Table of Contents:

Part I: 

Chapter 1.     Definitions of Acute Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Chapter 2.     Epidemiology of Exacerbations in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Chapter 3.     Effects of Acute Exacerbations on the Natural History of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Chapter 4.     Economic Burden of Acute Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Part II:

Chapter 5.     Pathophysiology of Acute Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Chapter 6.     Immunopathology of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Exacerbations of Bronchitis

Chapter 7.     Biomarkers of Acute Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Chapter 8.     Acute Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease:  A Systemic Disease?

Part III:

Chapter 9.     Causes of Acute Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Chapter 10.   Symptoms and Signs of Acute Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Chapter 11.   Pulmonary Gas Exchange in Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Chapter 12.   Radiology of Acute Exacerbations of Chronic Pulmonary Disease

Chapter 13.   Assessment of Severity of Acute Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Part IV: 

Chapter 14.   Cardiopulmonary Interaction in Acute Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Chapter 15.   Skeletal Muscles in Acute Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Chapter 16.   Water-Electrolyte Imbalances in Acute Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Chapter 17.   Metabolism and Nutrition in Acute Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Chapter 18.   End-Stage Disease and Acute Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Chapter 19.   Impact of Sleep on Acute Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Part V:

Chapter 20.   Antibiotics

Chapter 21.   Bronchodilators in Acute Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Chapter 22.   Corticosteroids

Chapter 23.   Oxygen Therapy During Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Chapter 24.   Acute Exacerbations:  Other Treatment

Part VI:

Chapter 25.   Noninvasive Ventilation in Acute Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Chapter 26.   Invasive Mechanical Ventilation in Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Chapter 27.   Weaning from the Ventilator

Chapter 28.   Rehabilitation and Acute Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Part VII:

Chapter 29.   Home Management of Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Chapter 30.   Hospital Management of Acute Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Part VIII:

Chapter 31.   Acute Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease as Outcome of Therapeutic Interventions

Part IX:

Chapter 32.   Future Research on Acute Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease