Understanding End-Stage COPD: Symptoms, Causes & Management

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a condition characterized by long-term impairment of lung function related to causes including chronic bronchitis or emphysema. The end stage of this disorder presents several typical features.

The Facts

• COPD involves progressive decreases in the lungs̵7; ability to exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide, according to the Mayo Clinic. In end stage COPD, capacity decreases progress enough to become life-threatening.

Symptom Flare-Ups

• Individuals with end-stage COPD may experience serious symptom flare-ups, according to the Merck Manuals Online Medical Library. In some cases, these incidents may necessitate use of a mechanical ventilator and breathing tube.

Respiratory Failure

• Rising levels of blood carbon dioxide act like a narcotic on some individuals with end-stage COPD, according to the Pulmonology Channel. Eventually, this process can lead to unconsciousness and a stoppage in breathing.

Additional Outcomes

• In addition to respiratory failure, individuals with COPD may die from causes including heart failure, pneumonia, lung cancer and pulmonary embolisms (lung artery blockages), according to the MMOML.

Considerations

• The MMOML notes that COPD does not typically progress to its end stage in individuals who quit smoking when air flow deficits are mild.