Dr. Schiffman received his B.S. degree with High Honors in biology from Hobart College in 1976. He then moved to Chicago where he studied biochemistry at the University of Illinois, Chicago Circle. He attended Rush Medical College where he received his M.D. degree in 1982 and was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society. He completed his Internal Medicine internship and residency at the University of California, Irvine.
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.
Endotracheal intubation is a procedure by which a tube is inserted through
the mouth down into the trachea (the large airway from the mouth to the lungs).
Before surgery, this is often done under deep sedation. In emergency situations,
the patient is often unconscious at the time of this procedure.
What kind of tube is used?
The tube that is used today is usually a flexible plastic tube. It is called
an endotracheal tube because it is slipped within the trachea.
How do they put the tube down into the trachea?
The doctor often inserts the tube with the help of a
laryngoscope, an
instrument that permits the doctor to see the upper portion of the trachea, just
below the vocal cords. During the procedure the laryngoscope is used to hold the
tongue aside while inserting the tube into the trachea. It is important that the
head be positioned in the appropriate manner to allow for proper visualization.
Pressure is often applied to the thyroid cartilage (Adam's apple) to help with
visualization and prevent possible aspiration of stomach contents.
What is the purpose of endotracheal intubation?
The endotracheal tube serves as an open passage through the upper airway. The
purpose of endotracheal intubation is to permit air to pass freely to and from
the lungs in order to ventilate the lungs. Endotracheal tubes can be connected
to ventilator machines to provide artificial respiration. This can help when a
patient is unconscious and by maintaining a patent airway, especially during
surgery. It is often used when patients are critically ill and cannot maintain
adequate respiratory function to meet their needs. The endotracheal tube
facilitates the use of a mechanical ventilator in these critical situations.
Pneumonia is inflammation of one or both lungs with consolidation. Pneumonia is frequently but not always due to infection. The infection may be bacterial, viral, fungal or parasitic. Symptoms may include fever, chills, cough with sputum production, chest pain, and shortness of breath.
A pneumothorax is free air in the chest outside the lung, that causes the lung to collapse (collapsed lung). There are two types of pneumothorax, spontaneous or primary pneumothorax and secondary pneumothorax. Symptoms include sudden chest pain, shortness of breath, rapid heart rate, rapid breathing, cough, and fatigue.
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a lung condition in which trauma to the lungs leads to inflammation of the lungs, accumulation of fluid in the alveolar air sacs, low blood oxygen, and respiratory distress. Causes of ARDS include: pneumonia, aspiration, severe blow to the chest, sepsis, severe injury with shock, drug overdose, and/or inflamed pancreas. Treatment for ARDS include extra oxygen, and/or medication.
Pneumonia is a lung infection that can be caused by
different types of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
Symptoms of pneumonia include cough with sputum
production, fever, and sharp chest pain on inspiration (breathing in).
Pneumonia is suspected when a doctor hears abnormal
sounds in the chest, and the diagnosis is confirmed by a chest X-ray.
Bacteria causing pneumonia can be identified by sputum
culture.
A pleural effusion is a fluid collection around the
inflamed lung.
Bacterial and fungal (but not viral)
pneumonia can be treated with antibiotics.
What is pneumonia?
Pneumonia is an infection of one or both lungs which is usually caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi. Prior to the discovery of antibiotics, one-third of all people who developed pneumonia subsequently died fro...
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