels to the alveoli and stroma. In the picture you can already see the inflammatory process in the bronchi.
3. The third. At this stage, edema of the interstitial tissue occurs, and scar tissue grows and replaces normal.

In bedridden patients, the main complication is precisely hypostatic pneumonia. ICD-10 (international classification of diseases) assigned it the code J.18.2.

How is the pathology manifested?

Hypostatic pneumonia has the following symptoms:

• Shortness of breath and hard breathing.
• Fever.
• Rapid heartbeat.
• Coughing up blood.
• During listening, wet loud wheezing is observed.
• The discharge of viscous sputum containing pus.
• Increased sweating and chills.
• A constant slight increase in temperature.
• A person is not able to tolerate any physical activity normally.

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

Features of the diagnosis of the disease

Hypostatic pneumonia in the elderly bedridden 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. X-ray of the chest, on which the affected darkened areas of the lungs will be visible.
3. Biochemical and general blood test.
4. Electrocardiogram.
5. Bronchoscopy
6. Ultrasound examination of the pleural region.
7. MRI
8. Laboratory examination of urine and assessment of the gas composition of the blood.
9. Microscopic analysis of sputum.

Thanks to such an examination, you can make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe effective therapy.

Features of the treatment of pathology

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

As for medications, the following drugs are used for the treatment of pneumonia:

• Antibiotics: Ampicillin, Erythromycin, Cefuroxime. Also used is Augmentin.
• Expectorant medicines: "Lazolvan", "ACC", "Erespal". The course of taking such funds is a month.
• Antioxidant drugs.
• Immunomodulators.
• Preparations for improving metabolic processes in the heart: Trental, Digitalis.
• Diuretics: Furosemide, Hypothiazide.

In addition to medications, bedridden patients are prescribed physiotherapeutic procedures: oxygen therapy, inhalation and exercise therapy. Naturally, the treatment of such a pathology cannot be carried out at home.

Using folk recipes

To eliminate pneumonia of this type, traditional medicine is used as an adjunct to complex treatment. Such recipes effectively fight the disease:

1. Infusion based on thyme herb. For cooking, you need 2 tablespoons of crushed raw material, which is poured with a half liter of boiled water. After cooling, the infusion is filtered and used half a glass. The drug is drunk up to 4 times a day.
2. To clean the bronchi, an infusion of dried viburnum is suitable. In a clean thermos, pour 2 tablespoons of berries and pour them with a glass of boiling water. The medicine is infused all night. The patient needs to be given a remedy in the throat after eating. Linden honey can be added to the liquid.
3. Expectorant improves a rosehip broth well. You can use both dry and fresh berries for its preparation. Each time, it is better to cook a fresh broth, as it will be more effective.
4. Lemon or raspberry tea has an excellent effect.
5. Sputum is also well removed by syrup based on elecampane root. For cooking, you need 2 tbsp. l raw materials, which is filled with a glass of boiled water. Next, you still need to cook the mixture on low heat 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. The patient must take this remedy before meals for 2 tbsp. l

Forecast and Prevention

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

Naturally, it is advisable to prevent the development of the disease. Prevention of hypostatic pneumonia includes the following rules:

1. The 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 spinal deformity.
3. The nutrition of the patient should be varied and complete. It is good if the products will contain a sufficient amount of vitamins.
4. Useful is special gymnastics, as well as back and chest massage.
5. The position of the patient’s body should be periodically changed.
6. If possible, the patient is best taken to fresh air.

In order to determine the onset of pneumonia on time, you should carefully listen to the patient's breathing. Wheezing and gurgling sounds should alert. It must be remembered that any disease in older people is more complicated than in young people, so they should be monitored. Be healthy!