Chronic SOB Flashcards
asthma, COPD, ILD, HSP
What is the definition of asthma?
A chronic inflammatory airway disease with intermittent airway obstruction and hyper-reactivity
What are the associations with asthma?
Worse in the morning and night Recurrent episodes Hx atopy/eczema FHx Smoker Pets Occupation
What can be seen on examination of a Pt with asthma?
May be normal
Dyspnoea
Nasal polyposis
Polyphonic, high-pitched expiratory wheeze
What investigations would you do on a Pt with asthma?
Peak expiratory flow rate
Spirometry (FEV1:FVC ratio + reversibility with SABA)
FeNO test
Bloods
What does an FEV1:FVC ratio of <0.7 indicate?
An obstructive pulmonary disease
What are the types of obstructive pulmonary diseases?
Asthma
COPD
What is the order of treatment for asthma (in accordance to the BTS guidelines)?
SABA SABA + ICS LABA + ICS Trials (LTRA, LAMA, theophylline) \+OCS
When should you consider moving up to the next step of treatment (in accordance to the BTS guidelines)?
If the Pt needs to use the SABA 3+ times in a week
What are the 4 categories of acute asthma?
Moderate
Acute-severe
Life threatening
Near fatal
How do you define moderate asthma?
If the PEF is 50-75%
no features of severe asthma
How do you define acute-severe asthma?
If the PEF is 33-50% of predicted
RR >25
HR >110
Inability to complete sentences in one breath
How do you define life threatening asthma?
If the PEF is <33% of predicted
SpO2 <92%
PaO2 <8kPa
normal PaCO2 (not low)
How do you define near fatal asthma?
If the pCO2 is raised
What investigations would you do on a Pt with acute asthma?
Basic obs PEF O2 sat ABG Serum K+ and glucose
A patient has come in with an exacerbation of asthma. What is the first treatment you would administer?
Oxygen.
A patient has come in with a moderate exacerbation of asthma. Oxygen has been administered.
What is the next line of management?
Neb salbutamol 5mg
Oral prednisolone 40-50mg (5 days)
IV hydrocortisone 100mg
A patient has come in with an acute-severe/life-threatening exacerbation of asthma. Oxygen has been administered.
What is the next line of management?
Neb salbutamol 5mg
Oral prednisolone 40-50mg (5 days)
IV hydrocortisone 100mg
PLUS:
Neb ipratropium bromide 0.5mg
A patient has come in with an acute-severe exacerbation of asthma. Oxygen, salbutamol, prednisolone, hydrocortisone, and ipratropium bromide has been administered and the patient has not recovered. What is the next line of management?
IV magnesium sulphate AND call for senior help
A patient has come in with an acute-severe exacerbation of asthma. Oxygen, salbutamol, prednisolone, hydrocortisone, ipratropium bromide, and magnesium sulphate has been administered and the patient has not recovered. A senior has arrived to help. What is the next line of management?
IV aminophylline
A patient has come in with an acute-severe exacerbation of asthma. Oxygen, salbutamol, prednisolone, hydrocortisone, ipratropium bromide, magnesium sulphate, and IV aminophylline has been administered and the patient has not recovered. A senior has arrived to help. What is the next line of management?
ITU and intubate
A 17 year-old girl presents to the local A&E complaining of worsening shortness of breath, despite use of what she describes as her ‘blue inhaler’. On examination her oxygen saturations are 95%, she is afebrile and has a BP of 101/67. The attending physician takes an ABG and the results are shown below. Grade the severity of this patient’s asthma attack.
pH: 7.25
pCO2: 7.4 kPa (4.5-6.0)
pO2: 10.4 kPa (>10.5)
HCO3: 23 mmol/l
A. I cannot tell from the information available B. Moderate C. Acute severe D. Life threatening E. Near fatal
E. Near fatal
Her pCO2 is raised, classifying this exacerbation as near fatal.
A 26-year-old bus driver presents to the GP complaining of a worsening shortness of breath. On examination, the patient is afebrile, has a BP of 110/85 and has a marked wheeze on auscultation. The only medications the patient is on is a blue inhaler. What is the next most appropriate treatment step as per the treatment guidelines for this condition?
A. Replace the blue inhaler with a brown, low-dose inhaled corticosteroid
B. Replace the blue inhaler with a long-acting beta-agonist medication
C. Replace the blue inhaler with a long-acting muscarinic agonist medication
D. Add an inhaled low-dose corticosteroid to her medications, taken OD
E. Add oral corticosteroid tablets to her medications, taken OD
D. Add an inhaled low-dose corticosteroid to her medications, taken OD
What is the definition of COPD?
Chronic airway obstruction that is not fully reversible, encompassing emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
What signs on general inspection may indicate COPD?
Tar staining Cyanosis Barrel chest Tripod-ing Signs of RHF
What signs on palpation and percussion may indicate COPD?
Reduced expansion
Hyper-resonance
What signs on auscultation may indicate COPD?
Reduced air movement
Wheezing
Coarse (hair-like) crackles
What FEV1 percentage indicates a mild COPD?
> 80%
What FEV1 percentage indicates a moderate COPD?
50-80%
What FEV1 percentage indicates a severe COPD?
30-50%
What FEV1 percentage indicates a very severe COPD?
<30%
What investigations would you do on a Pt with COPD?
Spirometry (FEV1:FVC <0.7) Bloods ABG CXR Serum alpha-1 antitrypsin
OTHER: ECG if features of cor pulmonale, peak flow if suspect asthma, CT if CXR abnormality
What is the management for mild COPD?
SABA or SAMA
What is the management for moderate/severe COPD?
if asthmatic features: LABA +ICS
if no asthmatic features: LABA + LAMA
What is the management for very severe COPD?
LABA+LAMA+ICS
What other long-term management is available for COPD?
- Smoking cessation
- Annual influenza + pneumococcal vaccination
- Long term 02 therapy (15hr/day)
- Lung volume reduction surgery