cardiothoracic problems Flashcards
75yo woman with a hx of angina is admitted to the hospital for sycope. exam of the pt reveals a systolic mrumur best heard at the base of the heart that radiates into the carotid arteries. ECG reveals an aortic valve area of 0.7cm2. what is the most appropriate next step in her management?
a. medical management with a nitrate and an ACE inhibitor
b. b/l carotid endarterectomies
c. percutaneous coronary artery angioplasty & stenting
d. coronary artery bypass surgery
e. aortic valve replacement
E
aortic stenosis + symptomatic + murmur
aorta = 3cm?
68yo man is diagnosed with lung cancer. in preparation for pulmonary resection he undergoes PFTs. which of the following results indicate a favorable prognosis?
a. elevated PCO2
b. FEV1 > 60% of predicted
c. DLCO < 40%
d. low FEV1/FVC
e. normal FEV1/FVC
B
predictors of postop pulmonary reserve
1) FEV 1 >60%
PCO2 = retention
nml FEV1/FVC = could still be restrictive pulmonary disease
71yo woman with 40y smoking hx is noted to have a peripheral nodule in her L upper lobe on CXR. workup is consistent with small cell lung cancer with ipsilateral mediastinal lymph node involvement but no extrathoracic disease. what is the best treatment option for this patient?
a. thoracotomy with L upper lobectomy and mediastinal lymph node dissection
b. thoracotomy with L upper lobectomy and mediastinal lymph node dissection, then adjuvant chemotherapy
c. neoadjuvant chemotherapy, then thoracotomy with L upper lobectomy and mediastinal lymph node dissection
d. neoadjuvant chemoradiation, then thoracotomy with L upper lobectomy and mediastinal lymph node dissection
e. chemoradiation
E
aggressive, so will have to do chemo / radiation regardless
–> rarely able to do surgical resection d/t extensive disease at presentation
SCLC = 20% of primary lung cancers
42yo homeless man presets with a 3w hx of SOB, fevers, and pleuritic chest pain. CXR reveals a large L pleural effusion. thoracentesis reveals thick, purulent-appearing fluid, which is found to have glucose <40 and pH of 6.5. a chest tube is placed, but the pleural effusion persists. which of the following is the most appropriate management of this pt?
a. placement of a 2nd chest tube at the bedside and antibiotic therapy
b. infusion of antibiotics via chest tube
c. IV antibiotics for 6w
d. thoracotomy with instillation of antibiotics into pleural space
e. thoracotomy with decortication and antibiotic therapy
E
only do 2 chest tubes if:
1) at top for air
2) at bottom for fluid
or do it in the OR
==> empyema or accumulation of pus in cavity
–> definitely of exudative quality
“organizing phase” of empyema
- fluid collection is loculated & depositions of fibrin create a thick pleural rind –> prevents apposition of the lung to the pareital pleura
Tx
- thoracotomy + decortication ==> remove purulent fluid & pleural rind
- specific antibiotic
63yo man is seen b/c of facial swelling and cyanosis, esp. when he bends over. there are large, dilated subcutaneous veins on his upper chest. his jugular veins are prominent even while he is upright. which of the following conditions is most likely cause of these findings?
a. histoplasmosis (sclerosing mediastinitis)
b. substernal thyroid
c. thoracic aortic aneurysm
d. constrictive pericarditis
e. bronchogenic carcinoma
E –> growth pressing on sympathetics –> SVC syndrome
definitely fluid overload
Causes
- pemberton sign
- sympathetics
SXs
- incrased venous pressure –> edema of upper body, cyanosis, dilated subcu collateral vessels in the chest, and HA
- cervical lymphadenopathy
Causes of SVC syndrome
1) bronchogenic carcinoma
2) lymphoma
3) substernal thyroid / thoracic aortic aneurysm
tx
- diuresis
- radiation & chemo for cancers
- surgical intervention / thrombolysis
during endoscopic biopsy of a distal esophgeal cancer, perforation of the esophagus is suspected when the pt complains of significant new substernal pain. an immediate CXR reveals air onthe mediastinum. which of the following is the most appropriate management of this pt?
a. placement of an NGT to the level of perforation, Abx, and close observation
b. spit fistula (cervical pharyngostomY) and gastrostomy
c. L thoracotomy, pleural patch oversewing of the perforation and drainage of the mediastinum
d. L thoracotomy with esophagectomy
e. thoracotomy with chest tube drainage and esophageal exclusion
D
perforation
Dx = water-soluble contrast esophagogram
Tx
1) primary repair of the perforation & drainage of mediastinum
2) +/- correction of esophgeal abnormality that led to underlying motility d/o, stricture, or malignancy (esp. esophagectomy for distal esophgeal carcinoma).
63yo woman with COPD presents with several week hx of fever, night sweats, weight loss, and cough. her CXR is noted to have a density in the LUL with relatively thin-walled cavity. bronchoscopy and CT are suggestive of lung abscess rather than a malignant process. which of the following is the most appropriate initial management of this pt?
a. percutaneous drainage of the lung abscess
b. systemic antibiotics directed against the causative agent
c. tube thoracostomy
d. left upper lobectomy
e. surgical drainage of the abscess
B. usually a LUNG abscess will drain spontaneously via tracheobronchial tree without drainage
abscess? = “thin walled cavity”
are there concerns of dragging the contents of the absces across if percutanoeus drainage.
Aspergillus?
1) antibiotics
2) drainage (perc / surgical)
45yo man with poorly controlled HTN presents with severe chest pain radiating to his back. an ECG demonstrates no significant abnormalities. CT scano f the chest & abdomen is obtained, which demonstrates a descending thoracic aortic dissection extending from distal to the L subclavian takeoff down to above the iliac bifurcation. a foley catheter is placed, and UO is 30-40cc/h. his feet are warm with <2 sec capillary refill. which of the following is the most appropriate initial management?
a. emergent operation for repair of the aortic dissection
b. angiography to confirm the diagnosis of aortic dissection
e. Echo to rule out cardiac complications
d. initiation of B-blocker
e. initiation of a vasodilator such as nitroprusside
D
aortic dissection
Stanford B aortic dissection ==> expectant management
Tx
1) B-blocker ==> reduce rate of change in BP & reduce shear on aortic wall
2) nitroprusside
3) surgery for - end-organ failure; inadequate pain relief refractory to medical treatment, rupture / signs of impending rupture (increasing diameter >5.5cm, periarotic fluid)
a stockbroker in his mid-40 presents with complaints of episodes of severe, often incapacitating chest pain on swallowing. diagnostic studies on the esohpagus yield the following results:
-endoscopic examination and biopsy: mid inflammation distally, manometry-prolonged high amplitude contractions from the arch of the aorta distally, lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure 20mmHg with relaxation on swallowing:
-barium swallow: 2cm epiphrenic diverticulum.
which of the following is the best management option for this pt?
a. myotomy along with length of the manometric abnormality
b. diverticulectomy, myotomy from the level of the aortic arch to the fundus, fundoplication
c. diverticulectomy, cardiomyotomy of the distal 3cm of esophagus and proximal 2cm of stomach with antireflux fundoplication
d. a trial of CCBs
e. pneumatic dilatation of the LES
A
diffuse esophgeal spasm
tx
–> long motomy guided by manometric evidence
no need to do anything with the diverticulum at this point.
4yo boy is seen 1h after ingestion of a lye drain cleaner. no oropharyngeal burns are noted. the CXR is normal, but the patient continues to complain of significant chest pain. which of the following is the most appropriate next step in his management?
a. parenteral steroids and antibiotics
b. esophagogram with water-soluble contrast
c. administration of an oral neutralizing agent
d. induction of vomiting
e. rapid administration of a quart of water to clear remaining lye from the esophagus and dilute material in the stomach.
B
Tx
1) water-solube contrast esophagogram
NOT
- giving fluids to washout when internal —> b/c can increase gastric volume –> induce N&V –> worsen corrosive injury & possible aspiration
a previously healthy 20yo man is admitted to the hospital with acute onset of L sided chest pain. electrocardiographic findings are normal, but CXR shows a 40% L pneumothorax. appropriate treatment consists of which of the following procedures?
a. observation
b. barium swallow
c. thoracotomy
d. tube thoracostomy
e. thoracostomy and intubation
D
<50%, pleuritic chest pain
spontanoeus pneumothorax in thin, young male
tx
1) large pneumothorax > 25% ==> placement o fchest tube
2) recurrent pneumothorax ==> bled excision, pleural abrasion
3) spontanous perforation of esophagus –> hydropneumothorax, pneumomediastinum ==> gastrografin swwallow + barium study
50yo salesman is on a yacht with a client when he has a severe vomiting and retching spell punctuated by a sharp substernal pain. he arrives in your ED 4h later and has a chest film in which the left descending aorta is outlined by air density. which of the following is the most appropriate next step in his workup
a. contrast esophagram
b. echocardiogram
c. flexible bronchoscopy
d. flexible esophagogastroscopy
e. aortography
A
pneumoperitonenum
–> boerhaave syndrome
THORAX ==> barium contrast
ABDOMEN ==> water-soluble contrast
** if in doubt, choose water-soluble contrast. If there is no option, then choose “contrast” or “thin-barium contrast”
26yo man is brought to the ED after being extricated from the driver’s seat of a car involved in a head-on collision. he has a sternal fracture and is complaining of chest pain. he is hemodynamically stable and his ECG is normal. which of the following is the most appropriate management strategy for this patient?
a. admit to telemetry for 24h monitoring
b. admit to the regular ward with serial ECGs for 24h
c. emergent cardiac catheterization
d. immediate operative plating of the sternal fracture
e. discharge to home with NSAIDs for the sternal fracture
A
cardiac contusion
Dx
1) monitor on telemetry for 24h ==> ST or T wave changes, arrhythmias, bundle branch, blocks.
normal EKG does NOT rule out a myocardial constusion b/c it may not have yet happened
63yo man underwent a 3 vessel CABG 5h ago. initially his mediastinal chest tube output was 300mL blood/h, but an hour ago, there was no further evidence of bleeding from the tube. his mean arterial pressure has fallen, and several fluid boluses were administered. his CVP is elevated to 20mmHg, and he has required the addition of ionotropes. which of the following is the best management strategy?
a. addition of vasopressors along with ionotropes
b. transfusion of pRBCs
c. return to the OR for exploration of the mediastinum
d. placement of an intraaortic balloon pump
e. infusion of streptokinase into the mediastinal chest tube
C
cardiogenic / obstructive shock ==> cardiac tamponade after CABG
- clotting of mediastinal chest tube, THEN hemodynamic decompensation + decreased MAP, CO + increasing filling pressures
- -> equalization of pressures across the 4 chambers on Swan-Ganz catheter monitoring
- -> collaps of RA on echocardiography
streptokinase - used as a thrombolytic
Tx
1) bleeding postop –> correct coagulopathy
2) decompensating –> return to OR for exploration & drainage of mediastinal hematoma
several days following esophagectomy, a pt complains of dyspnea and chest tightness. a large pleural effusion is noted on chest radiograph, and thoracentesis yields milky fluid consistent with chyle. which of the following is the most appropriate initial management of this patient?
a. immediate operation to repair the thoracic duct
b. immediate operation to ligate the thoracic duct
c. tube thoracostomy and low-fat diet
d. observation and low-fat diet
e. observation and antibiotics
C. chylothora after intrathoracic surgery OR malignant invasion / compression of thoracic duct
iatrogenic esophageal injury
tx
ACUTE
- ligation of thoracic duct
CHRONIC
- low-fat diet to lower chyle
- repeated thoracentesis / tube thoracostomy drainage
56yo woman presents for evaluation of a murmur suggestive of MS and is noted on echocardiography to have a lesion attached to the fossa ovalis of the LA septum. the mass is causing obstruction of the mitral valve. which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?
a. endocarditis
b. lymphoma
c. cardiac sarcoma
d. cardiac myxoma
e. metastatic cancer to the heart
D
myxoma = VERY RARE; but the most common of the cancers of the heart
–> attach by a pedicle to the fossa ovalis of the LA septum
sxs
- valvular obstruction (mitral / tricuspid valve)
- systemic embolization
tx = surgical resection
56yo woman has been treated for 3y for wheezing on exertion , which was diagnosed as asthma. CXR reveals a midline mass compressing the trachea. which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?
a. lymphoma
b. neurogenic tumor
c. lung carcinoma
d. goiter
e. pericardial cyst
D. most common = GOITER
boundaries of mediastinum
- thoracic inelt
- diaphragm
- sternum
- vertebral colum
- b/l pleura
older pt, chronic disease