Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

CPR Exam 2 > Pleural and Mediastinal Disease DSA > Flashcards

Pleural and Mediastinal Disease DSA Flashcards

1
Q

What is a pleural effusion?

A

Created by an imbalance between production and removal of fluid from the pleural space.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What are the 2 mechanisms that leads to accumulation of fluid in the pleural space?

A

1. Increased capillary hydrostatic pressure

2. Decreased plasma oncotic pressure

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What mechanisms cause pleural effusion by increasing hydrostatic pressure?

A
  1. HF
  2. SVC syndrome
  3. Constrictive pericarditis
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is the most common finding auscultated over a pleural effusion; and what is auscultated toward the top of an effusion?

A
  • Decreased to absent breath sounds over an effusion
  • Bronchial breath sounds toward the top of an effusion
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What mechanisms cause pleural effusion by decreasing plasma oncotic pressure?

A
  • Cirrhosis
  • Nephrotic syndrome
  • Hypoalbunemia
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What are the 3 leading causes of pleural effusion in the US?

A
  • 1. Heart failure
  • 2. Pneumonia
  • 3. Cancer
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Which imaging study is usually the first study used to identify and quantify the amount of fluid seen with a pleural effusion?

A

CXR

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

How much pleural fluid is needed to blunt the costophrenic angle on CXR?

A

~250 mL

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Which sign is created as greater amounts of fluid with a pleural effusion opacify the lower thorax?

A

“Meniscus sign”

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

After the presence of a pleural effusion is documented what study is used to evaluate whether an effusion is free-flowing or loculated (non-free flowing) and whether a sufficient quantity is present to perform thoracentesis?

A

Decubitus films

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

How much distance measured from the pleural fluid line to the chest wall on a decubitus radiograph is indicative of adequate pleural fluid to perform thoracentesis?

A

1-cm distance

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Bilateral transudative pleural effusions are commonly associated with what underlying diseases?

A

HF, cirrhosis, nephrosis, liver failyre

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Bilatral exudative pleural effusions suggest what underlying disease(s)?

A

Malignancy, but may aso occur in pt’s w/ pleuritis due to SLE and other collagen vascular disorders

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Lymphocytic dominant exudate is most often due to

A
  • Maligancy
  • TB
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

How do we distinguish between transudative and exudative?

A

Compare pleural fluid and serum levels of LDH and protein

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Exudative pleural effusions are predominately caused by what?

A
  • MC: Inflammation, infections, malignancies
  • Less commonly by: collagen vascular disease, intra-abdominal process and hypothyroidism
  • Venous thromboembolic disease
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Transdative pleural effusions are predominately caused by what?

A

Unbalanced hydrostatic forces and are associated with:

  • HF,
  • Cirrhosis
  • Nephrophtic syndrome
  • Pericarditis
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

_________ effusions typically have low leukocyte count (below 1000/uL).

A

Transudative

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q
  • Process to treat pleural effusion via thoracentesis
A
    1. CXR: ID and quantify fluid in pleural effusion: 250 mL of pleural fluid is needed to blunt the costophrenic angle on CXR.
      * +: Meniscus sign
    1. Find out whether the fluid is free-flowing or loculated (not free flowing) and whether there is enough fluid to perform a thoracentesis: Decubitis film and 1 cm distance between [pleural fluid line - chest wall] => thoracentis
      * - Spiral chest CT to test for PE
      * - US to help guide thoracentesis, detect loculations or detect pleural abnormalities not detected by CXR.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What proteins/LDH levels would indicate a transudative effusion?

A

Transudative effusion:

  • pleura/serum levels of:
    • proteins: < .5
    • LDH: < .6
    • pleural fluid LDH is _____ upper limit of NL for serum: <2/3
21
Q

If a exudate effusion is lymphocytic, what should we test for and via what tests?

A

TB

  • - Adenosine deaminase activity
  • - PCR
22
Q

Therapeutic thoracentesis should be limited to the removal of how much fluid at a time?

What about a massive pleural effusion with a mediastinal shift?

A
    1. No more than 1.5 L to minimize liklihood of re-expansion
    1. 2L or more can be safely removed.
23
Q

How do we treat a pleural effusion assx with pneumonia?

A

drain fluid with catheter or chest tube

24
Q

Air in the pleural space is calleda _______

A

pneumothorax

25
Q

How do we classify pneumothorax?

A
  • Spontaneous (primary or secondary)
  • Traumatic
26
Q
  • What is the difference between a primary spontaneous and secondary sponateous pneumothorax?
  • Traumatic?
  • Iatrogenic pneumothorax?
A

Primary spontaneous pneumothorax: occurs w/o lung disease

Secondary spontaneous pneumothorax: d/t a underlying pulmonary disease

Traumatic: penetrating or blunt trauma

Iatrogenic pneumothorax: occurs after a thoracentesis, pleural biopsy, catheter placement,

27
Q

Tension pneumothorax occurs in what situations?

Pressure of air in pleural space ____ ambient pressure throughout respiratory cycle

A
  • Penetrating trauma, lung infection, CP resuscitation, positive -pressure mechanical ventilation.
  • Pressure of air in pleural space > ambient pressure t/o resp cycle; air enters pleural space on inspiration but does not leave on exhalation.
28
Q

Primary pneumothroax affects mainly whom?

A

Tall, thin boys

M between 10-30

29
Q

How is primary pneumothorax though to occur?

A

High (-) intrapleural pressure causes subpleural blebs to rupture.

30
Q

Secondary pneumothorax is a complication of what?

A
  1. COPD
  2. Asthma
  3. CF
  4. TB
  5. Pneumocystitis pneumonia
  6. Menstruation
  7. Interstitial lung diseases: sarcoidosis. LCH and tuberous sclerosis
31
Q

What are risk factors for the development of a Pneumothorax?

A
  1. Aerosolized pentamidine
  2. Prior hx of pneumocystitis pneumonia
32
Q

50% of patients with pneumothorax in the setting of recurrent (but not primary) Pneumocystis pneumonia will develop what?

A

Pneumothorax on the contralateral side

33
Q

What are the symptoms and signs of pneumothorax?

A
  1. Chest pain, ranging from minimal - severe on affected side
  2. Dyspnea

that begin at rest and resolve within 24 hours, even if pneumothorax persists.

34
Q

How does a small pneumothorax present differently than a large pneumothorax?

A
  • Small pneumothorax: PE is NL; maybe mild tachycardia
  • Large pneumothorax: decreased breath sounds, tactile fremitis, chest movement
35
Q

Tension pneumothorax should be suspected in the presence of what signs/sx’s?

A
    • Marked tachycardia
    • HYPOtension
    • Mediastinal or trachealshift
36
Q

Demonstration of what on a CXR is diagnostic of a pneumothorax?

A

Visceral pleural line

37
Q

Which characteristic sign may be seen on chest radiograph in supine pt’s presenting with pneumothorax?

A

“Deep sulcus” sign

38
Q
  • The diagnosis of primary pneumothorax is obvious in ______________ and can be confirmed on CXR.
  • What about a secondary pneumothorax?
A
  • Young, tall, think cig smoking man
  • Hard to tell apart a emphysematous bleb vs loculated pneumothorax
39
Q

Pneumothorax can mimic what?

A
  • 1. MI
  • 2. PE
  • 3. Pneumonia
40
Q

What is treatment for reliable pt with a small (<15% of a hemithorax), stable, spontaneous primary pneumothorax?

A

Observation

41
Q

What are indications ofr a chest tube placement (tube thoracostomy)?

A
  • 1. Secondary pneumothorax
  • 2. Large pneumothrox
  • 3. Tension pneumothorax
  • 4. Those who have pneumothorax while on mechanical ventiliation
42
Q

What 3 major structures are found in the posterior mediastinal compartment?

A
  • 1. Descending thoracic aorta
  • 2. Esophagus
  • 3. Thoracic duct
  • 4. Azygous/hemiazygous vein
43
Q

What is the mediatinum?

A

Area between the pleural sacs

44
Q

Where does the anterior mediastinum lie?

Middle mediastinum?

Posterior mediastium?

A
  • Anterior mediastinum is located from sternum => pericardium/brachiocephalic vessels posteriorly.
  • Middle mediastium is located from anterior to posterior mediastium.
  • Posterior mediastinum is located from pericardium/trachea => vertebral column.
45
Q

What is located in the middle mediastinum?

A
  1. Heart
  2. Ascending and transverse arch of the aorta
  3. Vena cava
  4. Brachiocephalic arteries
  5. Phrenic nerves
  6. Trachea
  7. Bronchi and assx LN
  8. Pulmonary a. and vs.
46
Q

What are the 3 most common masses of the middle mediastinum (remembered VAC)?

A
  • Vascular masses
  • Adenopathy (LN enlargement) from metastases or granulomatous disease
  • Cysts (pleuropericardial and bronchogenic)
47
Q

Most causes of acute mediastinitis are what?

A
    1. Esophageal perforation (Boerhaave syndrome)
    1. Median sternotomy for cardiac surgery
48
Q

Most patients with esophageal rupture are present how?

What about with mediastinitis after median sternotomy?

A
  1. -Acutely ill with CP and SOB due to infection
    • Wound drainage
49
Q

Spectrum of chronic mediatintis ranges from ______ to ____

A

Granulomatous inflammation of LN => fibrosing mediastinits

CPR Exam 2 (29 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions