COPD Flashcards
acute bronchitis
Acute bronchitis or tracheobronchitis is a
poorly defined but common clinical condition
caused by acute inflammation of the
trachea and bronchi.
acute bronchitis: etiology
- infectious agents -> influenza A and B viruses, parainfluenza viruses, respiratory syncytial virus, adenovirus, rhinovirus and other.
- non specific irritants (dust or smoke)
acute bronchitis; symptoms
- cough (initially nonproductive but later productive of muccopurulent sputum)
- substernal discomfort worsened by coughing
acute bronchitis: physical findings
minimal or absent
- ronchi (may disappear after productive cough and wheezing)
- fever (usually minimal or absent except in influenza)
- chest xray: in whom influenza is suspected, with underlying copd and those with physical findings suggestive of pneumonia.
acute bronchitis: TTT
- is symptomatic, aimed at controlling cough, chest discomfort and fever
- inhaled bronchodilator: metaproterenol or albuterol (2 puff every 4h) if chest tightening or wheezing.
- persistent dry cough -> diagnosis cough variant asthma
COPD: essential for diagnosis: 2 components
- > chronic bronchitis
- > pulmonary emphysema
- history of cigarette smocking
- chronic cough and sputum production (in chronic bronchitis)
- dyspnea (in emphysema)
COPD: defintion
disease characterized by the presence of airflow obstruction due to chronic bronchitis or emphysema
- airflow is generally progressive may be accompanied by airway hyperactivity and may be partially reversible
- 3rd death cause
COPD: clinical characteristics
- excessive secretion of bronchial mucus
- productive cough for 3 months or more in at least 2 consecutive years
- emphysema
COPD: causes
- smoking, air pollution
- airway infection
- familial factors
- allergy
- hereditary factors (deficiency of alfa 1-antiprotease)
symptoms and signs of copd:
- excessive cough, productive cough often occurs in the morning
- sputum production
- dyspnea initially only on extreme exertion, in severe dis it occurs at rest
symptoms and signs of copd : inflammation and exacerbation
-> rpz a further amplification of the inflammatory response in the airways of patients, may triggered by infection with bacteria or viruses or environmental pollutants
symptoms and signs of copd : late stage
pulmonary hypertension, cor pulmonale and chronic respiratory failure
death usually occurs during an exacerbation of illness in association with acute respiratory failure
hemoptysis -> occasionally
symptoms and signs of copd :
- barrel chest: this deformity most commonly in individuals with emphysema
- use of accessory respiratory muscles due to diaphragmatic dysfunction
- hyper resonant lungs, reduced diaphragmatic excursion
- decreased breath sounds on auscultation: prolonged expiratory phase, end-expiratory wheezing, coarse rhonchi on auscultation
- congested neck veins, peripheral edema, hepatomegaly, signs of right heart failure and cor pulmonale.
symptoms and signs of copd :
cyanosis
confusion (due tp hypoxemia and hypercapnia)
nail clubbing is non specific
2 categories of patients ?
- PINK PUFFER: -> emphysema
- noncyanotic, cachectic, pursed lip breathing, mild
- PaO2: sightly reduced
- PaCO2: normal
- bBLUE BLOATER -> chronic bronchitis
- productive, overweight, peripheral
- PaO2: markedly reduced
- PaCO2: increased
laboratory findings: putum exam, ecg…
- secondary policytemia (as a result of hypoxemia)
- examination of sputum -> streptococcus pneumonia, hemophilus influenzas or mortadella catarrhales
- ECG: sinus tachycardia, electrocardiographic abnormalities typical of cor pulmonale
supraventricular arrhythmias and ventricular irritability
Investigations: Pulsoximetry, arterial blood gas (abg)…
- pulsocimetry measures SO2
- ABG: show no abnormalities in early COPD
- hypoxemia, hypercapnia occurs in advanced dis
compensated respiratory acidosis occurs in patients with chronic respiratory failure -> chronic bronchitis
investigations: spirometry, pulmonary function test, lung volume measurements…
- spirometry: provides objective info about pulmonary function and assesses the results of therapy
- pulmonary function test: in the early course of the dis reveals only evidence of dysfunction in small airways
reduction in FEV1 and in the ratio of forced expiratory volume to forced vital capacity (FEV1 : FVC) occur later. in severe dis, the forced vital capacity is reduced - lung volume measurements: increased in total lung capacity (TLC), a marked increase in the residual volume (RV) and elevation of the RV/TLC ration, indicative of air trapping
bronchodilator test
assesses the reversibility of pulmonary obstructive dysfunction
- inhalation Salbutamol and repeat spirometry after 10-15 min
- Delta FEV1 < 12%, means irreversible obstruction COPD is more likely than asthma
- Delta FEV1> 12% means reversible obstruction, asthma is more likely than COPD
imaging: what is apparent when emphysema is the main clinical feature ?
Hyperinflation is apparent
- parencymal bull are pathognomic of emphysema