Asthma & Bronchospastic Diseases Flashcards
True or false: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder
True
Asthma is underdiagnosed in what population?
Elderly
What is the primary contributor to fatal asthma?
Airway remodeling
What are some important preoperative considerations for the management of asthma patients?
Asthma related history: medicine**, triggers, hospitalizations
Other history: GERD, smoking, URIs etc
What type of test is used to assess occult bronchospasm and measure lung function?
Spirometry
Which lung volume Is the most reproducible PFT parameter?
FEV
What test is a better indicator of small airway involvement and is effort dependent?
FEF 25-75% spirometry
What will the arterial blood gas results look like in a patient with severe asthma?
Hypercarbia and hypoxia are indicative of severe disease
List a few of the precipitating causes of asthma
Allergens Pharmacologic agents Infections Exercise Emotional stress
30 to 80% of asthma patients also have what other exacerbating disease?
GERD
How does GERD Cause asthma or bronchospasms?
Aspiration of refluxed gastric contents
What are some common symptoms associated with aspirin induced asthma?
rhinitis and nasal polyps (70-80%)
The usage of what common drug during pregnancy is associated with childhood asthma?
Acetaminophen
25% of asthmatics smoke. why is this important?
They’re at increased risk of laryngeal and bronchial reactivity and they have a reduced response to corticosteroids
How long before surgery do you have to stop smoking before there will be decreased airway reactivity?
7 days
How long before surgery do you have to stop smoking before they will be reduced post-operative respiratory complications?
4 weeks