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Rehabilitation with Trapped Lung — SCE Palliative Medicine MCQ

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EasyRespiratory SymptomsRehabilitation with Trapped LungSCE Palliative Medicine

A 74‑year‑old man with advanced mesothelioma has unilateral breathlessness due to a trapped lung that remains unexpandable after pleurodesis. His contralateral lung is normal. He asks about rehabilitation. What exercise approach is most appropriate?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

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Correct answer: C — Tailored pulmonary rehabilitation — including breathing exercises, cardiovascular and upper‑limb training — is appropriate; unilateral restriction does not preclude benefits

Explanation lettering: D = shown as A · E = shown as C · A = shown as D · C = shown as E

The correct answer is E. Pulmonary rehabilitation is not limited to COPD — UK policy affirms benefits for diverse lung conditions and improves exercise capacity, breathlessness, and quality of life. The presence of a trapped lung does not preclude safe, supervised, and tailored rehabilitation using the functioning contralateral lung. Options A–C represent outdated or deconditioning‑promoting approaches, and D is factually incorrect per UK guidance.

Reference: NHS England: Pulmonary rehabilitation for other lung conditions (NHS England, recent); British Thoracic Society guideline on pulmonary rehabilitation in adults (Thorax/BTS, recent).