Pulmonary Flashcards
Asthma
A chronic lung disease that inflames and narrows the airways causing hypertrophy of smooth muscles, mucosal edema, plugging o the sirways by thick, sicid mucus. Characterized by recurrent periods of wheezing, chest tightness, SOB, and coughing that occurs at night or early in the morning.
Caused by dust mites, pets, cockroaches, indoor molds, exercise, cigarette smoke.
Trouble getting the air out, obstructive airway disease.
S/S of asthma
- Respiratory distress at rest
- Difficulty speaking in full sentences
- Diaphoresis
- Use of accessory muscles
- RR >28
- Pulse >110
- Pulsus paradoxus (d/t change in intrathoracic pressure)
- Hyperresonance
Ominous signs:
-Fatigue
-absent breath sounds
-Paradoxical chest/abdominal movement
-inability to maintain recumbency
-cyanosis (in the adult, cyanosis is never an early sign in anything other than death)
Resonance
Hyperresonance
Dull
Tymphany
- Normal percussion tone of chest: resonance
- Air trapping: hyperresonance
- Bone/mall: dull
- Air: tymphany
Labs/diagnosits of asthma
Slight WBC increase with eosinophilia (allergy)
PFTs reveal abnormalities typical of obstructive dysfunction
-Hospitalization is recommended if FEV1 does not improve after bronchodilators or is peak flow is <60 or does not improve after treatment.
Intially will be respiratory alkalosis with mild hypoxemia
CXR to rule out other disorders, and will show hyperinflation.
Management of asthma
Stepwise approach
* Step 1:
SABA (short active beta2 agonist)
-Albuterol, levalbuterol PRN
SABAs work by stimulating enzymes that convert ATP to cAMP which in turn relaxes bronchial smooth muscles.
* Step 2:
-Low dose inhaled corticosteroids (ICS)
-Budesonide, fluticasone, triamcinolone
* Step 3:
-Low dose ICS + LABA (long acting beta2 agonist)
-Salmeterol, formoterol
-Combo preparations: Advair (fluticasone + salmeterol) and Symbicort (formoterol + budesonide).
* Step 4:
-Medium dose ICS + Laba
* Step 5:
-High dose ICS + Laba
Inhaled anticholinergics
Ipratropium (atrovent)
Inpatient management of asthma
- Supplemental O2
- Inhaled SABA (albuterol)
- Inhaled anticholinergics (ipratropium)
- Systemic glucocorticoids
- Mag sulfate if above not working
- Epi for anaphylaxis (stridor or respiratory distres).
Status asthmaticus
A term used to describe severe, acute asthma presenting in an unremitting, poorly responsive, life threatening manner.
Clinical findings are not reliable indicators of the severity of asthma
Management of status asthmaticus
- Oxygen
- IV D51/2
- Inhaled and parenteral sympathomimetics (epi)
- IV steroids
- Consider atrovent (inhaled anticholinergic)
- Intubate if needed
COPD
Umbrella term characterized by airflow limitations.
Emphysema & chronic bronchitis
Chronic bronchitis
Characterized by excessive secretion of bronchial mucus and is manifested by productive cough for 3 months or more in atleast 2 consecutive years.
Emphysema
Abnormal, permanent enlargement of the alveoli.
S/S of chronic bronchitis
- Intermittent mild to moderate dyspnea
- Onset of symptoms after age 35
- Copious sputum production (purulent)
- Body habitus is stocky/obese
- Cheat AP diameter is normal
- Percussion normal
- Hyperinflation of CXR
- Hct increased (secondary polycythemia due to chronic hypoxemia)
S/S of emphysema
- Progressive, constant dyspnea
- Onset of symptoms after age 50
- Mild sputum (clear)
- Body habitus is thin/wasted
- Chest AP diameter increased
- Percussion hyperresonant
- Hct normal
- Total lung capacity increased
Lab/diagnostics of COPD
- Low, flattened diaphragm on CXR
- FEV1 and all othe measurements of expiratory airflow reduced
- Total lung capacity, functional residual capacity and residual volume may be increased.
Outpatient management of COPD
Stop smoking (imperative)
Avoid irritants or allergens
Postural drainage may clear excess secretions
Inhaled anticholinergics or sympathomimetics (mainstay of therapy); ipratroprium and epi