Critical care: respiratory Flashcards
What is ARDS?
-Syndrome of respiratory failure
-Formation of non-cardiogenic oedema–> reduced lung compliance and hypoxaemia refractory to oxygen therapy
Berlin definition:
-Bilateral diffuse pulmonary infiltrates on CXR/CT
-Acute onset within 7 days
-PaO2:FiO2 ratio <300mmhg with PEEP or CPAP >5cmH2O
-Alveolar oedema not explained by fluid overload or cardiogenic causes
Pulmonary wedge pressure:
-Pressure measured by wedging a pulmonary artery catheter with an inflated balloon into a small pulmonary arterial branch
PaO2:FiO2 ratio
PaO2/FiO2 ratio is the ratio of arterial oxygen partial pressure (PaO2 in mmHg) to fractional inspired oxygen
Ie how much inspired oxygen gets into the blood stream
How would you classify ARDS causes
Direct lung injury
Indirect lung injury
ARDS direct lung injury causes
-Pneumonia
-Aspiration of gastric contents
-Fat emboli
-Smoke inhalation injury
ARDS indirect lung injury causes
-Sepsis
-Severe trauma
-Major burns
-Acute pancreatitis
-Multiple blood transfusion
Describe phases of ARDS pathophysiology
Exudative phase
Proliferative phase
Fibrotic phase
Describe exudative phase ARDS pathophysiology
-Alveolar damage initiated from the initial tissue injury
-Cytokines and inflammatory mediators–> alveolar and endothelial injury.
Describe proliferative phase ARDS pathophysiology
-Restoration of alveolar-capillary membrane integrity, by the fibroblasts and type-2 pneumocytes
-New surfactant is produced
Describe fibrotic phase of ARDS
-fibrin deposition leading to ‘scarring’ of the lung tissue.
-can lead to long-term oxygen or even ventilation dependency.
What is CPAP and how does it work?
-Form of invasive or non-invasive ventilation
-continuous pressure is given throughout respiratory cycle to increase functional residual volume and improve hypoxia
-This decreases work of breathing and prevents alveolar collapse
What type of respiratory failure is CPAP applicable for?
Type 1
Define respiratory failure
Type 1 (hypoxaemic)
-PaO2 <8 kpa
-Normal or reduced PaCO2
Type 2
-PaO2 <8 kPa
-PaCO2 is >6.7kPa
What are the indications for a tracheostomy
Maintain airway in:
-Congenital pathologies (tracheal stenosis)
-Following surgical procedures e.g. laryngectomy
-Emergency setting e.g. laryngeal trauma/oedema, inhalation injury
-If prolonged intubation expected
What are the two methods of performing a tracheostomy?
-Percutaneous
-Surgical
Name the types of tracheostomy tubes
-Metal or plastic
-Cuffed or uncuffed
-Fenestrated or unfenestrated
What are the advantages of tracheostomies?
-Expedites extubation and weaning
-Decreases work of breathing
-Avoids continued vocal cord injury
-Improves bronchopulmonary hygeine
-Improves ability of pt to communicate
What are the disadvantages of tracheostomies?
-Long-term risk of tracheal stenosis
-Blockage of tracheostomy tube leading to airway compromise
-Dislodged tracheostomy tube
Name some complications related to performing a tracheostomy
-Bleeding
-Pneumothorax
-Vascular injury
-Oesophageal trauma
-Death
When would you consider extubation?
-Resolution/stabilisation of disease process
-Intact cough/gag reflex - protected airway
-Spontaneous respirations
-FiO2 <40%
-PEEP <8
-PaO2 >10kPa (if no pre-existing lung disease)
-pH >7.35
-Good muscle strength
-Neurologically intact
Indications for intubation
-Acute respiratory failure
-Acute ventilatory failure
-Surgery
-Raised ICP to avoid hypoxia/hypercarbia
-Trauma (chest injury and lung contusion)
-Severe LVF with pulmonary oedema
-GCS <8
-ARDS
-Prophylactic establishment of airway e.g. smoke inhalation
-Raised ICP to avoid hypoxia/hypercarbia
What is IPPV
-Lungs are intermittently inflated with positive pressure
-Intubation is required to facilitate IPPV
Pulmonary embolus definition
-A pulmonary embolism (PE) refers to a blockage of the pulmonary artery by a substance that has travelled there in the bloodstream.
-Most commonly an embolus from DVT in leg
-Other causes include AF, right mural thrombus post MI, neoplastic cells or fat cells e.g. from tibial fracture
What ECG changes would you expect in pe?
-Often no changes
-Sinus tachycardia
RV strain: TWI V1-V4 and/or avf + 3
S1Q3T3
-Large S wave V1
-Large Q wave in V3
-T wave inversion lead 3
What are the risk factors for developing PE?
Wells score is useful predictor of PE/DVT assessing:
-Symptoms of DVT
-Advanced age
-Immobilisation >: 3 days
-Recent surgery
-Previous history DVT/PE
-Malignancy
Other risk factors include pelvic or leg trauma, pregnency, genetic predisposition
Describe mechanism of action of heparin
Binds to anti-thrombin 3 which inhibits factors IX, X, XI and XII and prevents conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin