Cardiovascular Disease + Respiratory Conditions Flashcards

Question

What anatomical structures comprise the respiratory system?

Answer 1

Upper Respiratory Tract: -Nasal cavity -Paranasal sinuses -Pharynx -Portion of the larynx above the vocal cords Lower Respiratory Tract: -Larynx below the vocal cords -Trachea -Bronchi -Bronchioles -Lungs

Answer 2

A chronic respiratory condition associated with inflammation and muscle tightening around the airways, and mucus hyper secretion in the bronchi -Shortness of breath (SOB) -Chest tightness or pain -Trouble sleeping due to SOB, coughing or wheezing -Whistling or wheezing sound when exhaling (particularly in children) -Coughing or wheezing which is worse during colds and flu’s -Asthma attacks

Answer 3

Tracheal and bronchial lesions Upper respiratory tract infections Pulmonary embolism Sarcoidosis Foreign body aspiration Congestive Heart Failure Sinus disease

Answer 4

Triggers for asthma can include: -Allergies – house dust mites, pollen etc -Smoke or pollution -Exercise -Infections The antibody immunoglobulin E (IgE) is thought to have a primary role in the inflammatory process of allergen triggered asthma

Answer 5

Short Acting Reliever Inhaler -Used for quick relief of symptoms -Usually blue in colour -Contain a short acting beta2-agonist -Widens airway making breathing easier -Works in minutes -Effect lasts for 15 minutes Long Acting Reliever Inhaler Not a rescue inhaler Helps manage symptoms and prevent attacks Usually contain steroids

Answer 6

Peak Flow Test - Simple test to measure how fast you can blow air out of your lungs in one breath, measured with a peak flow meter Spirometry - Measures the movement of air into and out of the lungs (ventilation), the main component of pulmonary function tests Pulse Oximetry Assessment - Useful in acute asthma, helps to exclude hypoxemia Chest X-Ray - Typically does not show evidence of asthma but is useful for exclusion of pneumonia or a foreign body in the airway Full Blood Count and Serum IgE - Eosinophilia >4% (300-400 /uL) supports diagnosis of asthma but absence does not exclude asthma and high levels of IgE (>81 KU/l) may help guide therapy

Answer 7

A lung disorder characterised by chronic obstruction of lung airflow that interferes with normal breathing and is not fully reversible. Occasionally termed chronic bronchitis or emphysema however both terms are outdated. -Shortness of breath, especially during physical activity -Wheezing, Chest tightness -Dyspnoea (laboured breathing) -Having to clear throat 1st thing in morning due to mucus -A chronic productive cough - mucus/sputum may be clear, white, yellow or green

Answer 8

Grade 1 - Not troubled by breathlessness except on strenuous exercise Grade 2 - Short of breath when hurrying on a level or when walking up a slight hill Grade 3 - Walks slower than most people on the level, stops after a mile or so, or stops after 15 minutes walking at own pace Grade 4 - Stops for breath after walking 100 yards or after a few minutes on level ground Grade 5 - Too breathless to leave the house or breathless when dressing or undressing

Answer 9

COPD is characterised by poorly reversible airflow obstruction and an abnormal inflammatory response in the lungs. The latter represents the innate and adaptive immune responses to long term exposure to noxious particles and gases, particularly cigarette smoke Normal inflammatory response is amplified Increased numbers of leukocytes and macrophages Can result in some lung tissue destruction

Answer 10

Exposure to tobacco smoke Occupation exposure to dusts and chemicals Exposure to fumes from burning fuel Age Genetics/ familiar predisposition

Answer 11

Asthma Chronic cough Congestive heart failure Pulmonary embolism

Answer 12

Smoking cessation advice Medications to manage infection and inflammation Oxygen therapy Lung transplant Palliative care in end stage COPD

Answer 13

Patients with COPD… May struggle with their mobility and everyday activities of daily living, this combined with increased intrathoracic pressure associated with COPD can decrease venous return to the heart and lead to venous insufficiency of the lower limb May be on antibiotics or corticosteroids Have increased risk of post operative complications and the development of pressure ulcers

Answer 14

A complication of DVT A sudden blockage of a pulmonary artery caused by an embolus usually traveling from a vein in the leg Shortness of breath (sudden onset) Sudden chest pain – worse when breathing Rapid heart rate Rapid breathing Sweating Coughing up blood or foam Fainting

Answer 15

Thrombus formation usually occurs in the deep veins of the lower limb, the clot then dislodges and travels to the lungs Virchow’s Triad = Factors that contribute to thrombus development… -Endothelial injury -Stasis or turbulence of blood flow -Hypercoagulability

Answer 16

Immobilisation (such as after surgery). Surgery and trauma Pregnancy Oral contraceptives Tumours Hereditary factors Systemically unwell Hypercoagulable states

Answer 17

Clinical Scoring Systems – PE Wells Score D-Dimer test Duplex Ultrasound (for DVT) Chest Xray / Chest CT

Answer 18

Thrombolysis – clot busting drugs / thrombolytic agents Anticoagulants – unfractionated heparin, LMWH, fondaparinux, warfarin Embolectomy – catheter procedures to destroy or remove the embolus Vena Cava Filter – a filter placed via catheter to the inferior vena cava (usually below level of kidney). Helps to prevent PE Long term management includes compression stockings, anticoagulation therapy, long term monitoring of INR