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)