Question

A patient who smokes expresses concern to his nurse about the metaplastic changes of the bronchi that were seen during his bronchoscopy. The nurse bases her response on the knowledge that this type of cellular change is?

1) an irreversible cellular adaptation pattern.
2) considered a precancerous cellular change.
3) reversible if the change agent is removed.
4) due to a physiologic hyperplasia

Answer 1

Metaplastic changes in the bronchi observed from bronchoscopy due to smoking are reversible if the irritant is removed. By quitting smoking, the metaplastic cells can potentially return to normal, ultimately improving lung health and reducing the risk of COPD and lung cancer.

Step-by-step explanation:

The concern about metaplastic changes in the bronchi seen during a bronchoscopy is based on the fact that these changes are related to chronic exposure to irritants, such as cigarette smoke. Metaplasia in the bronchi is a process where one type of normal cell is replaced by another type of cell not typical for that location, in response to chronic irritation or damage. This type of cellular adaptation is essentially a protective mechanism.

Regarding the options provided for your question, the correct answer is that this type of cellular change is reversible if the irritant is removed (option 3). If the patient stops smoking, the metaplastic cells may revert back to normal bronchial cells. However, if the irritation continues, there is potential for the cells to progress to dysplasia, which is a precancerous condition. In this context, it's also worth noting that smoking cessation can lead to improvements in lung function and may slow the progression of smoking-related diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and reduce the risk of developing lung cancer.