Respiratory Flashcards
Most common infective cause of COPD exacerbation?
Haemophilus influenzae
What are some infective causes of COPD exacerbation?
- haemophilus influenzae
- streptococcus pneumoniae
- moraxella catarrhalis
- haemophilus parainfluenzae
- pseudomonas aeruginosa
Signs of a life-threatening asthma attack?
- SpO2 < 92%
- PEFR < 33%
- silent chest
- poor respiratory effort
- altered consciousness
- confusion / agitation
- exhaustion
- cyanosis
What are some side effects of salbutamol?
- arrhythmias
- headache
- palpitations
- tremor
- hyperglycaemia
- hypokalaemia (with high doses)
Most common lung cancer in non-smokers?
Adenocarcinoma
What is the CURB65 score?
- Confusion
- Urea > 7 mmol/L
- Respiratory rate > 30
- Blood pressure (systolic < 90 or diastolic < 60)
- age > 65
What is the dyspnoea scale used for COPD?
Medical Research Council dyspnoea scale.
Grade 1 MRC dyspnoea scale?
Not troubled by breathlessness except on vigorous exertion.
Grade 2 MRC dyspnoea scale?
Short of breath when hurrying / walking up inclines.
Grade 3 MRC dyspnoea scale?
Walks slower than contemporaries because of breathlessness, or has to stop for breath when walking at own pace.
Grade 4 MRC dyspnoea scale?
Stops for breath after walking about 100m or stops after a few minutes’ walking on level ground.
Grade 5 MRC dyspnoea scale?
Too breathless to leave the house / breathless on dressing or undressing.
Second line COPD medication?
LABA
What is COPD?
Progressive obstructive airway disease that is not fully reversible. Results from disease of the airways and lung parenchyma (chronic bronchitis and emphysema).
What is meant by emphysema?
Damage to alveoli resulting in the rupture of alveolar walls. This creates large airspaces instead of many small ones.
Causes of COPD?
- smoking
- occupational exposures (coal dust)
- alpha 1 antitrypsin deficiency
Risk factors for COPD?
- smoking
- older age
- occupational exposure to dust, chemicals, etc
- alpha 1 antitrypsin deficiency
- air pollution exposure
Pathophysiology of chronic bronchitis?
- chronic inflammation and fibrosis of the bronchi and bronchioles
- neutrophil, T lymphocyte, and macrophage infiltration
- leads to goblet cell hyperplasia, mucus hypersecretion, narrowing of small airways
Pathophysiology of emphysema?
- inflammatory cells such as macrophages and neutrophils produce proteases (e.g. elastase)
- elastase destroys elastin (important for the structural integrity of the alveoli)
- alveoli become prone to collapse, and there is alveolar dilatation (may join neighbouring alveoli to form bullae)
How does COPD lead to cor pulmonale?
- chronic hypoxia causes pulmonary artery vasoconstriction
- chronic elevation of pulmonary arterial pressure results in right heart failure
Signs and symptoms of COPD?
- chronic productive cough
- dyspnoea
- sputum production
- wheeze
- pursed lip breathing
- barrel chest
- coarse crackles on auscultation
Why do COPD patients show pursed lip breathing?
Attempt to prevent alveolar collapse by increasing end expiratory pressure.
Signs of acute COPD exacerbation?
- worsening dyspnoea and cough
- increased sputum production or a change in sputum colour
- pyrexia
- signs of CO2 retention - flapping tremor and asterixis
- accessory muscle use
What are signs of CO2 retention?
- asterixis
- flapping tremor
- confusion
- headache
Investigations for COPD?
- spirometry with reversibility testing
- CXR
- sputum culture
- ECG / echocardiogram if cor pulmonale suspected
- serum A1AT
What does spirometry show in COPD?
- normal / reduced FVC
- reduced FEV1
- FEV1 / FVC less than 70%
No / little reversibility.
Differentials for COPD?
- asthma
- congestive heart failure
- bronchiectasis
- lung cancer
- tuberculosis
Non-pharmacological management of COPD?
- smoking cessation
- inhaler technique
- influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations
- pulmonary rehabilitation
- long term oxygen therapy if appropriate
Pharmacological management of COPD?
- SABA (salbutamol) / SAMA (ipratropium)
- LABA and LAMA / ICS (if responsive)
- LABA, LAMA, ICS
Example of inhaled corticosteroid?
- fluticasone
- beclomethasone
Medication for excessive sputum production?
Mucolytics (e.g. carbocisteine).
Surgical options for COPD?
- bullectomy
- lung transplantation
Management of acute COPD exacerbation?
- oxygen to 88-92% (Venturi mask for specific concentration)
- salbutamol / ipratropium nebulisers
- oral / IV corticosteroids
- antibiotics
What antibiotics are used in acute COPD exacerbation?
- doxycycline
- co-amoxiclav
When is IV aminophylline / theophylline indicated in COPD?
Severe acute exacerbation - not first line.
What is asthma?
Chronic inflammatory condition of the airways, causing episodic exacerbations of bronchoconstriction.
What type of hypersensitivity reaction is allergic asthma?
Type 1 (IgE mediated).
What type of respiratory failure occurs in COPD?
Type 2 (low oxygen, high CO2).
What is meant by brittle asthma?
Asthma that worsens suddenly or severely, characterised by wide variation of PEFR despite high doses of steroids.
What are the two types of asthma?
- eosinophilic (allergic)
- non-eosinophilic
What is atopy?
Genetic predisposition to allergic asthma, atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis.
What is Samter’s triad?
Aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease:
- asthma
- aspirin sensitivity
- nasal polyps
Risk factors for asthma?
- smoking / smoking exposure
- premature birth and low birth weight
- family Hx of atopy
- occupational exposure (dust, flour)
- low socioeconomic status
Pathophysiology of asthma?
- inhalation of allergens results in a type 1 hypersensitivity reaction in the airways
- sensitisation results in the release of IgE antibodies from plasma cells, which bind to mast cell receptors
- subsequent antigen exposure causes mast cell degranulation and histamine release, causing smooth muscle contraction, bronchoconstriciton, and inflammation
- following the initial reaction, inflammatory cell recruitment occurs
- fibrosis and airway remodelling eventually occur in response to chronic inflammation
Signs and symptoms of asthma?
- dry cough
- dyspnoea
- expiratory wheeze
- chest tightness
- poor sleep / nocturnal symptoms
Provoking factors for an asthma attack?
- allergens
- infection
- exercise
- cold air
PEFR in life threatening asthma attack?
less than 33% of normal
Signs and symptoms of severe vs life threatening asthma attack?
Severe - can’t complete sentences due to worsening symptoms.
Life-threatening - silent chest, cyanosis, exhaustion, confusion, poor respiratory effort.
Investigations for asthma?
- spirometry (with reversibility testing)
- PEFR diary
- immunoassay for allergen-specific IgE
- CXR - normal or hyperinflated
Spirometry results in asthma?
- FVC normal or reduced
- FEV1 reduced
- FEV1 / FVC less than 70%
Asthma shows reversibility with bronchodilators.
Side effect of high doses of salbutamol?
Hypokalaemia
Acute management of severe asthma attack?
- oxygen (target 94-98%)
- salbutamol nebulisers
- ipratropium nebulisers
- IV hydrocortisone
Non-pharmacological management of asthma?
- inhaler technique
- identify and avoid triggers
Pharmacological management of asthma?
- salbutamol (SABA)
- ICS (beclamethasone)
- LABA
- increase dose of ICS or leukotriene receptor antagonist
Example of leukotriene receptor antagonist?
Montelukast
Example of LABA?
Salmeterol
Side effects of ICS?
- hoarse voice
- sore throat
- oral candidiasis
What is MART?
Maintenance and reliever therapy - combined corticosteroid and bronchodilator inhaler.
Common types of inhaler?
- metered dose inhaler
- dry powder inhaler
Complications of asthma?
- pneumonia
- respiratory failure
- pneumothorax
- fatigue
What proportion of primary lung cancer is small cell lung cancer?
15-20%
What is small cell lung cancer?
- high grade, neuroendocrine tumour
- associated with paraneoplastic syndromes
What are the three types of non-small cell lung cancer?
- adenocarcinoma
- squamous cell carcinoma
- large cell lung cancer
Most common lung cancer?
Adenocarcinoma
Where in the lung does adenocarcinoma occur?
Peripheries
Where in the lung does squamous cell carcinoma occur?
Central parts
Characteristics of large cell lung cancer?
- undifferentiated
- metastasises early
T1 lung cancer?
Tumour is less than 3cm and surrounded by the lung / visceral pleura. No involvement of the main bronchus.
T2 lung cancer?
Tumour is 3-5cm OR involves main bronchus (not carina) / invasion of visceral pleura.
T3 lung cancer?
Tumour is 5-7cm OR involves the chest wall, pericardium, phrenic nerve, or satellite nodules (accessory foci) in the same lobe.
T4 lung cancer?
Tumour > 7cm OR invades the mediastinum, diaphragm, heart, great vessels, carina / trachea, oesophagus OR separate tumour in different lobe of the same lung.
Which lung cancers is asbestos exposure associated with?
- mesothelioma
- adenocarcinoma
Most common lung cancer in smokers?
Squamous cell
Most common lung cancer in non-smokers?
Adenocarcinoma
Clinical presentation of lung cancer?
- cough
- malaise
- weight loss
- haemoptysis
- lymphadenopathy
Investigations for lung cancer?
- CXR
- CT thorax and abdomen
- bronchoscopic biopsy
Management of lung cancer?
- smoking cessation
- surgical resection
- radiotherapy
- chemotherapy
- palliative care
Common sites of lung cancer metastasis?
- bones
- brain
- liver
- adrenal glands
Paraneoplastic syndromes associated with small cell lung cancer?
- hypercalcaemia
- SIADH
- Lambert-Eaton syndrome
What is mesothelioma?
Lung malignancy affecting the mesothelial cells of the pleura. Caused by asbestos inhalation.
What is a pulmonary embolism?
Occlusion / obstruction of the pulmonary artery or one of its branches.
What is meant by a non-massive PE?
Haemodynamically stable with no evidence of right heart strain.
What is meant by sub-massive PE?
Haemodynamically stable with evidence of right heart strain.
What is meant by massive PE?
Haemodynamic instability due to right heart strain / failure.
Typical cause of PE?
Embolus arising from DVT.
Pathophysiology of PE?
- occlusion of one of the pulmonary arteries leads to absence of perfusion to that area of the lung
- V/Q mismatch leads to hypoxia and breathlessness
- V/Q mismatch may also cause elevated pulmonary arterial pressure, resulting in acute right heart failure
Why does infarction usually not occur in PE?
Prevented by the bronchial circulation.
Classic presentation of PE?
New onset shortness of breath, pleuritic chest pain, features of DVT.
Signs and symptoms of PE?
- new onset shortness of breath
- pleuritic chest pain
- features of DVT
- cough
- haemoptysis
- low grade fever
- tachycardia
- syncope / dizziness
Signs of right heart failure?
- hypotension
- raised JVP
- tricuspid regurgitation (pan-systolic murmur)
Scoring system for PE?
Wells score:
- greater than 4 means PE is likely
- 4 or less means PE is unlikely
Gold standard investigation for PE?
CT pulmonary angiography
ECG changes in PE?
- sinus tachycardia most common finding
- S1Q3T3 (acute right heart failure): deep S wave, Q wave, T wave inversion
What is the PESI score?
Pulmonary embolism severity index - predicts 30 day outcome of patients with confirmed PE.
Investigations to assess right heart strain in PE?
- troponin
- ECG
- echocardiography
Empirical anticoagulation for suspected PE?
LMWH