PATHOPHYSIOLOGICAL MECHANISMS Dyspnea, a symptom, and airway obstruction, a sign, are most notably associated with primary lung cancer and metastatic disease (Torres-Carranza et al., 2006; Le 2005; Wickham, 2002; Chernecky…
PATHOPHYSIOLOGICAL MECHANISMS Diabetes insipidus (DI) is a disorder of urinary concentration caused by a temporary or chronic deficiency of or insensitivity to vasopressin, or antidiuretic hormone (ADH). This condition leaves…
PATHOPHYSIOLOGICAL MECHANISMS Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) is a rare, antibody-mediated autoimmune disorder. It can occur sporadically or as a paraneoplastic syndrome, most often associated with small cell carcinoma of the…
PATHOPHYSIOLOGICAL MECHANISMS Hyponatremia is a disorder of hypo-osmolality in which the rate of sodium loss exceeds the rate of water loss (true hyponatremia). Another type of hyponatremia, relative hyponatremia, is…
This chapter covers three types of gastrointestinal obstructive problems: biliary obstruction, gastric obstruction, and bowel obstruction. Obstructive disorders of the biliary and gastrointestinal tract are common complications in patients with…
PATHOPHYSIOLOGICAL MECHANISMS Hypokalemia is a low serum potassium level, which may result from a number of conditions. The normal serum potassium level ranges from 3.5 to 5.5 mEq/L; hypokalemia exists…
PATHOPHYSIOLOGICAL MECHANISMS A hypersensitivity reaction (HSR) is defined as “an exaggerated immune response that results in local tissue injury or changes throughout the body in response to an antigen or…
PATHOPHYSIOLOGICAL MECHANISMS DIC is a secondary disorder that occurs as a result of tissue injury, inflammation, or abnormal regulatory mechanisms (Fig. 11.1) (Mercer et al., 2006; Toh & Downey, 2005;…
PATHOPHYSIOLOGICAL MECHANISMS Hyperleukocytosis is a life-threatening phenomenon that occurs when a peripheral leukocyte count exceeds 100,000/mL. An increase in the absolute number of one or more of the white blood…
