Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases Flashcards
This condition is defined as an inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by hyperresponsiveness of the tracheobronchial tree to various stimuli (largely reversible)
Asthma
Asthma is an obstructive airway disease with what 3 components?
Inflammation (treat this first)
Airway hyper-responsiveness
Allergic or immunologic mediated
The strongest identifiable factor for someone developing asthma is what?
atopy
What are the components of the atopic triad?
Asthma
Eczema
Seasonal rhinitis
List some asthma triggers
Allergens (seasonal and environmental)
Infection
Exercise
Pharmacological Stimuli
Occupational Factors
Emotional Stress
80% of asthma cases are which type?
Slow-Onset Asthma
What is typically the first sign in asthma?
Cough – worse particularly at night
What is the standard testing used for diagnosing asthma?
Spirometry (Pulmonary function studies)
What tool is used for monitoring in asthma patients?
Patients can take home and keep track of their own flow rates (handheld devices)
Peak Expiratory Flow meters
What if you suspect patient has asthma but the PFT is normal? What test can you run?
Obtain a bronchial provocation test
What are the types of asthma?
Allergic (extrinsic)
Idiosyncratic (Intrinsic)
Exercise-Induced
Industrial and Occupational
What are the classifications in asthma?
Intermittent asthma
Mild persistent asthma
Moderate persistent asthma
Severe persistent asthma
What is the importance of classifying asthma?
to know where they are to guide treatment
Which asthma classification is described below?
Intermittent daytime symptoms occurring less than twice a week
Brief exacerbations
Nocturnal symptoms occurring less than twice a month
Asymptomatic with normal lung function between exacerbations
Intermittent Asthma
Which asthma classification is described below?
Symptoms occurring more than once a week but less than once a
day
Exacerbations affect activity or sleep
Nocturnal symptoms occurring more than twice a month
Mild Persistent Asthma
Which asthma classification is described below?
Daily symptoms
Exacerbations affect activity and sleep
Nocturnal symptoms occurring more than once a week
Moderate Persistent Asthma
Which asthma classification is described below?
Continuous symptoms
Frequent exacerbations
Frequent nocturnal asthma symptoms
Physical activities limited by asthma symptoms
Severe Persistent Asthma
These results show what classification of asthma?
FEV1 or PEF rate greater than 80% predicted with less than 20%
variability
Less than 80% = obstructive pattern
Intermittent Asthma
These results show what classification of asthma?
FEV1 or PEF rate greater than 80% predicted with variability of
20-30%
High variability
Mild Persistent Asthma
These results show what classification of asthma?
FEV1 or PEF rate 60-80% predicted with variability greater
than 30%
Moderate Persistent Asthma
These results show what classification of asthma?
FEV1 or PEF rate less than 60% predicted with variability greater
than 30%
Severe Persistent Asthma
What is the goal of treatment in asthma?
to gain control - only manage to make their lives as normal as
possible
All of the levels will have what type of medication/treatment?
albuterol inhaler for rescue
How often should you review asthma treatment?
every 1-6 months
General exacerbation Disposition in asthma: when can you discharge an asthma patient home? What factors must be met generally?
Discharge home if FEV1>70% and symptoms minimal or absent – monitor first to ensure stability (if less than 70, admit patient)
A patient being discharged from the hospital after asthma exacerbation should go home with what?
steroid prescription 3-10 days
short acting bronchodilator scheduled dosing 24-48 hours
increase oral corticosteroid dose
follow up and action plan instructions
What is a late sign in asthma that is worrisome?
cyanosis
Patient’s taking their meds but still have wheezing, an exacerbation – we call it what?
Asthma Attack
What are the initial treatment/goals of an Asthma Attack?
Maintain the airway at all times
Maintain SaO2 >90% - Give supplemental O2
Intubate if respiratory failure - Be prepared to intubate at any moment
What medication class is contraindicated in an asthma attack?
NSAIDs
Severe bronchospasm that does not respond to aggressive therapies within 30-60 minutes
Status Asthmaticus
What is the most concerning complication of an asthma attack?
Status Asthmaticus
Rule of thumb in asthma:
Who Needs Preventative Care? Rule of twos - list them
Two beta agonist canisters a year (each bottle contains 70 pumps)
Two doses of beta agonists per week
Two nocturnal awakenings per month
Two unscheduled visits to the doctor per year (3-4 scheduled visits with a doctor per year is expected for asthma – unscheduled/more visits because of flare ups is a concern)
Two prednisone bursts per year
List the risk factors for death from asthma
Asthma history
Previous severe exacerbation (ICU or intubation)
Two or more hospitalizations for asthma in the past year
Hospitalization or an ED visit for asthma in the past month (The majority of people who die from asthma have been in the ER within the
previous 30 days)
Current use of or recent withdrawal from systemic corticosteroids
Use of >2 MDI short-acting beta2 agonist canisters per month
Social history (Low socioeconomic status or inner-city residence, serious psychosocial problems)
Comorbidities (CV disease, COPD, Emphysema, etc)
What condition is an all inclusive and nonspecific term applied to a spectrum of disease (most patients have mixed disease)?
COPD
In the US, what disease is the most rapidly increasing health problem?
COPD
What are the two classic forms of COPD?
Chronic bronchitis is a clinical condition
Emphysema is a pathological entity
What is a major difference between COPD and asthma?
COPD -you have irreversible damage/changes
Asthma - has reversible components