Data Interpretation Flashcards
What is a normal pH and H+ value on an ABG?
pH 7.35-7.45
H+ 35-45
What is a normal PaO2 value on an ABG?
11-13 kPa
What is a normal PaCO2 value on an ABG?
4.7-6.0 kPa
What is a normal HCO3 value on an ABG?
22-26
Outline how interpretation of an ABG should be approached
O2 - is the patient hypoxaemic? in respiratory failure?
pH - acidotic or alkalotic
CO2 - does it match with pH? is it the cause?
HCO3 - does it match the pH? is it the cause?
Is there compensation? What is the cause of the disturbance?
How is PaO2 interpreted for a patient on O2?
PaO2 should be 10 kPa less than inspired %
E.g. 40% = 30 kPa
How is type 1 respiratory failure defined?
Hypoxaemia (<8 kPa) with normo/hypocapnia (<6)
How is type 2 respiratory failure defined?
Hypoxaemia (<8 kPa) with hypercapnia (>6)
Give 2 causes of type 1 respiratory failure
Pulmonary oedema
Bronchoconstriction
PE
Give 2 causes of type 2 respiratory failure
COPD Pneumonia Rib fracture Obesity Guillain-Barre Motor neuron disease Opiate overdose
What is the main mechanism of type 1 and type 2 respiratory failure?
1 - V/Q mismatch
2 - Alveolar hypoventilation
What is the base excess?
Surrogate marker of metabolic acidosis/alkalosis
What does a high base excess mean?
HCO3 is high - metabolic alkalosis or compensated respiratory acidosis
What does a low base excess mean?
HCO3 is low - metabolic acidosis or compensated respiratory alkalosis
Is it possible to have respiratory and metabolic acidosis or respiratory and metabolic alkalosis?
Yes
How is a mixed acidosis/alkalosis identified?
CO2 and HCO3 will move in opposite directions
Give 2 causes of respiratory acidosis
Opiates Guillain Barre COPD Asthma Iatrogenic
Give 2 causes of respiratory alkalosis
Panic attack Pain Hypoxia PE Pneumothorax Iatrogenic
Give 2 causes of metabolic acidosis
Increased acid production/ingestion
Decreased acid excretion
GI/renal HCO3 loss
Give 2 causes of metabolic alkalosis
Vomiting Diarrhoea Diuretics HF Nephrotic syndrome Cirrhosis Conn's syndrome Milk-alkali syndrome
Give 2 causes of mixed acidosis
Cardiac arrest
Multi-organ failure
Give 2 causes of mixed alkalosis
Cirrhosis with diuretic use
Hyperemesis gravidarum
Excessive ventilation in COPD
What is the anion gap, what is the normal value and how is it calculated?
Determines presence of unmeasured anions in metabolic acidosis
Normal value 4-12 mmol/L
Na - (Cl + HCO3)
Give 2 causes of an increased anion gap
DKA
Lactic acidosis
Aspirin overdose
Give 2 causes of a decreased anion gap
Diarrhoea/ileostomy
Renal tubular acidosis
Addison’s disease
Outline how spirometry/PEFR results are interpreted
FEV1/FVC ratio - if <70% then obstructive
If obstructive - FEV1 % predicted (severity) and reversibility (COPD vs asthma)
If not obstructive - FVC % predicted (low = restrictive)
How is reversibility defined on spirometry?
15% increase in FEV1
400ml increased capacity
Name 2 obstructive respiratory diseases
Asthma
COPD
Cystic fibrosis
Emphysema
Name 2 restrictive respiratory diseases
Interstitial lung disease Pulmonary oedema Chest wall deformity Neuromuscular disease Obesity Pregnancy
How do the flow/volume loops differ in appearance for restrictive and obstructive disease?
Restrictive - same as normal but smaller
Obstructive - church and steeple (COPD)
What is transfer factor? What can it be reduced by?
Measure of gas exchange in lungs
Reduced by emphysema, ILD, anaemia, pulmonary vascular disease
Give 2 causes of hypochromic microcytic anaemia
Thalassaemia Anaemia of chronic disease Iron deficiency anaemia Lead poisoning (TAIL)
Give 2 causes of macrocytic anaemia
Folate deficiency/foetus Alcoholic liver disease Thyroid (hypo) Reticulocytosis B12 deficiency Cirrhosis/cytotoxics (FAT RBC)
What is the most likely diagnosis if iron, transferrin and ferritin are all raised?
Haemochromatosis
What haematological disease may occur in someone with an autoimmune background?
Pernicious anaemia
What does a raised APTT, PT and D-dimer indicate when fibrinogen is reduced?
Disseminated intravascular coagulation
What is Churg-Strauss syndrome?
Rare systemic vasculitis affecting small-to-medium vessels which is associated with severe asthma and eosinophilia
What rare adverse drug reaction can cause platelet depletion?
Heparin induced thrombocytopaenia
What does an elevated urea and creatinine indicate?
Acute kidney injury
What does an elevated urea indicate?
Dehydration
Upper GI bleed
What does a reduced creatinine indicate?
Reduced muscle mass
What does a reduced sodium indicate?
Nephrotic syndrome Cirrhosis HF SIADH GI loss Diuretic use
What does an elevated sodium indicate?
Diabetes insipidus
Primary aldosteronism
Fluid loss (burns, D&V)
Excess saline
What does a reduced potassium indicate?
Diuretic use D&V Pyloric stenosis Cushing's syndrome Conn's syndrome
What does an elevated potassium indicate?
Drugs (K sparing diuretics, ACEi)
Rhabdomyolysis
Oliguric renal failure
Addison’s disease
What causes an elevated bilirubin?
Acute/chronic liver disease
Gilbert’s syndrome
What causes an elevated AST and ALT?
Hepatitis
What causes an elevated AST, ALT and ALP?
Gallstones
What causes an elevated GGT (when ALP is normal)?
Alcohol excess
What does an isolated rise in ALP indicate?
Paget’s disease
Bony metastases
Primary sclerosing cholangitis
What tests are used to diagnose primary biliary cholangitis?
Anti-mitochondrial antibody
Smooth muscle antibody
Serum IgM
What blood results are seen in upper GI bleed?
Increased urea (normal creatinine)
Decreased haemoglobin
Increased WCC (no infection)
Increased platelets
What TFT results indicate primary hypothyroidism?
TSH increased
T3 and T4 decreased
What TFT results indicate primary hyperthyroidism?
TSH decreased
T3 and T4 increased
Give 2 causes of reduced calcium
Vitamin D deficiency Osteomalacia Chronic kidney disease Hyperparathyroidism Acute rhabdomyolysis
Give 2 causes of raised calcium
Malignancy Sarcoidosis Thyrotoxicosis Lithium Tertiary hyperparathyroidism
What blood tests can be used to diagnose rheumatoid arthritis?
Rheumatoid factor
Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide
What blood tests can be used to diagnose SLE?
Anti-Smith antibody
Anti-dsDNA antibody
What blood test can be used to diagnose primary biliary cirrhosis?
ANCA may be positive
What component of hepatitis B serology is a marker of infection?
SAg - surface antigen
What component of hepatitis B serology is a marker of immunity?
sAb - surface antibody
What component of hepatitis B serology is a marker of previous infection?
cAb - core antibody (IgM acute, IgG persists)
What component of hepatitis B serology is a marker of high infectivity?
eAg - e antigen
What component of hepatitis B serology is a marker of low infectivity?
eAb - e antibody
What is HBV DNA used for?
Diagnosis (along with sAg)
Monitoring response to treatment
What hepatitis B serology results would indicate previous immunisation?
Only sAb positive
What hepatitis B serology results would indicate previous infection?
cAb positive, sAg negative
What hepatitis B serology results would indicate chronic infection?
sAg and cAb positive
How is urosepsis treated?
Gentamicin
How is clostridium difficile infection treated?
Vancomycin
How is meningitis treated?
Ceftriaxone and dexamethasome
+ amoxicillin if listeria
+ benzylpenicillin if meningococcal septicaemia
What information can be obtained from the colour of urine?
Straw - normal
Dark - dehydration
Red - haematuria/rifampicin/porphyria/beetroot
Brown - bile pigment/myoglobin/antimalarials
What information can be obtained from the clarity of urine?
Clear - normal
Cloudy/debris - UTI
Frothy - protein = nephrotic syndrome