Trepopnea
Encyclopedia
Trepopnea is dyspnea
(shortness of breath) that is sensed while lying on one side but not on the other. It results from disease of one lung
, one major bronchus
, or chronic congestive heart failure. Patients with trepopnea from lung disease prefer to lie on the opposite side of the diseased lung, as the gravitation increases perfusion of the lower lung. Increased perfusion in diseased lung would increase shunting and hypoxemia, resulting in worsening shortness of breath. To maximize function of the healthier lung, the patient is best to lie on the side of the healthier lung, so that it receives adequate perfusion. Patients with chronic heart failure prefer to lie mostly on the left side, to enable a better blood return, whereby cardiac output is augmented.
Other types of positional dyspnea include orthopnea and paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea. Rates of breathing are described with the terms eupnea
, bradypnea
(slow), and tachypnea
(fast).
Dyspnea
Dyspnea , shortness of breath , or air hunger, is the subjective symptom of breathlessness.It is a normal symptom of heavy exertion but becomes pathological if it occurs in unexpected situations...
(shortness of breath) that is sensed while lying on one side but not on the other. It results from disease of one lung
Lung
The lung is the essential respiration organ in many air-breathing animals, including most tetrapods, a few fish and a few snails. In mammals and the more complex life forms, the two lungs are located near the backbone on either side of the heart...
, one major bronchus
Bronchus
A bronchus is a passage of airway in the respiratory tract that conducts air into the lungs. The bronchus branches into smaller tubes, which in turn become bronchioles....
, or chronic congestive heart failure. Patients with trepopnea from lung disease prefer to lie on the opposite side of the diseased lung, as the gravitation increases perfusion of the lower lung. Increased perfusion in diseased lung would increase shunting and hypoxemia, resulting in worsening shortness of breath. To maximize function of the healthier lung, the patient is best to lie on the side of the healthier lung, so that it receives adequate perfusion. Patients with chronic heart failure prefer to lie mostly on the left side, to enable a better blood return, whereby cardiac output is augmented.
Other types of positional dyspnea include orthopnea and paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea. Rates of breathing are described with the terms eupnea
Eupnea
In the human respiratory system, eupnea or eupnoea is normal, good, unlabored ventilation, sometimes known as quiet breathing or resting respiration...
, bradypnea
Bradypnea
Bradypnea refers to an abnormally slow breathing rate...
(slow), and tachypnea
Tachypnea
Tachypnea means rapid breathing. Any rate between 12-20 breaths per minute is normal. Tachypnea is a respiration rate greater than 20 breaths per minute. - Distinction from other breathing terms :...
(fast).