Medical Conditions

Question 1

Describe the clinical presentations of bronchopneumonia in an X-ray film

Answer 1

Small nodular opacities that are patchy. The distribution is often bilateral and asymmetrical, and are often at the base of the lungs.

Question 2

What are the differences between transudate and exudate?

Answer 2

Transudate has low protein content (<30g/L) and is usually caused by congestive cardiac failure. Most commonly right-sided.

Exudates has high protein content (>30g/L) and is most often caused by infections, particularly tuberculosis and malignancy.

Question 3

Massive pleural effusion can be caused by?

Answer 3

Malignancy, Tuberculosis or haemothorax

Question 4

What is casaeting granulomas indicative of?

Answer 4

Tuberculosis

Question 5

What is pleural effusion and what is pneumothorax?

Answer 5

Pleural effusion occurs when fluid enters the pleural space.

Pneumothorax occurs when air escapes into the pleural cavity.

Question 6

What is a large pneumothorax defined as in accordance to the British Thoracic Society’s guidelines?

Answer 6

A large pneumothorax is defined as being greater than 2cm width at the level of the hilum.

Question 7

What is primary or spontaneous pneumothorax?

Answer 7

A pneumothorax that arise spontaneously without underlying lung disease

Question 8

In which conditions does the trachea deviate away from the affected side?

Answer 8

In tension Pneumothorax and in large effusions

Question 9

In which conditions does the trachea deviate towards the affected side?

Answer 9

In the case of collapsed lungs and fibrotic contractions.

Question 10

Is the left or right hila more superior?

Answer 10

The left hilum is slightly more superior than the right

Question 11

What are the 2 reasons for large, dense hila?

Answer 11

Could be due to vascular engorgement, or enlarged hilar lymph nodes (which can be an inflammation or malignant)

Question 12

What does Atelectasis means?

Answer 12

It refers to diminished volume affecting all or part of the lungs

Question 13

What is ARDS?

Answer 13

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Question 14

What is empyema?

Answer 14

Pleural empyema is a collection of pus in the pleural cavity caused by micro-organisms, usually bacteria.

Question 15

What are the 2 types of respiratory failure? Describe.

Answer 15

Type I Respiratory failure, in which there is 1 thing to worry about: hypoxemia. Examples of type 1 respiratory failure are cardiogenic or non-cardiogenic pulmonary oedema, pneumonia and pulmonary haemorrhage.

Type II Respiratory Failure, in which there are 2 things to worry about: hypoxemia and hypercapnia.

Question 16

What are the causes of Type II Respiratory Failure?

Answer 16

Severe respiratory conditions such as asthma and COPD.
Neuromuscular disorders such as Duchenne’s and Myasthenia Gravis.
Chest deformities
Drug overdose such as opioid overdose leading to CNS depression

Question 17

What medication is used to reverse the effects of opioid overdose? Give dosage and route of administration

Answer 17

Naloxone, given IV, SC or IM.

For adults, initially 400 microgram, then 800 microgram for up to 2 doses at 1 min interval

Question 18

What are the common antibiotics given for chest infections?

Answer 18

Amoxicillin and Doxycycline

Question 19

Which medication is for short term symptomatic relief of asthma and which is given as a maintenance dose for the prevention of asthma?

Answer 19

Salbutamol is for symptomatic relief.
Salmeterol is a long-acting beta2 adrenergic receptor agonist (LABA) used in the maintenance and prevention of asthma symptoms.