Pulmonary & Critical Care Flashcards
Light’s criteria for pleural effusions
- Protein
- LDH
- Common causes
Tuberculous effusions
Exudative
Very high protein levels (>4 g/dL)
Lymphocytic leukocytosis
Low glucose (< 60 mg/dL)
Markedly elevated LDH levels (>500 U/L)
Low pH
Empyema
Presence of frank pus in pleural space
Prominent neutrophilic leukocytosis (>50,000 mm^3)
Measures to prevent aspiration pneumonia
Oral care
Diet modification for patients with dysphagia
Elevating the head of the bed to 30-45 degrees
Predisposing conditions for aspiration pneumonia
Pneumothorax (Spontaneous versus tension)
- Associated features
- Signs and symptoms
- Imaging
- Management
Tension pneumothorax
Blue arrows: Displaced mediastinal structures
Red arrows: Visceral pleural line, beyone which no pulmonary vasculature or lung parenchymal markings are apparent.
Collapsed lung
Cardiac tamponade
Flash pulmonary edema
Pleural effusions
Most common causes of malignant pleural effusions
Breast cancer
Lung cancer
Pulmonary contusion
Nonlobular airspace opacities
Develop <24 hours after trauma, resolve in 1 week
Seen in aortic rupture
Pneumomediastinum
Can result from traumatic esophageal rupture
Superior pulmonary sulcus tomor (Pancost tumor)
-Involvement of phrenic nerve causing hemidiaphragm paralysis and
elevation of right hemidaphragm
- Caused by primary lung malignancies (squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma)
- Smoking is the strongest risk factor
Clinical presentation of Pancoast tumor
Acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- Cardinal symptoms
- Diagnostic testing
- Management
Interpretation of V/Q scan results based on pretest probability for PE
Range of outcomes for V/Q scan
LEAST LIKELY – normal, low probability, moderate probability, high probability – MOST LIKELY
Anticoagulation during pregnancy
Heparin (category C)
Low molecular weight heparin (category B)
Warfarin is category X (do not use)
Central versus peripheral cyanosis
- Signs
- Cause
Central cyanosis: Cyanosis in highly vascularized tissues such as lips and mucous membranes
Caused by low arterial oxygen saturation
Peripheral cyanosis: Cyanosis only in distal extremities
Caused by increased oxygen extraction secondary to sluggish blood flow
Bronchiectasis
Characteristic of cystic fibrosis
Differential diagnosis of hemoptysis in children
- Diagnosis
- Pathogenesis
- Clinical features
Diagphragmatic rupture
Elevation of hemidiaphragm on chest X ray
Nasograstric tube (red arrows) in pulmonary cavity is diagostic
Superior pulomonary sulcus tumor (Pancoast tumor)
Tuberculosis (reactivation)
Aspergilloma
Cryptogenic organizing penumonia
Dry cough and systemic symptos
Bilateral ground-glass infiltrates on CT
Lung abscess
Thick-walled cavitary lesion with air-fluid level
Cough, hemoptysis, fever, purulent sputum
Mesothelioma
Cough, chest pain, dyspnea in patients with significant asbestos exposure.
CT shows pleural thickening with effusion.