Objective

This assignment aims to apply pulmonary pathophysiological concepts to interpret the assessment findings of a patient with respiratory disease. Students will thoroughly examine various aspects of the patient’s assessment, including Chief Complaint (CC), History of Present Illness (HPI), Past Medical History (PMH), Family History (FH), Social History (SH), Review of Systems (ROS), and Medications, and then respond to the questions on the provided Comprehensive Case Study template.

Learning Outcomes

By completing this assignment, students will demonstrate the ability to:

Analyze the case scenario and spirometry results to ascertain the most probable respiratory diagnosis. (CO1) Illustrate the pathophysiology underlying the respiratory disease. (CO1) Distinguish between subjective and objective findings supporting the chosen diagnosis. (CO4) Apply evidence-based practice guidelines to classify the severity of the respiratory disorder and devise an appropriate treatment plan. (CO1, CO5) Deadline

Sunday by 11:59 PM MT of Week 3

Total Points

This assignment carries a weightage of 100 points.

Assignment Preparation

Requirements

Content Criteria:

Read the case study provided below. Refer to the rubric for grading guidelines. Utilize the Week 3 Case Study Template to present your responses to the case study questions. Include at least one scholarly reference to support pathophysiology statements. Textbook references for pathophysiology statements are acceptable for this course. Additionally, you may refer to an appropriate evidence-based journal. Utilize the current Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) for COPD management and prevention (GOLD Criteria) to address questions regarding severity classification and treatment recommendations. The latest guideline can be accessed at https://goldcopd.org/. Navigate to the current year’s CPG on the website and download a personal copy for reference. Alternatively, you can consult a medication administration reference like Epocrates to identify medication names. Ensure adherence to proper APA format, including in-text citations, a reference page, accurate spelling, grammatical correctness, and clarity of expression. Case Study Scenario

Chief Complaint A.C., a 61-year-old male, presents with complaints of shortness of breath.

History of Present Illness

A.C. visited the emergency room one week ago due to acute mid-sternal chest pain. He had been experiencing fatigue and increasing dyspnea for the past three months, which he did not seek medical attention for. Following evaluation by cardiology, he underwent a successful angioplasty without complications. However, his shortness of breath has persisted and worsened since commencing cardiac rehabilitation. His cardiologist has referred him to you, his primary care provider, for further evaluation. His last visit to your practice was three years ago for acute bronchitis and smoking cessation counseling.

Past Medical History

Hypertension Hyperlipidemia Atherosclerotic coronary artery disease History of smoking Family History

Father deceased from acute coronary syndrome at age 65 Mother deceased from breast cancer at age 58 One sister, a breast cancer survivor of five years One son and one daughter with no significant medical history Social History

35 pack-year smoking history; currently reduced to one cigarette at bedtime post-cardiac intervention No history of alcohol or recreational drug use Occupation: Real estate agent Allergies

No known drug allergies Medications

Rosuvastatin 20 mg orally once daily Carvedilol 25 mg orally twice daily Hydrochlorothiazide 12.5 mg orally once daily Aspirin 81 mg orally once daily Review of Systems

Constitutional: Denies fever, chills, or weight loss; reports fatigue. HEENT: Denies nasal congestion, rhinorrhea, or sore throat. Chest: Reports dyspnea with exertion; denies productive cough or wheezing. Reports a dry, nonproductive cough in the morning. Heart: Denies chest pain, chest pressure, or palpitations. Lymph: Denies lymph node swelling. General Physical Exam

Constitutional: Alert and oriented male in no apparent distress. Vital Signs: BP-120/84, T-97.9 F, P-62, RR-22, SaO2: 93%; Weight-180 lbs., Height-5’9″ HEENT

Eyes: Pupils equal, round, and reactive to light and accommodation; normal conjunctiva. Ears: Tympanic membranes intact. Nose: Bilateral nasal turbinates without redness or swelling; patent nares. Mouth: Oropharynx clear; no mouth lesions. Dentures well-fitting. Oral mucous membranes dry. Neck/Lymph Nodes

Supple neck without jugular venous distension. No lymphadenopathy, masses, or carotid bruits. Lungs

Bilateral breath sounds clear throughout lung fields; bilateral wheezes noted with forced exhalation and prolonged expiratory phase. No intercostal retractions. Heart

Regular rate and rhythm; no rubs or murmurs. Integumentary System

Cool, pale, and dry skin; pink nail beds without clubbing. Chest X-Ray

Bilateral hyper-inflated lungs with a flattened diaphragm. No