Investigations & Procedures In Diagnosis Of Lung Disease

Question 1

What details would you check when checking a patient’s history?

Answer 1

• symptoms - shortness of breath, chest tightness, cough (productive or dry), fever, wheeze, weakness or fatigue
• exposure - chemicals, dusts, moulds, animals
• drug use - smoking cannabis or heroin, alcohol or tobacco
• travel - anywhere TB is rife
• family history
• other co-morbidities - angina or diabetes

Question 2

What is incorporated in a physical examination?

Answer 2

• weight, appearance, mood
• colour of skin, are fingers clubbed?
• breathing rates and sounds such as wheezing or stridor
• can the patient walk up a flight of stairs?

Question 3

In haematology, what constitutes a full blood count?

Answer 3

• haemoglobin (Hb) - important in carrying oxygen, anaemia may lead to shortness of breath
• polycythaemia - too many red blood cells can indicate chronic lung disease
• white cell count - increased in bacterial infections and malignancy (increased neutrophils), increased eosinophils (allergic reaction) in asthmatics
• RAST test - checks specific antibodies IgE’s and can conform an allergy to a specific antigen

Question 4

What does an arterial blood gas test measure?

Answer 4

Partial pressure of O2, CO2 and CO3 from a blood sample taken from an artery (usually radial).