Respiratory Flashcards
What is the definition of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)?
A chronic lung condition characterised by breathlessness due to poorly reversible and progressive airflow obstruction. It consists of chronic bronchitis and emphysema
What is the aetiology of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)?
Tobacco smoking, workplace exposure to dust, alpha-1 anti-trypsin deficiency
What is the pathophysiology of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)?
In emphysema, irritants and chemicals trigger inflammatory mediators to release matrix destructive enzymes which leads to elastin destruction and enlargement of alveolar air spaces and results in air trapping.
What is the clinical presentation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)?
Sudden onset of exertional breathlessness on a background of prolonged cough and sputum production, wheeze, finger clubbing
What are the investigations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)?
o Spirometry:
oFEV1 < 0.8
oFEV1/FVC < 0.7
o Chest X-ray: hyperinflation
What is the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)?
Smoking cessation, anti-mucolytic treatment
o Short-acting beta-2 agonist for symptom relief (salbutamol) or short-acting muscarinic antagonist (ipratropium bromide)
o Long-acting beta-2 agonist (salmeterol), long-acting muscarinic antagonist (tiotropium bromide), inhaled corticosteroid (budesonide)
o Long-term oxygen therapy
What is the definition of asthma?
Chronic inflammatory disorder of large airways characterised by recurrent episodes of reversible airway narrowing
What is the aetiology of asthma?
Triggered by cold air, exercise, cigarette smoke, air pollution, allergens
What is the clinical presentation of asthma?
Wheeze (widespread, polyphonic), breathlessness, chest tightness, dry cough (particularly at night)
What are the investigations of asthma?
o Spirometry: oFEV1 < 0.8 oFEV1/FVC < 0.7 o15% improvement in FEV1 or PEFR following the inhalation of a bronchodilator o Peak flow measurement: variable o Chest X-ray: hyperinflation
What is the treatment of asthma?
o Short-acting beta-2 agonist for symptom relief (salbutamol, terbutaline)
o Standard dose inhaled corticosteroid daily (budesonide)
o Leukotriene receptor antagonist (montelukast)
o Long-acting beta-2 agonist (salmeterol)
o Increase inhaled corticosteroid dose
What is the criteria of moderate acute asthma?
Increasing symptoms, peak flow > 50-75% best or predicted
What is the criteria of severe acute asthma?
Peak flow 33-50% best or predicted, respiratory rate ≥ 25/min, heart rate ≥ 110/min, inability to complete sentences in one breath
What is the criteria of life-threatening acute asthma?
Peak flow < 33% best or predicted, arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2) < 92%, partial arterial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) < 8kPa, normal partial arterial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2), silent chest, cyanosis, poor respiratory effort, arrythmia, exhaustion, altered conscious level, hypotension
What is the criteria of near-fatal acute asthma?
Raised PaCO2 and/or the need for mechanical ventilation with raised inflation pressures
What is the definition of respiratory failure?
PO2 < 8kPa
o Type 1: normal or low pCO2
o Type 2: high pCO2
What is the aetiology of respiratory failure?
o Type 1: severe pneumonia, pulmonary embolism, acute asthma, pulmonary fibrosis (ventilation/perfusion mismatch)
o Type 2: COPD (alveolar hypoventilation)
What is the clinical presentation of respiratory failure?
Hypoxia (dyspnoea, restlessness, agitation, confusion, central cyanosis)
Hypercapnia (headache, peripheral vasodilation, tachycardia, bounding pulse, tremor/flap, papilledema, confusion, drowsiness, coma)
What is the treatment of respiratory failure?
Treat underlying cause, oxygen therapy
What is the definition of hypersensitivity pneumonitis?
Interstitial lung disease caused by a hypersensitivity immune reaction to inhaled antigens
What is the aetiology of hypersensitivity pneumonitis?
Thermophilic bacteria (mouldy hay, cheese), fungi, avian proteins (bird faeces)
What is the clinical presentation of hypersensitivity pneumonitis?
Breathlessness, cough, fever, malaise, weight loss
What are the investigations of hypersensitivity pneumonitis?
o CT: interstitial opacities (mottling) and small nodules
o Bronchoalveolar lavage: raised lymphocytes, mast cells
What is the treatment of hypersensitivity pneumonitis?
Identify causative agent and avoid exposure, prednisolone
What is the definition of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis?
Formation of scar tissue within the lungs with no known cause
What is the clinical presentation of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis?
Dyspnoea, dry cough, bibasal crackles, malaise, weight loss, arthralgia, cyanosis, finger clubbing, fine end-inspiratory crepitations
What are the investigations of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis?
High resolution CT: ground glass/honeycomb appearance, decreased volume
What is the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis?
Smoking cessation, pirfenidone, nintedanib, lung transplant
What is the definition of Goodpasture’s syndrome?
Autoimmune anti-glomerular basement membrane (anti-GBM) disease, where antibodies attack the basement membrane (IV collagen) in the lungs and the kidney
What is the clinical presentation of Goodpasture’s syndrome?
o Renal: oliguria/anuria, haematuria, acute kidney injury, renal failure
o Pulmonary: pulmonary haemorrhage, shortness of breath, haemoptysis
What are the investigations of Goodpasture’s syndrome?
Lung and kidney biopsy: anti-GBM antibodies
What is the treatment of Goodpasture’s syndrome?
Supportive, corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, plasmapheresis