COPD Flashcards
Difference between chronic bronchitis and emphysema
bronchitis = central areas
emphysema = terminal airway of bronchioles and alveoli
Explain how tobacco leads to COPD-Emphysema
fill in
pathophys of COPD-chronic bronchitis
inflammation stops airway d/t smooth muscle hypertrophy
How many etiologies of COPD are there?
MANY, treat differently
chronic bronchitis vs emphysema clinical presentation
Blue bloater
Male patient
Overweight
Cyanosis
Emphysema: thin patients, barral chest chest, muscle wasting, sickly
What are the three historical symptoms ESSENTIAL for dx COPD?
Coughing (often accompanied by increased effort to breathe, air hunger, gasping, and wheezing)
Dyspnea (air trapping and airflow limitation result in progressive exertional shortness of breath - ask if this limited activity)
Sputum production: excess mucus
Why can you have weight gain or loss in COPD?
Muscle wasting from COPD
Weight gain = more sedentary, activity limitation
What are the associated symptoms of COPD that are sometimes seen in COPD (but not required for dx)
Activity limitation (including intercourse)
Wheezing +/- chest tightness
Syncope
Anxiety / depressive symptoms (QOL is lower
What are the risk factors of COPD?
Family history
Smoking history
Consider age at initiation, average amount smoked per day since initiation, cessation date if applicable
Environmental history
Secondhand smoke exposure, air pollution, occupational exposure
History of childhood pulmonary infections, HIV, or TB
Asthma
How does the PE of COPD differ from mild compared to mod/severe?
Mild Disease
PE is often normal; may pick up on prolonged expiration, faint end-expiratory wheeze with forced expiration
Moderate / Severe Disease
Lung hyperinflation → ↑ resonance with percussion
Decreased breath sounds, wheezes
Crackles at lung bases
Distant heart sounds
Increased AP diameter
What lung sounds do you hear in barrel chest COPD?
Bilateral wheezing and fine crackles/rales
How does end-stage COPD present in PE?
End-stage Disease / Chronic Respiratory Failure
Tripod posturing
May have calloused forearms, swollen bursae on extensor surface of forearms
Use of accessory muscles for breathing
Expiring through pursed lips
Hoover’s sign → lower intercostal interspace retraction during inspiration
Cyanosis (typically lips or nails)
Rarely nail clubbing¹
What do you typically see on fingers with smoking history?
Signs of heavy smoking
Yellowing of fingers / nails
How long do you need cough for chronic bronchitis?
Productive cough >3 months for 2 consecutive years
Why do you see pneumothorax from emphysema?
Alveoli ruptures
What test do you do for COPD?
PFTs
Spirometry
What do you do to screen COPD?
Capture screening
Only screen adults who present with at least 1 of the 3 cardinal symptoms OR if they have a gradual decline in activity with risk factors for COPD
Consider CAPTURE Questionnaire
What labs do you order for COPD?
Labs - CBC, BMP, TSH (decreased respiratory drive), BNP/NT-proBNP (excess fluid), serum alpha-1 antitrypsin (if family history), CMP possibly, because the antitrypsin may be low
CXR
polycythemia
Is COPD reversible with an inhaler?
No, because there is dmg to the alveoli that cannot be fixed merely with a bronchodilator like albuterol
What is the FVC and FEV1/FVC of COPD?
FVC > 80% with FEV₁/FVC < 0.7
When might you concern Dlco in COPD?
In presence of moderate / severe airflow limitations (FEV₁ ≤50% predicted)
Resting O2 ≤92%
Exertional hypoxemia (<90%)
Severe dyspnea (mMRC ≥2)
When would you order an aterial blood gas (ABG)?
Low FEV₁ (< 40% predicted)
Low O₂ saturation on pulse ox (< 92%)
Depressed LOC
Assessment of hypercapnia in “CO₂ retainers” who are given supplemental oxygen (risk of hypercapnic respiratory failure)
Signs of right heart failure
done inpatient
What do you see in mild vs moderate/severe COPD in ABG?
Mild COPD: low pO₂ and normal pCO₂
Moderate to severe COPD: worsening pO₂ and elevated pCO₂