Pulmonary embolism Flashcards

1
Q

Inhaled objects are more likely to go to the _________ bronchus. Why is this?

A

This is because the right bronchus is wider, shorter and more vertical

it is less horizontal

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2
Q

The lung rarely extends beyond the _____ rib. Where does the length of the lung usually end (what rib does it extend to)?

A

rarely extends beyond the 10th rib

usually ends at the 8th rib

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3
Q

What is the pleura?

A

This is a thin layer that covers the lungs and lines the inside of the chest cavity

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4
Q

The pleura is made up of …

A

The viseral and parietal pleura

[similar to fibrous and serous (parietal and visceral) membranes of the heart]

The visceral pleura is the closest membrane to the lungs

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5
Q

What is the pleural cavity?

A

the pleural cavity is the space between the visceral and parietal pleura

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6
Q

What volume of pleural fluid is contained in the pleural cavity?

A

15 ml

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7
Q

What is the function of the the pleura (membranes + fluid) ?

A

facilitates movement of the lungs with the chest wall

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8
Q

Where is the apex beat located?

A

between the 5th and 6th intercostal space
the apex beat is an indication of left ventricular contraction

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9
Q

A radiolucency on a chest x-ray is an indication of …

A

a significant collapse of that part of the lung

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10
Q

The alveoli is described as …

A

the basic unit of ventilation

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11
Q

What types of cells make up the alveoli?

A

Type I cells (epithelial layer)
Type II cells

Alveolar macrophages

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12
Q

What is the function of type II alveolar cells ?

A

secretion of surfactant

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13
Q

The alveolar sac is made up of multiple alveoli. The sac is surrounded by __________.

A

capillaries

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14
Q

What is the purpose of surfactant released by type II cells?

A

surfactant lines each alveolus and gives them enough tension to prevent them from collapsing in their resting state

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15
Q

Alveoli contain __________ and _________ fibres

A

collagen
elastic fibres

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16
Q

Oxygenated blood is taken back from the alveolar sacs through what blood vesse?

A

pulmonary venule

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17
Q

Why are premature babies often put on ventilators?

A

they are not mature enough to make their own surfactant this alveoli can collapse

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18
Q

What is surfactant?

A

lipoprotein that decreases surface tension and increases pulmonary compliance

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19
Q

Oxygen diffuses into the ___________ whilst carbondioxide diffuses into the ___________

A

RBCs
CO2 diffuses into the alveolus

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20
Q

Gas exchange is a ___________ process

A

passive
no ATP/energy is required for gas exchange to take place

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21
Q

Diffusion of gases is facilitated by a ______________.

A

concentration gradient
gases diffuse down their concentration gradient

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22
Q

The alveoli cover a surface of 140m2. What is the purpose of this large surface area?

A

allow large amounts of area for gas exchange to take place

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23
Q

The blood-air barrier is ______ thick.

A

2.2um

the blood-air barrier refers to the respiratory membrane (alveolar and vascular membranes)

24
Q

What is the venous blood gas tension for oxygen?

25
What is the venous blood gas tension for carbondioxide?
6.0kPa
26
What is the arterial blood gas tension for oxygen?
13kPa a separate table in the slides shows 18.0kPa?
27
What is the arterial blood gas tension for carbondioxide?
5.3kPa
28
A rise in arterial CO2 is detected by _________ and ________ receptors. What is the consequence of a rise in arterial CO2 ?
peripheral and central receptors a rise in arterial CO2 triggers an increase in the rate and depth of breathing
29
What acid is produced as a result of rising CO2 levels? What is the effect of this acid
carbonic acid (increase in H+ ions) they stimulate the respiratory centre in the brain; ensure that we are taking a breath
30
What is the partial pressure of oxygen in the air?
21kPa
31
What is the partial pressure of carbondioxide in the air?
0.04kPa
32
Inspiration is initiated by the ______________
respiratory centre in the medulla
33
What occurs during inspiration?
diaphragm and intercostal muscles contract intrathoracic cavity expands intrathoracic cavity pressure decreases air moves into the airways until alveolar pressure equals atmospheric pressure (18-21kPa?)
34
Unlike gas exchange, inspiration is an active process. What drives the process of inspiration?
it is driven by a change in pH in the respiratory centre (medulla) of the brain change in pH of the blood is detected by the medulla - cells in the medulla have pH receptors which detect changes in pH in the blood
35
Expiration is a ________ process. Briefly describe what happens during expiration
passive process intercostal muscles and diaphragm relax there is elastic recoil of the lungs intrathoracic volume decreases intrathroacic pressure increeases (to prevent collapse without the partial pressure from the gases to prevent collapse) expiration of air from the alveoli until the intratroracic pressure = atmospheric pressure
36
What is a pulmonary embolism?
blockage of pulmonary arteries by a clot - a clot in the pulmonary tree it is a consequence of thrombus formation in distal veins and subsequent migration
37
A white thrombi is indicative of ...
high platelet content
38
A red thrombi is indicative of ...
low platelet content high fibrin content
39
What is the most common origin of pulmonary embolisms?
deep venous systems of lower extremeties (deep vein thrombi)
40
What percentage of DVT embolise to the pulmonary vasculature?
51%
41
Outline the pathophysiology of pulmonary embolisms
pulmonary vascular resistance increases right ventricle work load increases this causes distension of the right ventricle there is frank-starling law failure (this isn when the stroke volume increases if the end diastolic volume also increases if there are no changes to other factors) there is reduced right ventricular output there is a decreased end diastolic volume of the left ventricle (less oxygenated blood being received) cardiac output increases decrease in mean arterial pressure hypotension-- > shock (body not getting enough blood flow)---> death [hypovolemic shock]
42
Give a clinical scenario that classically cause formation of a pulmonary embolus
10 days following a hip replacement straining often causes clots to form
43
What are the elements of virchows triad of thrombosis?
hypercoagulability of the blood - cancer, thrombophilia , inflammatory disease - situations that encourage blood to clot Stasis of the blood- immobility, varicose veins, venous obstruction; slower moving blood encourages clots to form Vessel wall injury- surgery, chemical irritation, inflammation. Exposure of collagen can trigger clot formation [remember static fluid- increased likelihood of infection/clot]
44
What are the patient risk factors of pulmonary embolism?
increasing age obesity bed rest > 5 days
45
What past medical history/events are risk factors for pulmonary embolism?
previous DVT or PE surgery in the last 2 months malignancy (encourages hypercoaguability) lower limb paralysis (slow moving blood?) pregnancy trauma COPD varicose veins sepsis (inflammation and hypercoaguability)
46
What drugs can increase the risk of pulmonary embolism?
oral contraceptive pill
47
When taking a social history, what are some important factors to not that increase the risk of a pulmonary embolism?
smoking recent air travel
48
What is the presentation of a pulmonary embolism ?
pleuritic chest pain dyspnoea (subjective shortness of breath) tachypnoea > 20 per minutes collapse hypotension tachycardia +/- cough low grade fever
49
What can a pulmonary embolism lead to a low grade fever?
inflammatory response as the body tries to attack the clot inflammatory response leads to low grade pyrexia (fever)
50
How is pleuritic chest pain characterised?
S- localised O- sudden C- sharp R- nil A- increased heart rate and increased resporatory rate T- constant E- worse on inspiration S- severe/moderate
51
What are the complications of a pulmonary embolism?
treatment related bleeding - in order to break clot; anticoagulants given; can cause bleeding pulmonary infarction (dead pulmonary tissue) cardiac arrest- no breathing, no response from patient chronic pulmonary hypertension recurrent DVT
52
Briefly explain why chronic pulmonary hypertension is caused by pulmonary embolus
multiple fibrous scarring located where the clots are present this causes a narrowing of the vessels and thus hypertension of pulmonary vessels
53
What investigations can be carried out to identify a pulmonary embolus ?
ECG chest x-ray ABG- arterial blood gas INR (international normalised ratio) D-dimer ventilation perfusion (V/Q) scan - infusion of radiolabelled white cells to see where blood/air is going computed tomographic pulmonary angiogram (CTPA)
54
How is a D-dimer test useful in identifying a pulmonary embolus?
d-dimers are fibrinogen break down products they are usually an indication that there is a clot somewhere
55
How is a pulmonary embolus managed?
ABCD resuscitation anticoagulation (low molecular weight heparin then warfarin)
56
Give examples of new anticoagulants that can be used to treat a pulmonary embolus
Thrombin inhibitor- dabigatran Factor Xa inhibitors- apixiban, rivaroxiban
57
What are some dental considerations for a patient with a pulmonary embolus?
patients on anti-coagulants bleed Check INR consult haematologist prior to reversal delay non urgent procedures until completed anticoagulation course patients on anticoagulants will carry anticoagulation books Do NOT stop their anticoagulants