cardio/pulm Flashcards
What are 4 main triggers for asthma?
Weather change
Aspirin
Beta blockers
Viral URI
What is the trend in asthma mortality?
Mortality of asthma is increasing!
Is asthma more common in boys or girls?
More common in boys until puberty - but later it is equal in boys and girls
What are the 3 clinical descriptions associated with mild intermittent asthma?
Symptoms less then 2x weekly
Night symptoms less then 2x monthly
No pulmonary function abnormalities
What are the 3 clinical descriptions associated with mild persistent asthma ?
Normal PFTs
Symptoms more than 2x per week
Night symptoms more than 2x per month
What is the treatment for mild persistent asthma?
Low dose inhaled steroids
2nd line - leukotriene inhibitor
What is the treatment for moderate persistent asthma?
Low to medium dose steroid + laba
When do you classify a child as having moderate persistent asthma?
When a child requires bronchodilators more than twice per week
What is the definition of mild exacerbation of asthma ?
Decreased pulmonary function but still >50% of predicted
When is levalbuterol indicated instead of albuterol?
Only in patients with tachycardia, tremors or irritability
When is chest PT and mucolytics indicated for asthma?
Never
What are 5 side effects of beta adrenergic agonists?
Tremors Tachycardia Hypokalemia Hyperglycemia Hypomagnesemia
What does high or low CO2 indicate in the setting of acute asthma?
High pCO2 indicates CO2 retention and fatigue with respiratory failure
Low pCO2 reflects tachypnea
What are 5 signs of hypercapnia?
Agitation Flushing Altered mental status Headache Tachycardia
What is the most common cause of chronic nighttime cough?
Reactive airway disease
What are 4 main causes of infant wheezing, other than asthma?
Aspiration
Bronchopulmonary dysplasia
Foreign body
Vascular rings
What is the definition of exercise induced asthma?
Coughing and wheezing 5 minutes after exercising with improvement within 15 minutes of rest
What diagnosis should you consider in a patient with a “respiratory infection that is not clearing”?
Foreign body
What are the 4 main causes of poor exercise tolerance ?
Cardiac disease
Anemia
Muscle weakness
Psychological factors
What medication may be indicated for exercise induced asthma?
Leukotriene inhibitor (montelukast)
What are the 4 risk factors for persistent asthma ?
Onset before age 3
IgE elevated
Maternal hx asthma
Eosinophilia
What diagnosis must be considered in a patient with unlabored breathing but sudden onset of intermittent productive cough and wheezing?
Foreign body aspiration
What diagnosis corresponds with blunted inspiratory loop on spirometry?
Vocal cord paralysis
What is the safest and most effective way to confirm foreign body aspiration?
Airway fluoroscopy