Pulmonology Flashcards
Describe the presentation, associated findings, diagnosis, and treatment of chronic asthma.
- presents as wheezing with acute onset of dyspnea, cough, and chest tightness which are often worse at night
- associated with sensitivity to aspirin, nasal polyps, and atopy
- use spirometry showing a 12% rise in FEV1 following bronchodilator administration if patients are symptomatic
- use methacholine challenge showing a 20% decrease in FEV1 if patients are asymptomatic
- the mainstays of treatment are SABA, ICS, and then a LABA (salmeterol or formoterol)
- use tiotropium, omalizumab, montelukast, theophylline, and cromolyn salts as alternative therapy
What spirometry findings are consistent with asthma?
- FEV1/FVC decreased
- FEV1 increases more than 12% with bronchodilators
- DLCO normal or slightly increased
What is the difference between diagnosing chronic asthma and an acute asthma exacerbation.
- for chronic asthma diagnosis, use spirometry if symptomatic and methacholine challenge if asymptomatic
- for acute exacerbation with current dyspnea, use peak flow or ABG
What is the difference between tiotropium and ipratropium?
both are muscarinic antagonists but tiotropium has a longer duration of action than ipratropium
List the class of agent each of the following asthma medications belongs to:
- albuterol
- cromolyn salt
- ipratropium
- tiotropium
- salmeterol
- formoterol
- budesonide
- montelukast
- omalizumab
- albuterol: SABA
- cromolyn salt: mast cell stabilizer
- ipratropium: short acting muscarinic antagonist
- tiotropium: long acting muscarinic antagonist
- salmeterol: LABA
- formoterol: LABA
- budesonide: ICS
- montelukast: leukotriene receptor antagonist
- omalizumab: anti-IgE
How is acute asthma exacerbation diagnosed and treated?
- because patients will be short of breath, spirometry can’t be performed
- instead the diagnosis is made with peak flow or ABG
- treat with oxygen, albuterol, iptratropium, oral steroids, and magnesium
- monitor for a rise in PaCO2, which suggests impending respiratory collapse and the need for intubation
What is the key indicator that a patient with an asthma exacerbation may need intubation?
a rising PaCO2, which suggests impending respiratory failure
Describe the pathogenesis, presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of COPD.
- in most cases tobacco smoke causes destruction of elastin in the lungs which is responsible for lung compliance and recoil during exhalation
- presents with dyspnea, barrel-chest, and weight loss
- the best initial test is CXR; the most accurate is PFTs; echo will show evidence of chronic right heart strain
- only smoking cessation, oxygen therapy, and influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations improve mortality
- LAMAs are the mainstay of symptomatic therapy; SABAs, ICS, and LABAs are also used
Describe the PFT results consistent with COPD.
- FEV1 less than 80% predicted
- FEV1/FVC less than 70% predicted
- no bronchodilator or methacholine response
- decreased DLCO
- increased TLC
What are the indications of oxygen therapy in those with COPD? What other interventions improve mortality?
- use oxygen for those with PaO2 less than 55 or SaO2 less than 88%
- as well as for those with PaO2 less than 60 or SaO2 less than 90% who have evidence of right heart strain (pHTN, elevated Hct, or RA/RV hypertrophy)
- vaccination for influenza and pneumococcus as well as smoking cessation also improve mortality
How are acute COPD exacerbations treated?
- bronchodilators like albuterol and ipratropium
- oral corticosteroids
- antibiotics, primarily azithromycin
Describe the etiology, presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of bronchiectasis.
- most cases are due to CF; others are secondary to infection and immune deficiency
- presents with dyspnea, wheezing, hemoptysis, and high volume purulent sputum production
- the best initial test is CXR showing dilated, thickened bronchi; the most accurate is CT showing the same
- treat with chest physiotherapy; use azithromycin for exacerbations; use Dornase alfa for cases secondary to cystic fibrosis
Describe the pathophysiology, presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis.
- it is a hypersensitivity of the lungs to fungal antigens almost exclusive to those with a history of atopy
- presents with recurrent episodes of brown-flecked sputum, transient CXR infiltrates, cough, wheezing, and hemoptysis
- diagnosis with skin reactivity to Aspergillus antigens, peripheral eosinophilia, and elevated serum IgE
- treat with oral steroids, itraconazole, and omalizumab
Describe the pathogenesis, presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of cystic fibrosis.
- due to autosomal recessive CFTR gene mutations that impair chloride transport and lead to thickened secretions, which damage the pancreas, sinuses, intestines, GU tract
- presents with chronic lung disease and recurrent pulmonary infections with Staph and Pseudomonas
- sinus pain, nasal polyps, meconium ileum, pancreatic insufficiency, recurrent pancreatitis, distal intestinal obstruction, biliary cirrhosis, and infertility are also seen
- the most accurate test is sweat chloride greater than 60; genotyping is likely to miss many mutations
- treat with antibiotics, vaccination, bronchodilators, recombinant DNase and lung transplantation
Why are most patients with cystic fibrosis infertile?
- most males have azoospermia and some lack vas deferens
- in females, chronic lung disease alters menstruation and thickened cervical mucus blocks sperm entry
What is the most common organism responsible for pneumonia in patients with cystic fibrosis?
- S. aureus predominates early in life
- Pseudomonas predominates later on
How are CAP and HAP defined?
- CAP is pneumonia with onset before hospitalization or within 48 hours of admission
- HAP is pneumonia with onset more than 48 hours after admission or within 90 days of a prior hospitalization
What is unique about the population affected by and the presentation of each of the following CAP pathogens:
- Strep pneumo
- Hib
- S. aureus
- Klebsiella
- Anaerobes
- Mycoplasma
- Strep pneumo is the most common cause of CAP
- Hib is most commonly seen in patients with COPD
- S. aureus is a common cause of secondary pneumonia
- Klebisella is seen in alcoholics and diabetics and presents with “currant jelly” sputum due to necrosis
- Anaerobes are seen in those with poor dentition and those who aspirate, presenting with a foul-smelling sputum
- Mycoplasma is seen in young, healthy patients
What are the agents responsible for atypical pneumonia? What does this mean?
- Mycoplasma, viruses, Coxiella, PJP, and chlamydia
- these are not visible on Gram stain or cultural on standard agar and tend to cause bilateral interstitial infiltrates
What is the best method for diagnosing pneumonia?
- the best initial test is a CXR looking for lobar consolidation or bilateral infiltrates
- sputum sample with gram stain and culture is the best diagnostic test though it lacks sensitivity
- in some cases, there is a place for thoracentesis looking for empyema or a BAL
What is unique about the diagnosis for the following causes of community-acquired pneumonia:
- Legionella
- Mycoplasma
- Pneumocystis jiroveci
- Legionella: use a urine antigen or culture on yeast-charcoal agar
- Mycoplasma: use PCR and look for cold agglutinins
- Pneumocystis jiroveci: perform a bronchoalveolar lavage because other methods are unlikely to identify the organism and identification is critical to guide therapy