Pulmonary Disease Flashcards
What test results would indicate asthma?
- Pulmonary function testing: FEV1/FVC 12% after bronchodilator (from baseline FEV1)
- Peak expiratory flow variability >20%
- Eosinophilia
What is the consequence of uncontrolled chronic asthma?
Affects airways like smoking! Fixed obstructive disease
What are reliever medications and how should they be used?
Short term relief of symptoms of asthma. Includes beta agonists, which causes bronchodilator ( act on smooth muscle).
Should be used sporadically with worsening symptoms. Should not be used prophylactically.
What is an asthma controller medication, and how should it be used?
Controllers are anti-inflammatory, slow onset, long acting medications.
Use for prophylaxis.
Try to use minimum does for maximum control
Examples: inhaled steroids, leukotrine receptor antagonists, combo steroids and long acting beta agonists.
Biological therapies are becoming a new area!
How are asthma and COPD differentiated?
- Age: asthma tends to be younger
- Smoking: COPD smoker or past smoker
- Cough: asthma nocturnal, COPD morning/productive
- Peak flow: variable in asthma, not in COPD
- Bronchodilator: asthma responds usually, COPD not
What are the types of pneumothorax?
Priamary=spontaneous
Secondary=underlying disease process
Iatrogenic
Traumatic
ALL CAN TURN INTO TENSION PNEUMOTHORAX!
What are the physical exam findings for pneumothorax?
Tachycardia Hyperesonance (percuss down each intercostal space) Absent breath sounds Tracheal shift (if more severe) Profound hypoxia-tension
What are the recurrence rates for primary spontaneous pneumothorax?
30-40% after first incident
50% after second (may intervene now)
What are the risk factors for pneumothorax?
Tall Slim Male Younger Smoker
When do we treat a pneumothorax?
Symptomatic Large (>2-3cm at apex) Secondary Tension Ventilated patient
Primary patients who are not breathless and have a small one can be discharged home with early follow up
What are the physical exam findings in pulmonary embolism?
Tachycardia Tachypnea Fever Pleural rub (squeak) Right sided S4 (due to strain on right heart)
What are the physical exam findings of pericardial effusion?
Tachycardia Hypotension Elevated JVP Pulsus paradoxus Muffled or quiet heart sounds
What are the physical exam and investigations findings for pericarditis?
Friction rub- scratching noise with heartbeat
ECG: diffuse concave upwards ST elevation
How do glucocorticosteroids help treat asthma?
- Block several pathways of inflammation
- Thereby reducing exacerbation frequency
- Watch out for side effects (oral thrush)
What is more effective in escalating asthma therapy, rather than increasing corticosteroid dose?
Add a long-acting beta agonist- this is much more effective than increasing dose of steroids alone. NEVER give LABA monotherapy (BAD)
What characterizes asthma?
- Variable airflow obstruction
- Airway hyper responsiveness
- Chronic airway inflammation
What characterizes asthma?
- Variable airflow obstruction
- Airway hyper responsiveness
- Chronic airway inflammation
Diagnostic testing COPD?
Spirometry:
FEV1/FVC less than 70%
Post bronchodilator FEV1: will tell you severity
Flow volume loop shows scooped out expiration
What are the causes of airflow limitation that are irreversible?
Fibrosis and narrowing of the airways
Loss of elastic recoil in alveoli
Destruction of alveolar supports
What are reversible causes of airway limitation?
Accumulation of inflammatory cells, mucus, plasma
Smooth muscle contraction
Dynamic hyperinflation during exercise