Emergency Medicine/Respiratory Flashcards
What does bronchiectasis refer to?
Bronchiectasis is a chronic infection of the bronchi and bronchioles leading to permanent dilatation of these airways.
What are the main organisms that cause bronchiectasis? (4 bacteria)
- H.influenzae
- Strep. pneumoniae
- Staph. aureus
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa
What are the congenital causes of bronchiectasis?
- Cystic fibrosis
- Primary ciliary diskinesia
- Kartagener’s syndrome
What are the post-infective causes of bronchiectasis?
- Measles
- Pertussis
- Pneumonia
What are the treatments available/what is the management of bronchiectasis? (4)
- Postural drainage to remove sputum/mucus
- Antibiotics
- Bronchodilators e.g. nebulised salbutamol
- Surgery
In spirometry tests of someone with an obstructive respiratory disease, e.g. COPD or asthma, what would their FEV1/FVC ratio be percentage wise?
FEV1 is reduced more than FVC, and the ratio is <75%
What is FEV1 and FVC?
FEV1 is the forced expiatory volume in 1 second and FVC is forced vital capacity.
What is the FEV1/FVC ratio in a healthy individual?
Between 75-80%
In a patient with a restrictive defect, e.g. lung fibrosis, how is the FVC affected?
FVC is reduced, so the FEV1/FVC ratio is either normal or high. So it could be >80%.
In addition to pulmonary fibrosis, what are the other restrictive lung conditions? (6)
- Sarcoidosis
- Interstitial pneumonias
- Connective tissue diseases
- Pleural effusion
- Obesity
- Kyphoscoliosis
Which bacteria is the commonest cause of pneumonia, particularly in alcoholics, the elderly, and immunocompromised patients?
Pneumococcal
In which people are staphylococcal pneumonias more common?
IVDU, young, elderly
What are the complications of pneumonia? (6)
- Respiratory failure (type 1 is relatively common)
- Hypotension (due to dehydration and vasodilation due to sepsis)
- Atrial fibrillation (common in elderly, usually resolves upon treatment of pneumonia)
- Pleural effusion
- Empyema (should be suspected if a patient with resolved pneumonia develops recurrent fever - aspirated fluid is usually yellow with a pH <7.2)
- Lung abscess
There are typically 4 types of lung carcinoma, what are they, in order of prevalence?
- Squamous cell (35%)
- Adenocarcinoma (27%)
- Small cell (20%)
- Large cell (10%)
What are the most common presenting symptoms of lung carcinoma? (4)
- Cough (80%)
- Haemoptysis (70%)
- Dyspnoea (60%)
- Chest pain (40%)
What are the less specific symptoms that may present in someone with lung carcinoma? (3)
- Anorexia
- Lethargy
- Weight loss
What are the signs associated with lung carcinoma? (4)
- Cachexia
- Anaemia
- Clubbing
- Palpable supraclavicular/axillary lymph nodes
What complications can lung carcinoma without metastasis cause? (5)
- Recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy
- Phrenic nerve palsy
- Horner’s syndrome (Pancoast’s tumour)
- Rib erosion
- Pericarditis
Why is it important to distinguish between small cell and non-small cell carcinoma of the lung?
Their treatment plans are very different and prognosis differs greatly.
What is the prognosis for non-small cell lung carcinomas?
50% 2 year survival without spread
10% 2 year survival with spread
What is the prognosis for small cell lung carcinoma?
Median survival is 3 months if untreated, 1-1.5 years if treated
What symptoms do people with asthma commonly report? (3)
- Dyspnoea
- Cough
- Wheeze
What are the three factors that contribute to airway narrowing?
- Bronchial muscle contraction
- Mucosal swelling/inflammation
- Increased mucus production
What factors are known to trigger asthma/exacerbate it? (8)
- Cold air
- Exercise
- Emotion
- Allergens (house dust mites, pollen, fur)
- Infection
- Smoking and passive smoking
- Pollution
- NSAIDs/beta-blockers
What % of people with asthma, also have acid reflux?
40-60%
What are the signs on examination of asthma?
- Tachypnoea
- Audible wheeze
- Hyperinflated chest
- Hyperresonant percussion
- Decreased air entry
- Widespread, polyphonic wheeze
In an acute severe asthma attack, what sign might be seen?
- Inability to complete sentences
- Pulse >110bpm
- RR >25/min
In a life-threatening asthma attach, how may someone present?
- Silent chest
- Confusion
- Exhaustion
- Cyanosis (pO2 <8kPa and O2 % <92%)
- Bradycardia
What would distinguish between life-threatening and near-fatal asthma attack?
pCO2 is elevated (so type 2 respiratory failure due to exhaustion)
What is the treatment for chronic asthma? (5 steps)
Step 1 : short-acting inhaled beta2-agonist as required
Step 2 : add standard-dose inhaled steroid e.g. beclometasone
Step 3 : add long-acting beta2-agonist
Step 4 : increase steroid dose up to 2000ug/day
Step 5 : add regular oral prednisolone
What is the treatment of acute severe asthma attack? (4)
- Salbutamol 5mg nebulized with O2
- Hydrocortisone 100mg IV OR prednisolone 40-50mg PO (or both if very ill)
CALL FOR HELP - Add in ipratropium 0.5mg nebulizers
- Single dose magnesium sulfate IV 1.2-2g
What is a thunderclap headache associated with?
Subarachnoid haemorrhage