Respiratory Flashcards
What is seen on spirometry in restrictive airways disease?
FEV1/FVC ratio>0.7
What is seen on spirometry for obstructive airways disease?
FEV1/FVC ratio < 0.7
Which conditions cause restrictive airways disease?
Pulmonary fibrosis Asbestosis Sarcoidosis ARDS Ankylosing spondylitis Neuromuscular disorders (e.g. Myasthenia gravis/MND) Obesity
Which conditions cause obstructive airways disease?
COPD
Asthma
Bronchiectasis
Cystic fibrosis
What is pulmonary fibrosis?
Diseases which cause interstitial lung damage and eventually fibrosis
How does pulmonary fibrosis present?
Dry cough Shortness of breath Fatigue Arthralgia Weight loss Fatigue
What are signs seen in pulmonary fibrosis?
Cyanosis
Clubbing
Fine end-inspiratory crackles
Reduced chest expansion
What are causes of pulmonary fibrosis?
Lung damage - pneumonia, TB, infarction Irritants - e.g. coal dust, silica Idiopathic Extrinsic allergic alveolitis Connective tissue diseases Hypersensitivity pneumonitis
How is pulmonary fibrosis diagnosed?
CT showing ground glass opacification
What are causes of upper lobe fibrosis? (Non drug)
CHARTS
Coal workers pneumonitis, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, ankylosing spondylitis, radiation, tuberculosis, sarcoidosis
What are causes of lower lobe fibrosis?
Idiopathic
Asbestosis
All other connective tissue disorders (except ankylosing spondylitis)
Drugs - eg. Amiodarone/Methotrexate
Which drugs can cause pulmonary fibrosis?
MADNeSs
Methotrexate, Amiodarone, dopamine agonists, Nitrofurantoin, sulfasalazine
Amiodarone
Methotrexate
Sulfasalazine
Nitrofurantoin
Dopamine agonists (bromocriptine/cabergoline)
What is type 1 respiratory failure?
Low oxygen, co2 normal
Why does type 1 respiratory failure occur?
Ventilation-perfusion mismatch (V/Q mismatch)
Asthma, congestive heart failure, PE, pneumonia, pneumothorax
What is type 2 respiratory failure?
Low oxygen, high co2
Why does type 2 respiratory failure occur?
Alveolar hypoventilation
COPD, pulmonary fibrosis, opiates, neuromuscular disease
What is acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)?
Non cardiogenic pulmonary oedema and diffuse lung inflammation, usually secondary to an underlying illness
What are pulmonary causes of ARDS?
Chest sepsis
Aspiration
Inhalation injury
Pulmonary contusion (bruise in or on lungs caused by force to the chest)
TRALI
What are non-pulmonary causes of ARDS?
Sepsis from a non-pulmonary cause
Acute pancreatitis
DIC
Drug overdose
How does ARDS present?
Acute onset respiratory failure which does not respond to supplementary oxygen
Dyspnoea
Tachypnoea
Bilateral crackles
Low sats
What shows on chest x-ray in ARDS?
Bilateral infiltrates (pulmonary oedema)
What is asthma?
A condition of reversible airway obstruction
What are symptoms of asthma?
Wheeze
Dyspnoea
Cough
Diurnal variation of 20%
Personal or family history of atopy
What are signs of asthma?
Tachypnoea
Hyper-inflated chest
Wheeze on auscultation
Reduced PEFR
SOB
How is asthma diagnosed?
Spirometry - obstructive picture (low FEV1)
fractional exhaled inhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) - high result
Bronchodilator reversibility of at least 12% on spirometry
What is the step-wise management for asthma? (NICE guidance)
1) SABA (salbutamol)
2) low dose ICS (Beclometasone/mometsone etc)
3) Montelukast
4) LABA (Salmeterol)
5) increase ICS to moderate dose
6) increase ICS to high dose
What is a moderate exacerbation of asthma?
PEFR 50-75% of predicted
How is a moderate exacerbation of asthma managed?
Salbutamol inhaler with spacer (short pause between puffs)
If worsening despite Salbutamol - consider admission
Quadruple ICS dose for 14 days (or add oral prednisolone)
If not admitting to hospital - follow up in 48 hours
How does a severe exacerbation of asthma present?
PEFR = 33-50% of predicted
Resp rate >25
Heart rate >110
Inability to complete sentences or accessory muscle use
Oxygen sats of at least 92%
When is oxygen given in an acute asthma exacerbation and what oxygen is given?
If sats drop below 94%
15L via non-rebreather mask
How is a severe exacerbation of asthma managed?
- Initial bronchodilator treatment (use of SABA Inhaler)
- If no improvement -> admit to hospital
- Nebulised salbutamol + Nebulised ipratropium bromide
- IV Magnesium sulphate if no response
Oral prednisolone (to everyone)
If low sats -> oxygen
What is the management of acute asthma exacerbations in hospital?
Everyone who is admitted gets salbutamol nebs, ipratropium bromide nebs + oral pred
If needed - oxygen
If no improvement - senior review for consideration of IV mag sulphate/ IV hydrocortisone
What is a life threatening asthma exacerbation?
PEFR = <33% Silent chest Altered consciousness Exhaustion Cardiac arrhythmia Hpotension Cyanosis Oxygen sats less than 92%
ONLY NEED ONE OF ABOVE TO BE LIFE THREATENING
How is a life threatening asthma exacerbation managed?
Needs admission
Oxygen if needed
Salbutamol and ipratropium bromide nebs
Quadruple ICS
If no improvement - IV hydrocortisone/IV magnesium sulphate
What suggests a near fatal exacerbation of asthma?
Normal or raised CO2
What is Samter’s triad?
Asthma
Nasal polyps
Aspirin sensitivity
What should you not prescribe in a patient with a history of asthma and nasal polyps?
Aspirin
What is COPD? What are the two components?
COPD is an umbrella term which includes conditions which cause irreversible airway obstruction
Comprising of chronic bronchitis (hypertrophy and hyperplasia of the mucus glands in the bronchi) –> Chronic cough + sputum
And emphysema (enlargement of the air spaces and destruction of alveolar walls) –> Chronic SOB
What are symptoms of COPD?
Productive cough
Wheeze
Dyspnoea
Reduced exercise tolerance
What are signs of COPD?
Tachypnoea
Hyperinflated chest
Reduced chest expansion
Wheeze
Cyanosis
Cor pulmonale (heart failure caused by pulmonary hypertension)
Hyperresonant percussion
What is seen on spirometry in COPD?
Obstructive picture (ratio <0.7)
FEV1 = less than 80% of predicted
What is seen on chest x-ray in COPD?
Hyperinflated chest (can see more than 6 ribs)
Decreased peripheral markings
Flattened diaphragm
Bullae
What is the stepwise management of COPD?
1) SABA or SAMA
2) if asthmatic features - add LABA and ICS
2) if no asthmatic features - add LABA and LAMA (if on a SAMA, switch to SABA)
3) SABA + LABA + LAMA + ICS
What can you do if someone is still having continued exacerbations for COPD despite being on SABA + LABA + LAMA + ICS?
Specialist referral for Azathioprine
What are indications for long term oxygen in COPD?
PaO2 < 7.3 on two readings more than 3 weeks apart
PaO2 7.3-8 plus one of:
Nocturnal hypoxia, polcythaemia, peripheral oedema, pulmonary HTN
PATIENT NEEDS TO BE A NON-SMOKER
What vaccines are needed in COPD?
Annual influenza vaccine
One off pneumococcal vaccine
What antibiotic prophylaxis can be given in COPD?
Azithromycin (make sure to check ECG to exclude long QT as Azithromycin can prolong QT)
What is the most common organism responsible for COPD exacerbations?
Haemophilius influenzae
How are COPD exacerbations managed?
If patient is well enough to be at home - 30mg prednisolone, inhalers, and antibiotics ( only if sputum is purulent)
If sputum is not purulent - oral prednisolone only
If admission is needed - nebulisers, oxygen is <94%
Choice of Abx = Doxycycline/Amoxicillin/Clarithromycin
Which are first line antibiotics for COPD exacerbations?
Amoxicillin/doxycycline/Clarithromycin
Which are second line antibiotics for COPD exacerbation?
Co-amoxiclav/levofloxacin
What is pulmonary hypertension?
Hypertension of the pulmonary arteries
What are features of pulmonary hypertension?
Shortness of breath
Fatigue
Syncope
Raised JVP
Pansystolic murmur (tricuspid regurgitation)
End-diastolic murmur (pulmonary regurgitation)
What are causes of pulmonary hypertension?
COPD, Asthma, interstitial lung disease, Bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis
Idiopathic
PE
Sleep apnoea
Neuromuscular conditions
Heart problems
What is seen on ECG in pulmonary hypertension?
P pulmonale (increased amplitude of P wave)
Right axis deviation
How is pulmonary hypertension diagnosed?
Right heart catheterisation
What is cor pulmonale?
Right sided heart failure caused by respiratory disease
Respiratory disease -> pulmonary hypertension -> RV cannot pump blood into pulmonary arteries -> leads to backflow into the vena cava
What are causes of cor pulmonale?
Most common = COPD
Others = PE, cystic fibrosis, idiopathic pulmonary HTN
How does cor pulmonale present?
Same as right sided heart failure
Peripheral oedema
Raised JVP
Hepatomegaly
Cyanosis
SOB
What is Bronchiectasis?
Permanent dilation of the bronchi and bronchioles - usually due to chronic infection
How does Bronchiectasis present?
Productive cough with purulent sputum
Haemoptysis
Finger clubbing
Coarse inspiration crackles
Wheeze
What is seen on spirometry in Bronchiectasis?
An obstructive pattedn
How is Bronchiectasis managed?
Chest physio
Antibiotics
Bronchodilators
Prednisolone
What is acute bronchitis?
A self-limiting chest infection which is usually viral
How does acute bronchitis present?
Cough - may be productive
Sore throat
Rhinorrhoea
Wheeze
How is acute bronchitis managed?
Supportive mainly
If CRP >100 = doxycycline (Amoxicillin in pregnancy)
If systemically unwell or any co-morbidities also give antibiotics
What organisms most commonly cause pneumonia?
Strep pneumonia / haemophilius influenzae
In alcoholics/diabetics - klebsiella pneumoniae
Hospital-acquired - pseudomonas/staph aureus
What is suggestive of a klebsiella cause of pneumonia?
Red currant sputum
What are symptoms of pneumonia?
Fever, malaise, rigours
Cough with purulent sputum
Pleuritic chest pain
May be haemopytsis
What are signs of pneumonia?
Tachycardia
Tachypnoea
Pyrexia
Hypotension
Confusion
What cause of pneumonia should you consider if LFTs are deranged?
Legionella or Mycoplasma
Which risk score is used to determine management of pneumonia?
CURB-65
Confusion - 1 Urea >7 - 1 Resp rates >30 - 1 BP <90 systolic or <60 diastolic - 1 Aged >65 - 1
How is pneumonia managed?
Low Severity
CRB65 of 0 or CURB65 of 0/1 = Oral Amox/Doxy/Clarithro/Erythro (outpatient care)
Moderate Severity
CRB65 of 1/2 or CURB65 of 2 = Amox + Clarithro/Erythro (consider admission)
High Severity
CRB65 of 3/4 or CURB65 of 3-5 = IV Co-amox + Clarithro/Erythro (admission)
What causes aspiration pneumonia?
Occurs in patients with an unsafe swallow
Stroke
Myasthenia gravis
Bulbar palsy
Achalasia