Resp Flashcards
Benefits of VATS procedure over open thoracotomy
Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery - small incision, so reduced pain, wound complications, healing time and length of stay
But for Pleurectomy - greater risk of recurrent pneumothorax in VATS (5%) than open (1%)
indications for lobectomy
- Lung cancer resection (main) - most commonly NSCLC, in RUL
- TB
- Aspergilloma (to protect from massive haemorrhage)
- Lung abscess
- Remember pleurectomy for recurrent pneumothox
- and Lung volume reduction surgery i.e. bullectomy
FEV1 for lobectomy to have good outcome
Good outcome if FEV1 > 1.5
> 2 for a full pneumonectomy
provided there is no ILD or disability from SOB
If not clearly operable patients should have Sats at rest and Transfer Factor (TLCO) >50
FEV1 for pneumonectomy to have good outcome
> 2 for a full pneumonectomy
> 1.5 for lobectomy
provided there is no ILD or disability from SOB
If not clearly operable patients should have Sats at rest and Transfer Factor (TLCO) >50
way to measure prognosis in post op lung resection
Stair climbing is practical way
FEV1 and VO2 max < 15ml/kg/min
..VO2max = maximal oxygen utilised during maximal exercise
lung cancer histology
Small Cell
NSCLC (80%)
Majority - Squamous & Adeno
Also - Large cell & Neuro endo
Most common lung cancer in non-smokers
Adenocarcinoma
This is also most common overall, but in smokers squamous is most common
Asbestos causes which cancers
Mesothelioma, but also bronchial carcinoma, laryngeal cancer and ovarian cancer.
Lung cancer with hyponatremia
Small cell… Occurs because of ectopic ADH secretion
Mx of lung cancers
SCLC is rapidly progressive, often presents late…
So early disease - chemoradiotherapy
Late - often palliative chemo
NCLC - could include curative surgical, +/- adjuvant chemoradio
normal examination findings but scar indicating a VATS
Could be
• Wedge resection of solitary pul nodule
• Lung biopsy
• Surgical treatment of non-resolving/recurrent pneumothorax
if RECENT lobectomy, may have deviated trachae and reduced AE
Pneumonectomy will have deviated trachae, absent breath sounds and dull perc
scars on VATS procedure vs open thoracotomy
Open thoracotomy -
• 15-20cm on lat chest wall
• may also be chest drain scar
VATS -
• 3 scars in triangle
• 3-6cm lat chest wall
• Sometimes only 2 or 1 scar apparently
What is Transfer Factor (TLCO) used for related to lung cancer management
If not clearly operable (i.e. FEV1 >2 for pneumonectomy or >1.5 for lobectomy) then TLCO
IF estimated postoperative TLCO and est postop FEV1 is high then low risk
(it measures how your lungs take up oxygen from the air you breathe)
Resp causes of clubbing
- Bronchogenic carcinoma (AKA any type/subtype)
- ILD (particularly IPF)
- Bronchiectasis
- Lung abscess/empyema
- CF
pneumonectomy vs lobectomy examination findings
Pneumonectomy will have deviated trachae, absent breathsounds and dull perc
Lobectomy likely to be normal or possibly reduced
copd inhaler management
FIRST
Short acting
• …beta-2 agonists, like salbutamol
• or …muscarinic antagonists, like ipratropium
SECOND
if no asthmatic/steroid responsive features:
Long acting:
• …beta-2 agonists, like salmeterol
• AND …muscarinic antagonists, like tiotroprium
If that fails, or if asthmatic/steroid responsive features, then trial inhaled corticosteroids
indications for VATS
- Lobectomy
- Wedge resection (i.e. cancer etc)
- Lung biopsy (i.e. ILD, cancer)
- Decortication (i.e. in long-standing empyema, pleural thickening, hemothorax, and pleural tumors)
- Bullectomy (i.e. COPD)
- Pleurectomy (recerrent pneumothoraxes)
Why is suction not be routinely recommended in chest drain pneumothorax?
Rare as risk of re-expansion pulmonary oedema
Consider if persistent air leak…arbitrarily defined as continued bubbling of air through a chest drain after 48 h in situ,,,
Mx of pneumothoraces if no prev history < 50yr and breathless
(Primary pneumothorax)
• As SOB → aspirate up to 2.5L
• if <2cm and breathing improved then consider discharge + OP review in 2-4weeks
• If not → Chest drain
Mx of secondary pneumothorax
- Always admit
- > 2cm OR breathless → chest drain
- 1-2cm → aspirate
- <1cm → admit for 24h with O2
Can you differentiate between a lobectomy and other indication of VATS in otherwise normal exam
- IF normal chest exam, Lobectomy is less likely
- indications for lobectomy are often smoking-related diseases
Lobectomy may have normal chest signs but likely signs related to smoking
Eosinophils in asthma
~ 40% of severe asthmatics are diagnosed with Eosinophilic asthma
Don’t respond to steroids as well so treated with MABs
Diurnal variation in Asthma
Low peak flow in night/morning
spirometry in asthma vs COPD
- both have obstructive picture (<0.7 = reduced FEV1, preserved FVC)
- Asthma would improve with bronchodilator (15% impr of FEV1)
asthma management
1) SABA
2) Add inhaled steroid if: exacerbations in last 2yr; using salbutamol or symp 3/wk; OR waking one night/wk
3) Trial LABA (Salmeterol) +/- increasing steroid
4) Add leukotriene receptor antagonist; theophylline; slow release β2 agonist tablets
5) Oral Steroids
Obstructive respiratory disease
- Asthma
- Bronchiectasis
- COPD
- Rarer…Obliterative bronchiolitis (fixed airflow obstruction, from viral, polutent, Graft vs host (like lung transplant)
causes of polyphonic wheeze
obstructive resp disease
- COPD
- Asthma
- Bronchiectasis
- Rarer…Obliterative bronchiolitis (fixed airflow obstruction, from viral, polutent, Graft vs host (like lung transplant)
bibasal crepitations
• End-inspiratory fine - ILD
• Coarse-inspiratory - Bronchiectasis
with periph oedema and elevated JVP - Congested HF
• Bilat pneumonia
Spirometry findings in ILD
- Restrictive
- Reduction in both FEV1 and FVC with preserved ratio
- Reduced TLC and Transfer Factor
antifibrotic therapies for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
- Pirfenidone
- and Nintedanib
Considered by tertiary centres if FVC 50-80%
Management of ILD
Conservative
• MDT approach - physio - resp nurses for SOB and QOL
Medical
• Mx underlying connective tissue disorder w DMARD
• May respond to steroids if CT shows ground glass
• if IPF and FVC 50-80% then anti-fibrotic agent
Surgical
• Consideration of lung transplantation
What is HRCT
high resolution CT without contrast that gives definition to pulmonary parenchyma
e.g. in pulmonary fibrosis or bronchiectasis
Upper Vs lower zone fibrosis
ACID causes lower, the rest upper
- Asbestosis
- Connective tissue disorders (except ank spond)
- Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis / usual Interstitial Pneumonia
- Drugs…… (Amiodarone, bleomycin, methotrexate).
Upper: C -Coal worker's pneumoconiosis H -Histiocytosis/hypersensitivity pneumonitis A -Ankylosing spondylitis R - Radiation T -Tuberculosis S -Silicosis/sarcoidosis
Causes of Interstitial lung disease (ILD)
- Idiopathic – IPF, or sarcoidosis
- Occupational – asbestosis or silicosis
- Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (ABPA, farmer’s)
- Connective tissue disease – RA, SLE, polymyositis
- Drug-induced – Amiodarone, Nitro, Methotrexate, radiotherapy
When would you consider antifibrotic therapies in IPF
Considered by tertiary centres if FVC 50-80% predicted in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis to slow disease progression
(pirfenidone and nintedanib)
patient over 50yr with SOBOE, persistent cough
OE bilat fine end inspiratory crackles, finger clubbing
Classic hx of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
if no signs of connective tissue disease or occupational
Which interstitial lung disease (ILD) carries worst prognosis?
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
- Median survival is 2-3 years from diagnosis
- Only 20-30% survive to 5 years
Poor prognosistic factors for IPF
Basically every bad feature…
- Old age
- Dyspnoea
- Low or declining pulmonary function
- Pulmonary artery HTN
- Co-existing emphysema
- Extensive radiographic involvement
- Low ET
- Exertional desat
- Universal interstitial pneumonia (UIP) on histopath