Case 10- COPD Flashcards
Investigations for suspected COPD
Post bronchodilator spirometry- FEV1/FVC less than 70%
TLCO (transfer factor of CO)- decreased for COPD.
sputum culture
FBC- secondary polycythaemia, infection, serum alpha 1 anti trypsin (only if a young person)
CXR
CT Thorax
ECG/ TOE- assess cardiac function (cor pulmonale)
Gives indication of severity of the disease
NB- if an infection: UE, CRP, sputum and blood cultures
MRC dyspnoea scale
1- breathlessness on strenuous exercise
2- breathlessness on walking up hill
3- breathlessness that slows speed of walking on flat
4- stop to catch breath after 100m walking on flat
5- unable to leave house due to breathlessness
When is mechanical ventilation indicated?
Respiratory failure with hypercapnic acidosis
Hypoxaemia
Marked dyspnoea
Respiratory muscle fatigue
Drugs that can cause pulmonary fibrosis
Amiodarone
Cyclophosphamide
Methotrexate
Nitrofurantoin
Sx of COPD
SOB, productive cough, wheeze, use of accessory muscles, signs of cor pulmonale
COPD differentials
Asthma, CCF, bronchiectasis, TB, GORD, ACE-I use, lung cancer, bronchitis
Acute exacerbation of COPD differentials
CCF, acute exacerbation asthma, pneumonia, pleural effusion, pneumothorax, PE, ACS, cardiac arrhythmia
Sx of IPF
Progressive dyspnoea on exertion, non-productive cough, end expiration basilar crackles, weight loss, fatigue, malaise, clubbing, arthralgia
Beta blockers
Careful in COPD/ asthma
NB- steroids not shown to be very helpful
Lung transplant
Rarely possible in young patients if they stop smoking
LAMA
Tiotropium
SAMA
Iprateopium
CXR findings for COPD
Flattened diaphragm
Hyper inflated lungs
Horizontal ribs
Bullae (air spaces- increased black spaces)
Chronic bronchitis
Defined clinically- productive cough for 3 months of 2 years
Emphysema
Defined histologically- large air spaces
Features of acute COPD exacerbation
Increased dyspnoea, cough, wheeze
Increase in sputum- infective cause
Hypoxia, potentially confusion
Most common bacterial organisms that cause infective exacerbations of COPD
H influenzae
S pneumoniae
Moraxella catarrhalis
NB- human rhinovirus is an important cause too
Management of an acute exacerbation of COPD
Increased bronchodilator use via a nebuliser
Prednisolone 30mg for 5 days
Antibiotics if sputum purulent or clinical signs of infection ie. fever/consolidation on Xray (amoxicillin, clarithromycin, doxycycline)
NB- can also have IECOPD in absence on CXR changes/consolidation (consolidation makes its pneumonia)