Pleural disorders Flashcards
What part of the pleura has nerve endings?
Pariteal pleura - meaning that this is where you feel lung pain
What is pleurisy, pneumothorax, and pleural effusion?
Pleurisy - Inflammation of the pleura that causes sharp pain with breathing
Pneumothorax - Buildup of air or gas in the pleural space
Pleural Effusion - Excess fluid in the pleural space
What is the MC cause of non-cardial related chest pain?
Inflammation of the parietal pleura
What can cause inflammation of the parietal pleura?
Respiratory Infection
Lung cancer near the pleural surface
Trauma: Rib fracture
Certain medications
Pulmonary Embolism
Congestive Heart Failure
Autoimmune disorder
GI disorders
Idiopathic (unknown)
What are the meds that cause pleurisy?
procainamide, hydralazine, and isoniazid
What are the autoimmune disorders that cause pleurisy?
lupus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis,or scleroderma
What are the Gi disorders that cause pleurisy?
pancreatitis, peritonitis, cholecystitis
What is the typical CC of pleurisy?
chest pain
a localized, sharp “knifelike”, fleeting pain that is worsened by inspiration, sneezing or coughing - “pleuritic chest pain”
radiation of pain to ipsilateral scapula may occur if diaphragmatic pleura is affected
Associated s/s (depending on the etiology)
cough, SOB
fever, myalgias, headache, nasal congestion (infectious etiology)
abdominal pain, N/V (GI etiology)
orthopnea, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea (PND), peripheral edema (CHF related )
What is a common PE finding of pleurisy
localized pleural friction rub where the pain is
Often decreased breath sounds because it HURTS to take a deep breath
What is the goal for assessing pleurisy?
r/o concerning causes
What testing should you order for pleurisy?
Typical workup for chest pain to rule out complications
EKG - normal unless cardiac etiology
CXR - findings will depend on underlying etiology
Rib X-ray series - rule out rib fx if history of trauma
Serology - case based - CBC, cardiac enzymes, BNP, pancreatic enzymes inflammatory markers (ESR, CRP), ANA/RF (autoimmune workup)
When do you order a CT scan for pleurisy?
Only if you r/o other causes
CT chest with contrast or CT angiography of the chest
What is the treatment for pleurisy?
Symptomatic for pain and inflammation unless other ideology
indomethacin 25 mg BID-TID (short course - < 7-10 d)
cough suppressants if no risk of pneumonia
When do you need to admit someone with pleurisy?
Depends on the underlying etiology
hypoxemic (O2 sat of <90%)
parenteral pain control is needed
underlying etiology requires hospitalization
When should you order cough suppressant for Pleurisy and what are they?
If it messes with sleep
Codeine 30-60 mg TID - good option for pain and cough suppression
Dextromethorphan combination products
Tessalon Perles (numbs airway to suppress cough)
What is the complication of Pleurisy?
pleural effusion - pain will improve transiently due to separation of pleura (because of immunne response leading to build up of fluid); SOB and cough will worsen
What is the function of homeostasis of pleural fluid?
is achieved via
A constant movement of fluid from the capillaries of the parietal and visceral pleural into the pleural space
Absorption of pleural fluid occurs through parietal pleural lymphatics
The resultant homeostasis leaves 5–15 mL of fluid in the normal pleural space
What are the 5 pathophysiologies of pleural effusion?
- transudative fluid (albumin pulls water back into blood vessel and hydrostatic pressure pushes fluid back out to maintain appropriate fluid in cappilary and pleural space. Increased pressure in capplillary pushes cerum into the pleural space, and lack of proteins insisde capillary prevents fluid moving into the capillary.
- 3.
4.
5.
Explain the transudative pathophys of pleural effusion
Inflammatory markers allow WBC to move from inside the capillary to outside of the lung (opening the doors) and do it’s job. If in the pleural space WB Cs build up
Explain how decreased lymphatic drainage leads to pleural effusion?
Blocked off drainage build up fluid
Infection in pleural space leads to pleural space by
WBCs migrate into pleural space leading to emphyema
Explain how bleeding leads to Pulnonary effusion?
Blood from capillaries build up in plueral space
What are the two main pathophys of pleural effusion?
Transudate and exudates
Transudate - A fluid that passes through a membrane (capillary wall), which filters out all the cells and much of the protein, yielding a watery solution. A transudate is a filtrate of blood caused by an imbalance in hydrostatic and colloid osmotic pressure
Exudates - A fluid rich in protein and cellular elements that oozes out of blood vessels due to inflammation and is deposited in nearby tissues. The altered permeability of blood vessels permits the passage of large molecules and solid matter through their walls
What causes transudates typically?
Another organ causes problem
heart failure MC (blood backs up into capillaries back into the interstial space and then the pleural space)
What typically causes exudative pleural effusion?
Inflammatory response
MC cancer or bacterial pneumonia
How does pulmonary effusion lead to transudative and exdaitave pleural effusion?
Pressure Builds up in capillaries and pushes it into pleural space leading to transudates
When tissues die, there is imflammatory response leading to excudative response.
What is the MC CC of pleural effusion?
“I can’t breathe” because the lungs cannot open up properly.
Also dyspnea, cough, pleuritic chest pain