Respiratory Medicine

The human respiratory system is a biological system that facilitates the exchange of gases between the organism and the environment. In humans, the respiratory tract is involved in respiration and is divided into the upper and lower respiratory tract. The upper tract comprises of the nose, nasal cavities, pharynx, sinuses and the part of the larynx that is above the vocal folds. The lower tract includes the trachea, larynx, bronchi, bronchioles and alveoli. The disorders of the respiratory system affect these parts and can be classified into several groups, namely airway obstructive conditions, vascular diseases, pulmonary restrictive conditions, infectious and environmental diseases, cancers and surfactant deficiency disorders. Emphysema, asthma and bronchitis are airway obstructive conditions. Pulmonary restrictive conditions are fibrosis, pleural effusion, sarcoidosis, etc. while some vascular diseases are pulmonary embolism, pulmonary edema and pulmonary hypertension. Respiratory distress syndrome is a condition that occurs in premature babies due to a structural immaturity in the lungs and due to the developmental insufficiency of pulmonary surfactant production. All disorders of the respiratory system are treated with respiratory medicine. Various surgical and therapeutic strategies are employed for the treatment of these conditions. This book contains some path-breaking studies in the domain of respiratory medicine. It will also provide interesting topics for research, which interested readers can take up. It is appropriate for students seeking detailed information in this area as well as for experts.