Resp fifth yr Flashcards
What is pneumothorax?
occurs when air gets into the pleural space separating the lung from the chest wall. It can occur spontaneously or secondary to trauma, medical interventions (“iatrogenic”) or lung pathology.
Tension, primary, secondary
The typical patientis a young, tall, thin young man presenting with sudden breathlessness and pleuritic chest pain, possibly whilst playing sports.
RF’s
pre-existing lung disease: COPD, asthma, cystic fibrosis, lung cancer, Pneumocystis pneumonia
connective tissue disease: Marfan’s syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis
ventilation, including non-invasive ventilation
catamenial pneumothorax is the cause of 3-6% of spontaneous pneumothoraces occurring in menstruating women. It is thought to be caused by endometriosis within the thorax
Ix for pneumothorax?
Erect CXR - Measuring the size of the pneumothorax involves measuring horizontally from the lung edge to the inside of the chest wall at the level of the hilum.
CT thorax can detect a small pneumothorax that is too small to see on a chest xray or be used to accurately assess the size of the pneumothorax
Management of pneumothorax?
if no SOB and there is a < 2cm rim of air on the chest xray then no treatment required as it will spontaneously resolve. Follow up in 2-4 weeks is recommended.
If SOB and/or there is a > 2cm rim of air on the chest xray then it will require aspiration and reassessment.
If aspiration fails twice it will require a chest drain.
Unstable patients or bilateral or secondary pneumothoraces generally require a chest drain.
Persistent air leak or recurrent pneumothoraces - video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) should be considered to allow for mechanical/chemical pleurodesis +/- bullectomy.
Stop smoking, don’t fly for 2 weeks, no scuba diving for life
What is tension pneumothorax?
It is caused by trauma to chest wall that creates a one-way valve that lets air in but not out of the pleural space. Means with each breath more air drawn in.
This is dangerous as it creates pressure inside the thorax that will push the mediastinum across, kink the big vessels in the mediastinum and cause cardiorespiratory arrest.
Signs of tension pneumothorax?
Tracheal deviation away from side of pneumothorax
Reduced air entry to affected side
Increased resonant to percussion on affected side
Tachycardia
Hypotension
Management of tension pneumothorax?
Insert a large bore cannula into the second intercostal space in the midclavicular line.
If a tension pneumothorax is suspected do not wait for any investigations. Once the pressure is relieved with a cannula then a chest drain is required for definitive management.
What is the triangle of safety for inserting chest drain?
The 5th intercostal space (or the inferior nipple line)
The mid axillary line (or the lateral edge of the latissimus dorsi)
The anterior axillary line (or the lateral edge of the pectoris major)
The needle is inserted just above the rib to avoid the neurovascular bundle that runs just below the rib. Once the chest drain is inserted obtain a chest xray to check the positioning.
Features of pneumothorax?
dyspnoea
chest pain: often pleuritic
sweating
tachypnoea
tachycardia
What is sarcoidosis?
granulomatous inflammatory condition. Granulomas are nodules of inflammation full of macrophages. Unknown aetiology.
It is usually associated with chest symptoms but also has multiple extra-pulmonary manifestations such as erythema nodosum and lymphadenopathy.
two spikes in incidence, in young adulthood and again around age 60. Women are affected more often and it occurs more frequently in black people compared with other ethnic groups.
Features of sarcoidosis?
Lungs - mediastinal lymphadenopathy, pulmonary fibrosis, pulmonary nodules
Skin - erythema nodosum, Lupus pernio, granulomas in scar tissue
Eyes - uveitis, conjunctivitis, optic neuritis
Systemic - fever, fatigue, WL
Liver - nodules, cirrhosis, cholestasis
Heart - bundle branch block, heart block, myocardial muscle involvement
Kidney - stones, nephritis
CNS - nodules, DI, encephalopathy
PNS - facial nerve palsy, mononeuritis multiplex
Bones - arthralgia, arthritis, myopathy
Mikulicz syndrome* there is enlargement of the parotid and lacrimal glands due to sarcoidosis, tuberculosis or lymphoma
Heerfordt’s syndrome (uveoparotid fever) there is parotid enlargement, fever and uveitis secondary to sarcoidosis
What is Lofgren’s syndrome?
A specific presentation of sarcoidosis. It is characteristic by a triad of:
Erythema nodosum
Bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy
Polyarthralgia (joint pain in multiple joints)
Ix for sarcoidosis?
Bloods - Raised serum ACE. This is often used as a screening test., Hypercalcaemia (rasied calcium) is a key finding. Raised serum soluble interleukin-2 receptor. Raised CRP. Raised immunoglobulins
CXR - hilar lymphadenopathy - stage 0-4
High-resolution CT thorax - hilar lymphadenopathy and pulmonary nodules
MRI can show CNS involvement
PET scan can show active inflammation in affected areas
Histology - via bronchoscopy with ultrasound guided biopsy of mediastinal lymph nodes - shows characteristic non-caseating granulomas with epithelioid cells.
Tests for other organ involvement:
U&Es for kidney involvement
Urine dipstick or urine albumin-creatinine ratio to look for proteinuria indicating nephritis
LFTs for liver involvement
Ophthalmology review for eye involvement
ECG and echocardiogram for heart involvement
Ultrasound abdomen for liver and kidney involvement
Treatment of sarcoidosis?
No treatment is considered as first line in patients with no or mild symptoms as the condition often resolves spontaneously. (60% of all patients resolve in 6m)
Oral steroids are usually first line where treatment is required and are given for between 6 and 24 months. Patients should be given bisphosphonates to protect against osteoporosis whilst on such long term steroids.
Second line options are methotrexate or azathioprine
Lung transplant is rarely required in severe pulmonary disease (pulmonary fibrosis and hypertension)
Causes and features of OSA?
caused by collapse of the pharyngeal airway during sleep. It is characterised by apnoea episodes during sleep where the person will stop breathing periodically for up to a few minutes
Predisposing factors:
obesity
macroglossia: acromegaly, hypothyroidism, amyloidosis
large tonsils
Marfan’s syndrome
Partner often complains of excessive snoring and may report periods of apnoea.
Consequences: daytime somnolence, compensated respiratory acidosis, hypertension, increase risk of MI and stroke
Ix and Tx of OSA?
Ix:
Epworth Sleepiness Scale - questionnaire completed by patient +/- partner
Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT) - measures the time to fall asleep in a dark room (using EEG criteria)
sleep studies (polysomnography) - pulse oximetry, EEG, respiratory airflow etc.
Tx:
weight loss
continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is first line for moderate or severe OSAHS
intra-oral devices (e.g. mandibular advancement) may be used if CPAP is not tolerated or for patients with mild OSAHS where there is no daytime sleepiness
the DVLA should be informed if OSAHS is causing excessive daytime sleepiness
surgery - if severe - uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP).
What is bronchiectasis?
a permanent dilatation of the airways secondary to chronic infection or inflammation.
Causes - post-infective: tuberculosis, measles, pertussis, pneumonia, cystic fibrosis, bronchial obstruction e.g. lung cancer/foreign body, immune deficiency: selective IgA, hypogammaglobulinaemia, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA), ciliary dyskinetic syndromes: Kartagener’s syndrome, Young’s syndrome, yellow nail syndrome
Features of bronchiectasis?
persistent productive cough. Large volumes of sputum may be expectorated
dyspnoea
haemoptysis
O/E
abnormal chest auscultation - coarse crackles, wheeze
clubbing may be present
Management of bronchiectasis?
After assessing for treatable causes (e.g. immune deficiency) management is as follows:
physical training (e.g. inspiratory muscle training) - has a good evidence base for patients with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis
postural drainage
antibiotics for exacerbations + long-term rotating antibiotics in severe cases
bronchodilators in selected cases
immunisations
surgery in selected cases (e.g. Localised disease)
