Resumen

PINO ALFONSO, Pedro Pablo; RODRIGUEZ VAZQUEZ, Juan Carlos; GASSIOT NUNO, Carlos  y  RODRIGUEZ FERNANDEZ, Rolando. Tratamiento de la enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica: Conceptos actuales. Rev cubana med [online]. 1997, vol.36, n.2, pp. 117-122. ISSN 1561-302X.

The current concepts in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, including chronic bronchitis and pulmonary emphysema are revised. Emphasis is made on the fact of giving up smoking as the most important step concerning treatment. Recommendations are included for the use of preventive therapy, as well as the best way for instituting bronchodilator therapy by steps with the use of ipratropium bromide in regular dose and beta 2 agonists according to the demand, as well as the use of steroids in advanced stages. Also a commentary is made on the poor benefits offered by xantines and finally the improvement of symptoms with the use of oxigen as a therapeutic modality and the important role of education and rehabilitation programs are pointed out.

Palabras clave : BRONCHITIS [prevention & control]; BRONCHITIS [therapy]; PULMONARY EMPHYSEMA [prevention & control]; PULMONARY EMPHYSEMA [therapy]; SMOKING; IPRATROPIUM [therapeutic use]; ADRENERGIC BETA RECEPTOR AGONISTS [therapeutic use]; STEROIDS [therapeutic use]; OXYGEN [therapeutic use].