Pulmonary Flashcards
What immunizations should be given in patients with COPD?
Influenza vaccine every year and S pneumoniae vaccine every 5-6 years for patients older than 65. Give 13 followed by 23 pneumococcal vaccine)
When is Theophylline used and what is its problem?
Used in refractory COPD and narrow therapeutic index
What are three complications of COPD?
- Acute Exacerbations
- Secondary polycythemia (hematocrit greater than 47% in females and 55% in males)
- Pulmonary hypertension and cor pulmonale **
What are 9 things to order in patients with acute SOB (COPD or asthma)
- inhaled albuterol
- oxygen
- EKG
- Pulse ox monitor
- Bolus of steroids (IV methylprednisone) - takes 4-6 hours to take effect
- ABG
- Chest x-ray
- Magnesium
- Inhaled ipratropium
What intervention may help prevent a COPD exacerbation from turning into respiratory failure that requires mechanical ventilation?
BIPAP or CPAP
What is cornerstone of COPD treatment?
Short acting beta agonist (albuterol) and anticholinergic medication (ipratropium)
When is it reasonable to give a patient a long-acting beta agonist (salmeterol or formotorol)?
When the patient is on an inhaled corticosteroid and is requiring frequent use of a short acting beta agonist
Do corticosteroids help FEV1?
Many studies have shown that they don’t help with lung function, however all patients on LABA need to be on inhaled corticosteroids
When do patients need home oxygen therapy
If ABG shows PaO2 < 55 or if O2 stat < 88%
What are two classic types of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases
Chronic Bronchitis and Emphysema
How is chronic bronchitis diagnosed? How is emphysema diagnosed? (type of diagnosis)?
Chronic bronchitis is a clinical diagnosis, patients with chronic bronchitis present with chronic cough productive of sputum for at least 3 months/year for at least 2 consecutive years.
Emphysema is a pathological diagnosis with permanent enlargement of air spaces and destruction of alveolar walls seen in patients
What type of emphysema is seen in smokers vs the type of emphysema seen in alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency? What zones of the lungs does each type of emphysema have a predilection for?
In smokers centrilobular emphysema is most common. There is a predilection for upper lung zones.
In alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, panlobular emphysema is more common and there is a predilection for lung bases
Describe pulmonary function results in COPD?
Residual Volume? Total Lung Capacity? FEV1? FEV1/FVC?
FEV1/FVC < 0.7
FEV1 is decreased
Total Lung Capacity is increased
Residual Volume is increased
How does smoking cessation affect FEV1?
If a smoker quits, the rate of decline in FEV1 slows to that of someone who has never smoked. However, a person does not recover FEV1 that was lost due to smoking. Just the rate of decline slows to that of someone who has never smoked
What class of medications is contraindicated in COPD and asthma exacerbations?
Beta-blockers
How does metacholine work?
It is a muscarinic agonist that causes asthmatics to develop hyper-responsiveness to airways and patients experience a drop in FEV1
What does ABG show in asthma patients with respect to O2 and CO2?
Patients have hypoxemia and hypocarbia
If an asthmatic has hypercarbia, what should be done?
Hypercarbia indicates impeding respiratory failure because an asthmatic patient should be hyperventilating which should cause a drop in CO2. If CO2 is increased, that means the patient is getting tired (respiratory fatigue) and the patient should be mechanically ventilated
How should a patient with SOB (asthma or COPD) be treated? (9)
- EKG
- Magnesium
- Inhaled albuterol
- Inhaled ipratropium
- Oxygen
- Pulse Ox monitor
- ABG
- IV steroids
- Chest x-ray
Describe the GOLD FEV1 staging criteria for COPD?
FEV1 > 80% = mild
FEV1 between 50-80% = moderate
FEV1 between 30-50% = severe
What can be seen on physical exam for patients with COPD? (4)
Prolonged expiratory time, Wheezing, use of accessory muscles of respiration, and hyper-resonance on percussion
What are some symptoms of COPD
Cough, increased dyspnea, sputum production
What is a suitable treatment for extrinsic allergies and what is the MOA of this class of medication? What if this class of medication fails, what do you give?
CROMolyn or nedoCROMil (mast cell stabilizers), prevent the release of histamien from mast cells. If these medications fail give Omalizamab (monoclonal IgG antibody against IgE)
What is a treatment for atopic disorders?
Montelukast (leukotriene antagonists)
Describe what causes bronchiectasis?
Caused by an anatomic defect in the lung usually due to an infection from childhood.
What anatomic defect does bronchiectasis result in?
Profound dilation of the bronchi
How does bronchiectasis present?
Fever, hemoptysis, chronic cycle of lung infections, high volume of sputum production that can be measured by the cupful.
What is the triad of asthma pathology?
Airway hyperresponsiveness, reversible airflow obstruction, and airway inflammation
What age can asthma begin?
At any age
What is the difference between extrinsic and intrinsic asthma?
In extrinsic asthma, patients are usually younger at onset, and patients are atopic (increased IgE) to environmental factors.
Intrinsic asthma is not related to environmental factors or atopy
What are some triggers for asthma?
Pollen, house dust, mold, pets, cockroaches, exercise, viral infections, smoking
What are three key risk factors for COPD?
Smoking, alpha-anti1 trypsin deficiency, environmental respiratory pollutants (second hand smoke)
What are signs of acute asthma exacerbation?
Use of accessory muscles of respiration, can’t talk in complete sentences, tachypnea, diaphoresis, wheezing
What is one physical exam sign of impending respiratory failure in asthma exacerbations?
Paradoxical abdominal movement during respiratory (abdomen moves in during inspiration and out during expiration)
What is the most common physical exam sign in asthma patients?
wheezing
How is asthma diagnosed?
Decreased FEV1, decreased FVC, decreased FEV1/FVC ratio, bronchodilators increase FEV1 by 12% and metacholine decreases FEV1 by 20%
What are the genetics of cystic fibrosis?
Autosomal recessive, affects white people
What is the most common cause of bronchiectasis?
Cystic fibrosis
What do PFTs show in bronchiectasis?
obstructive lung disease
Describe two prong treatment strategy for bronchiectasis?
Rotating antibiotics (to prevent further respiratory damage and antibiotic resistance) and lung physiotherapy
What does a chest xray show in a patient with bronchiectasis?
tram tracking
What is the most accurate diagnostic test for bronchiectasis?
CT scan
How does cystic fibrosis present? (3)
Obstructive lung pattern with recurrent infections, pancreatic insufficiency, and GI complications
What is most common infection in cystic fibrosis patients?
Pseudomonas
What is the median age of death in cystic fibrosis patients?
Over 30 years old