Respiratory Flashcards
Most common organism in bronchiectasis
H influenza - most common
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Klebsiella
Strept pneumoniae
Main features of bronchiectasis
Chronic persistent cough
Copious excessive sputum
Recurrent respiratory tract infections
Clubbing - not specific, not always present
Tramlines , cysts/ring opacities on CXR
Bronchiectasis
*CXR can often be normal
How do you confirm dx
HRCT
= shows bronchial dilatation and wall thickening w/ ground glass opacities
Management of bronchiectasis
Bronchiectasis = permanent dilation of airways 2ry to infection/inflammation
-chest physio
-postural drainage
- ABx treatment in exacerbation / long term in severe cases
-bronchodilators - selected cases
Immunisation
Surgery - selected cases = e.g localised disease
Features of life threatening asthma (11)
Altered mental status w/ drowsiness Silent chest Poor resp effort Exhaustion Cyanosis Arrhythmia Hypotension PEF <33% predicted or best Spo2 < 92% PaO2 <8 Paco2 = normal = 4.6-6 kpa
Suspect mesothelioma or bronchial carcinoma when ….
(Malignant tumour of mesothelial cells)
How do you confirm dx?
Worker - builder , shipyard worker etc
Asbestos exposure
SOB + chest pain + weight loss
Clubbing, recurrent pleural effusion
Pleural BIOPSY (not cytology)
Asbestos exposure in ..
Firefighters
Construction workers
Power plant workers
Shipyard etc
Veterans
Who should deaths from mesothelioma be reported to and why?
It is an industrial disease - leads to unnatural death
Report/ consult coroner
Compensation often available
60 y/o builder, Smoker , Comes with SOB + chest pain
CT - irregular pleural thickening
CXR - mediastinal lymphadenopathy + rt sided pleural effusion
Dx, cause ?
Mesothelioma
Cause - asbestos
80% of mesotheliomas are due to it
If he dies - refer to coroner
When should you suspect atelectasis?
Dyspnoea Tachycardia \+/-Fever Hypoxemia Within 72 hrs post op
Management of atelectasis
Chest physio
Common cause of tension pneumothorax
Mechanical ventilation
- suspect if pt suddenly deteriorates and develops low O2 sat + hypotension
Management of pneumothorax
High O2 initially
Needle decompression - large bore 2nd ICS mid clavicular line
Chest drain
If pt stable - CXR
Features of cardiac tamponade
Becks triad = hypotension , muffled heart sounds, high JVP (distended neck veins)
CXR - large globular heart - pericardial effusion or tamponade
Dx + Tx of cardiac tamponade
Echo
Urgent pericardiocentesis
Primary spontaneous pneumothorax
Consider in …
Initial dx?
Tall thin males - dyspnoea + chest pain
No apparent reason, NO hx of lung disease
Dx = erect CXR if pt not severely distressed
Other wise proceed to needle decompression
Secondary spontaneous pneumothorax
Initial management
Occurs spontaneously
In presence of underlying lung disease - asthma, COPD
If pneumothorax = 2cm air rim (<= 50%) — aspirate/insert cannula
If >2 cm - insert chest drain
Haemothorax vs pneumothorax
No distended neck veins in haemothorax
Treatment of community acquired pneumonia
Mild
Amoxicillin
Treatment of community acquired pneumonia
Moderate
Amoxicillin + clarithromycin
Treatment of community acquired pneumonia
Severe
Co-amoxiclav +clarithromycin
Treatment of pneumocystitis jirovecii
P.Carinii
Co trimoxazole
(Trimethoprim + sulfamethoxazole)
AKA Bacterim
In case of
-severe allergy to penicillin
-pt is on statins
What antibiotics should be given in community acquired pneumonia
AVOID Cephalosporin - cefuroxime in severe allergy - 10% cross reactivity clarithromycin
AVOID clarithromycin - if on statins - risk of rhabdomyolysis
GIVE doxycycline