Pulmonology Flashcards
What is acute bronchiolithis?
most often caused by RSV - commonly in fall and winter months
- infants and young children
- tachypnea, respiratory distress, wheezing
- diagnosed by nasal washing for RSV culture and antigen assay; CXR = normal
What is the tx for acute bronchiolitis?
- hospitalization if O2 saturation < 95-96%, age < 3 months, RR > 70, nasal flaring, retractions, or atelectasis on CXR
- supportive = humidified O2, antipyretics, beta-agonist, nebulized racemic epinephrine, and steroids
- the only treatment demonstrated to improve bronchiolitis is oxygen
- ribavirin is given if severe lung or heart disease and in immunocompromised patients
- palivizumab prophylaxis (once per months for five months beginning in November) for special populations (immunocompromised, premature infants, neuromuscular disorders)
What is acute bronchitis?
defined by a cough > 5 days, can last 1-3 weeks
What are the organisms causing acute bronchitis?
- most common - viral (95%)
- common bacterial = M. catarrhalis
- chronic lung patients: H. influenzae, S. pneumoniae, M. catarrhalis
What is the presentation of acute bronchitis?
- cough, fever (unusual), constitutional symptoms
- typically less severe than pneumonia, normal vital signs, no rales, no egophony
- obtain CXR if the diagnosis is uncertain or symptoms persist despite conservative treatment
What is the treatment for acute bronchitis?
symptomatic and supportive - hydration, expectorant, analgesic, B2 agonist, cough suppressant
- corticosteroids if a history of underlying reactive airway disease
- ribavirin if severe lung or heart disease and in immunocompromised patients
- if O2 < 96% on room air the patient should be hospitalized
- antibiotics are indicated in elderly, underlying cardiopulmonary disease, cough > 7-10 days, or immunocompromised
What is acute epiglottitis?
supraglottic inflammation and obstruction of airway due to infection with Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib)
- this is a medical emergency
- caused by Hib - usually unvaccinated children (Hib vaccine at 2, 4, 6, 12-15 mo)
What are the signs and symptoms of acute epiglottitis?
triad positioning = the Ds of epiglottitis
- dysphagia
- drooling
- respiratory distress
What is the classic finding on x-ray for epiglottitis?
thumbprint sign on x-ray lateral neck film, secure airway then culture for H. flu
What is the tx for epiglottitis?
involves intubating if necessary, supportive care, ceftriaxone, may treat as an outpatient if stable
What is acute respiratory distress syndrome?
a type of respiratory failure characterized by fluid collecting in the lungs depriving organs of oxygen
- increase permeability of alveolar-capillary membranes = development of protein-rich pulmonary edema (non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema)
- ARDS can occur in those who are critically ill or who have significant injuries = sepsis (most common), severe trauma, aspiration of gastric contents, near-drowning
What are the signs and symptoms of ARDS?
severe shortness of breath and often are unable to breath on their own without support from a ventilator
- rapid onset of profound dyspnea occurring 12-24 hours after the precipitating event
- tachypnea, pink frothy sputum, crackles
What do radiographs show when a patient has ARDS?
air bronchograms and bilaterally fluffy infiltrate
-normal BNP, pulmonary wedge pressure, left ventricle function and echocardiogram
What is the tx of ARDS?
identifying and managing underlying precipitation and secondary conditions
- tracheal intubation with the lowest level PEEP to maintain PaO2 > 60 mmHg or SaO2 > 90
- ARDS is often fatal, the risk increases with age and severity of illness
What is asthma?
a chronic, reversible inflammatory airway disease with recurrent attacks of breathlessness and wheezing
How do you diagnosis?
monitor with peak flow
- spirometry with pre and post-therapy (albuterol inhalation) readings
- decreased FEV1/FVC (75-80%)
- > 10% increase of FEV1 with bronchodilator therapy
What would you expect with a FEV1 to FVC ratio <80%?
(you would expect the amount of air exhaled during the first second (FEV1) to be the greatest amount
-in asthma, since there is an obstruction (inflammation) you will have a decreased FEV1 and therefore a reduced FEV1 to FVC ratio
What is the tx for mild intermittent asthma?
(<2x/week or <2 night/month) - SABA prn
What is the tx for mild persistent asthma?
(>2x per week or 3-4 night/month) - low dose ICS daily
What is the tx for moderate persistent asthma?
(daily sx or >1 night/week)
- low dose ICS + LABA daily
- medium dose ICS + LABA daily
What is the tx for severe persistent asthma?
(sx several times/day + nightly)
- high dose ICS + LABA daily
- high dose ICS + LABA + oral steroids
What is the acute treatment for asthma?
oxygen, nebulized SABA, ipratropium bromide, and oral steroids
What is croup?
refers to an infection of the upper airway, which obstructs breathing and causes a characteristic barking cough
What are the characteristics of croup?
- caused by the parainfluenza virus
- common in children 6 mo - 3 years, fall and early winter months (same time of year as bronchiolitis)
- barking cough and stridor
- steeple sign on PA CXR (narrowing trachea in the subglottic region)
What is the tx of croup?
- supportive (air humidifier), antipyretics
- severe: IV fluids and nebulized racemic epinephrine, steroids
What is a foreign body aspiration?
when a foreign body enters the airway and causes choking
- objects can enter the esophagus through the mouth, or enter the trachea through the mouth or nose
- most often food and can be life-threatening, 80% in mainstem or lobar bronchus right > left
- risk factors include institutionalization, advanced age, poor dentition, alcohol, sedative use
What is the presentation of foreign body aspiration?
(depends on the location of obstruction)
-inspiratory stridor (if high in the airway) or wheezing and decreased breath sounds (if low in the airway)
What does a CXR show when there is a foreign body aspiration?
(expiratory radiograph) may reveal regional hyperinflation of the affected side
-ABG - necessary for appropriately evaluating ventilation, may be useful for following the progression of respiratory failure when it is of concern
What is the tx of foreign body aspiration?
remove foreign body with a bronchoscope
- rigid bronchoscopy preferred in children while flexible is diagnostic and therapeutic in adults
- complications include pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, asphyxia
What is hemoptysis?
coughing up of blood or blood-stained mucus from the bronchi, larynx, trachea, or lungs
-in other words, it is the airway bleeding
What is the presentation of hemoptysis?
- coughing up of blood or blood-stained mucus from the bronchi, larynx, trachea, or lungs
- bronchial capillaries in the mucosa of the tracheobronchial tree rupture as a result of acute infection (viral or bacterial bronchitis, bronchiectasis, cigarette smoke)
- it can occur when tiny blood vessels that line the lung airways are broken massive hemoptysis can be seen with lung cancers and other serious abnormalities
- vascular engorgement with erosion such as in pulmonary hypertension or masses
What are the most common causes of hemoptysis?
- bronchitis (50%): hemoptysis, dry cough, cough with phlegm
- tumor mass (20%): hemoptysis, chest pain, rib pain, tobacco history, weight loss, clubbing
- tuberculosis (8%): hemoptysis, chest pain, sweating
How is hemoptysis dx?
- examining the expectoration may help localize the source of bleeding
- cytology (especially when worried about lung cancer)
- fiberoptic bronchoscopy is preferred for CA tissue biopsy, bronchial lavage, or brushing
- rigid bronchoscopy for cases of massive bleeding because of its greater suctioning and airway maintenance capabilities
- high-resolution CT gives a greater positive yield of pathology
What is the tx of hemoptysis?
- massive hemoptysis warrants a more aggressive early consultation with a pulmonologist
- ABCs = airway maintenance is vital because the primary mechanism of death is asphyxiation, not exsanguination
What are the pearls of hemoptysis?
- the most common presentation of acute or mild hemoptysis is bronchitis
- older smokers with hemoptysis lung cancer must be ruled out with HIGH - RESOLUTION CT of the chest
- NEGATIVE CXRs DO NOT RULE OUT LUNG CANCER