Resp 1 Flashcards
Which abnormality presents with
Acidosis
Hypercapnia
Hypoxia
?
Type 2 Respiratory Failure
Which abnormality presents with
Hypoxia
Normocapnia
?
Type 1 Respiratory Failure
What can cause T1 Respiratory Failure?
Acute Asthma
Atalectasis (Lung Collapse)
Pulmonary Oedema
Pneumonia
Pneumothorax
PE
ARDS
What can cause T2 Respiratory Failure?
Acute Severe Asthma
COPD
Upper Airway Obstruction
Neuropathies - GBS, MND
Drugs (eg. Opiates)
What is the functional difference between the two types of Respiratory Failure?
In Type 1 RF, the lungs are still able to compensate for the hypoxia, by increasing ventilation. This leads to normocapnia, or hypocapnia.
How would you treat a case of Tension Pneumothorax?
Medical Emergency
Immediate wide bore cannula insertion at the 2nd Intercostal Space
Use an Orange or Grey needle.
How would you treat a symptomatic patient with a small Pneumothorax?
Needle Aspiration and O2
How would you treat an asymptomatic patient with a small Pneumothorax?
Reassure and discharge
What are the classical presenting features of a Pneumothorax?
Sudden-Onset
Unilateral, pleuritic chest pain
Dyspnoea
What are the main risk factors for Pneumothorax?
Male
Marfanoid habitus
Smoking
Tall
Skinny
What is the difference between Primary and Secondary Pneumothoraces?
Primary - Healthy young people without existing lung pathologies.
Secondary - Pre-existing Lung pathologies, or old long-term smokers.
How does a Tension Pneumothorax present?
Symptoms occur due to:
Lung Compression, causing:
- Severe Dyspnoea
- Tracheal Deviation away from the lesion
- Silent Chest, Hyperresonance
- Reduced expansion on the side of the lesion
Mediastinal Shift:
- Hypotension
- Tachycardia
What are the typical presenting features of a Pulmonary Embolism?
Pleuritic, unilateral Chest Pain
Hx of bed rest, recent surgery or long-haul travel
Hx of DVT (Leg tenderness/swelling)
Severe, acute dyspnoea
What is thr Well’s Scoring system?
Score used to assess the likelihood of a patient having a PE.
Assesses:
Previous Hx
Stasis
Cancer
Medical Opinion
PR
Haemoptysis
Evidence of DVT
How would you investigate a suspected Pulmonary Embolism?
Assess the patient’s Well’s Score
If 4 or above: CTPA
If less than 4: D-Dimer