Respiratory Flashcards
Define lung abscess
A lung abscess is a well-circumscribed infection within the lung parenchyma.
What is the most common cause of a lung abscess?
Aspiration pneumonia
What are the features of a lung abscess?
similar features to pneumonia but generally runs a more subacute presentation symptoms may develop over weeks systemic features such as night sweats and weight loss may be seen fever productive cough often foul-smelling sputum haemoptysis in a minority of patients chest pain dyspnoea signs dull percussion and bronchial breathing clubbing may be seen
What kind of productive cough (sputum) is associated with a lung abscess?
Foul-smelling sputum
What CXR appearances are associated with a lung abscess?
fluid-filled space within an area of consolidation
an air-fluid level is typically seen
What is the management of a lung abscess?
ABx
If unresolved consider percutaneous drainage
Which lung cancer is associated with ectopic secretion of ACTH?
Small cell lung cancer
What syndromes are associated with small cell lung cancers?
Paraneoplastic syndrome
syndrome of inappropriate ADH secretion (SIADH), Lambert-Eaton syndrome and Cushing’s syndrome.
What would a high-dose dexamethasone test reveal in small cell lung cancers (ectopic ACTH secretion)?
Not suppressed cortisol or ACTH
What is the definition of stage 1 hypertension?
135/85 mmHg
What is the management of steroid-responsiveness COPD?
LABA/ICS
In a patient with a large pleural effusion what is the first-line investigation performed after a CXR?
A pleural aspirate is often the first step to determine the origin of a pleural effusion. Several markers are tested including pH, protein levels, glucose and amylase. Samples of pleural fluid are also sent for microscopy, culture and sensitivity and cytology if there is a concern regarding malignancy.
What is the most common finding in asbestos-related lung disease?
Pleural plaques
Are pleural plaques a concern?
No - benign
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is associated with what type of crackles?
Fine-inspiratory crackles
What is the definition fo asbestosis?
A pneumoconiosis in which diffuse parenchymal lung fibrosis occurs because of prolonged exposure to asbestos
What is the definition fo mesothelioma?
An aggressive tumour of mesothelial cells - occuring within the lung pleural
What is the presentation of asbestosis?
Insidious onset of shortness of breath and a dry cough
Pleuritic chest pain - Acute asbestos pleurisy (Years after first exposure)
What is the presentation of a mesothelioma?
Shortness of breath Chest pain (Dull, diffuse, developing) weight loss Fatigue Fever Night sweats Bone pain Abdominal PIUN
What examinatin findings are seen in a mesothelioma?
Clubbing
End-inspiratory crepitations
What is the examination of a meothelioma?
- Occasional palpable chest wall mass
- Finger clubbing – due to underlying pulmonary fibrosis
- Recurrent pleural effusions
- Signs of metastases: Lymphadenopathy, hepatomegaly, bone tenderness
- Abdominal pain
What CXR findings are associated with asbestos-related disease?
Reticular nodular shadowing and pleural plaques
Diffuse pleural thickening
Bilateral lower zone
What CXR findings are seen on a mesothelioma?
Pleural thickening/effusion and bloody pleural fluid
What is the general management for asbestos related lung disease?
Prevention of exposure and smoking cessation
What is pnuemonia?
An infection of the distal lung parenchyma
What is the most common causative organism for community acquired pneumonia?
Streptococcous pneumoniae
What is the most common caustive organism in infective exacerbations of COPD?
• Haemophilus influenza
Jelly-currant sptum is associated with what type of causative organism pneumonia?
Klebsiella pnuemoniae
What colour sputum is streptococcus pnuemoniae?
Rust-coloured
What are the risk factors for pnuemonia?
Age Smoking Alcohol Pre-existing lung disease Immune deficiency Contact with pneumonia
What is the presentation of pneumonia
Fevers Rigours Sweating Malaise Sputum Breathlessness (Dyspnoea) Pleuritic chest pain
Describe the cough associated with bacterial pnuemonia?
Mucopurulent sputum
Describe the sputum associated with atypical pnuemonia?
Scant or water sputum
What are the symptoms of atypical pneumonia?
Headache
Myalgia
Diarrhoea/abdominal pain
What additional antibiotic is associated with the management of atypical pneumonia?
Macrolide
Examples of atypical pneumonia
Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Chlamydia pneumoniae, Legionella pneumophilia
What are the examination findings with pneumonia?
Crackles (Coarse crepitations on the affected side)
Decreased breath sounds (Bronchial breathing)
Dullness to percussion
Wheeze
Reduced chest expansion
What CXR changes are seen in pnuemonia?
Evidence of consolidation (new shadowing)
Pleural effusion
Klebsiella pneumonia affects which lobes?
Affects the upper lobes
Which scoring criteria are used to assess the severity of pneumonia and subsequent managemetn?
CURB-65
What urea parameter scores a point in pneumonia using the CURB-65 score?
Urea >7mmol/L.
What parameters are assessed in the CURB-65 score?
Confusion
Urea >7 mmol/L
Respiratory rate > 30/min
BP: <90 mmHg or diastolic <60 mmHg
Age > 65 years
What is the initial management of pneumonia?
Oral amoxicillin
• IV cefuroxime/cefotaxime/co-amoxiclav and erythromycin (>1 Marker)
A score of 0-1 on the CURB score equates to what management?
Discharge home with antibiotics
A CURB-65 score of 3-5 warrants what management?
Refer to HDU/ICU
A CURB-65 score of 2 warrants what management?
Consider hospital referral
What is the supportive management for pnuemonia?
Oxygen Paraenteral fluids for dehydration shock Analgesia Chest physiotherapy Nebulised saline CPAP, BiPAP or ITU care for respiratory failure
What is pneumothorax?
Defined as an accumulation of air within the pleural space.
What is tension pneumothorax?
Air is continuously entering the pleural space under positive pressure without exiting during expiration
What is the management of tension pneumothorax?
Emergency needle decompression
What is a spontaneous pneumothorax?
In individual with normal lungs (Tall, thin males), caused by a rupture of a subpleural pleb
What are the risk factors for pneumothorax?
- Smoking
- Tall and slender build
- Male sex
- Young age
- Marfan’s disease and Ehler’s-Danlos syndrome)
What is the presentation of. pneumothorax?
Sudden onset breathlessness or chest pain (pleuritic in nature)
Shoulder tip pain in secondary pneumothoraxx
Distress with rapid shallow breathing
What are the examination findings associated with a pneumothorax?
Reduced chest expansion
Hyper-resonance to percussion
Ipsilateral decreased breath sounds
Ipsilateral hyperinflation
What additional examination findings are seen in a tension pneumothorax?
Tachycardia Hypotension Cyanosis Distended neck veins Tracheal deviation away from the side of the pneumothorax
What is the management for a moderate pneumothorax >2cm?
Aspiration using a large bore cannula or cathter with a three-way tap
What is the management of a pneumothorax if an aspiration fails?
Chest drain with water seal
Define a pulmonary embolism
A pulmonary embolism is defined as a thrombus within the pulmonary vasculature resulting in an occlusion , predominantly because of DVT
What is the most common cause of a pulmonary embolism?
DVT (95%)
What are the risk factors of a pulmonary embolism?
Surgical patients Immobility Obesity OCP Heart failure Malignancy
What is the presentation of a moderate PE?
Sudden onset dyspnoea Cough Haemoptysis Pleuritic chest pain (Localised on one side of the chest) Signs of concurrent DVT
What is the presentation of a large PE?
Shock
Collapse
Acute right heart failure
Sudden death
What are the examination findings seen in a moderate PE?
Tachypnoea
Tachycardia
Pleural rub
Low saturation oxygen
What scoring system is used to assess the probability of a PE?
Well’s Score
What parameters are assessed in the Well’s Score?
Clinically suspected DVT PE is most likely diagnosis Recent surgery (4 weeks) Immobilisation Tachycardia History of DVT or PE Haemoptysis Malignancy
A low probability well’s score = what investigation?
D-dimer blood test
What is D-dimer?
fibrin degradation product – highly sensitive, poor sensitivity
How does a CTPA reveal a PE?
Direct visualisation of thrombus in the pulmonary artery.
What is the most common ECG finding in a PE?
Sinus tachycardia
RBBB
Right axis deviation
What axis deviation is associated with a PE?
Right-axis deviation
What classical ECG pattern is associated with a PE?
S1Q3T3 pattern
What other investigation can be performed to diagnose a PE if a CTPA is contraindicated?
VQ scan
What is the management of a PE in a stable patient?
Anticoagulation with UFH or LMWH heparin
Change to oral Warfarin therapy (INR2-3) for 3 months
How long should Warfarin be administered for post-PE?
3 months with target INR-2-3
What is the management of PE in an unstable patient?
Thrombolysis with tPA + UFH herpain
Embolectomy if contraindicated
What is the prophylactic management of PE?
Graduated pressure stockings and heparin prophylaxis
What is Sarcoidosis?
A multisytem granulomatous disorder of unknown aetiology
Accumulation of lymphocytes and macrophages forming non-caseating granulomas in the lungs
What is the lung presentation of sarcoidosis?
Fever, malaise, weight loss, bilateral parotid swelling, lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly.
Lungs • Breathlessness • Cough (usually unproductive) • Chest discomfort • Reduced exercise tolerance • Ronchi (Bronchospasm due to airway sensitivity)
What are the Msk presentation of sarcoidosis?
- Bone cysts (dactylitis in phalanges)
- Polyarthralgia
- Myopathy
What dermatatological findings are seen in sarcoidosis?
- Lupus pernio
- Erythema nodosum
- Maculopapular eruptions
How is sarcoidosis staged in CXR?
Stage 0: May be clear
Stage 1: Bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy
Stage 2: Stage 1 with pulmonary infiltration and paratracheal node enlargement.
Stage 3: Pulmonary infiltration and fibrosis alone
Stage 4: Extensive fibrosis with distortion.
What is Stage 0 sarcoidosis on a CXR?
Clear
What is Stage 1 sarcoidosis on a CXR?
Bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy
What is stage 2 sarcoidosis on a CXR?
Bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy w pulmonary infiltration and paratracheal node enlargement
What are the three most common causes of bilateral hilar lymphandeopahty?
Sarcoidosis
Lymphoma
TB
What is Stage 3 sarcoidosis on the CXR?
Pulmonary infiltration and fibrosis alone
What is stage 4 sarcoidosis on the CXR?
Extensive fibrosis with distortion
Which markers are raised in sarcoidosis?
Serum ACE
Calcium
ESR
LFT raised ALP and GGT
What would a 24-hour urine collection reveal in sarcoidosis?
Hypercalciuria Due to abnormal calcium and Vitamin d regulation from granulomatous macrophages
What scan is used in sarcoidosis to detect areas of inflammation in the parotids and the eyes?
Gallium-67 scan
What results are found in pulmonary unction tests in sarcoidosis?
Reduced FEV1 and FVC
Restrictive lung disease
What is the essential diagnostic investigation for sarcoidosis of the lung?
Transbronchial lung biopsy
What is the management for sarcoidosis?
Oral corticostreoids (Prednisolone)
What is the management of lupus pernio in sarcoidosis?
Chloroquine or methotrexate
What is TB?
A granulomatous disease caused by mycobacterium tuberculosis
What is primary TB?
An initial infection acquired by inhalation from the cough of an infected patient
What is miliary TB?
Results when there is haematogenous dissemination
What type of bacteria is TB?
Acid-fast bacillus which proliferates and survives after alveolar macrophage phagocytosis
What is formed in TB?
A granuloma with caseous necrotic centre
What can precipitate latent TB into active TB?
HIV infection
And immunocompromised individuals (+ patients taking systemic corticosteroids)
What is the presentation of primary TB?
Fever Malaise Cough Wheeze Erythema nodosum Conjunctivitis
What is the presentation of post-primary TB?
Fever/night sweats Malaise Weight loss Breathlessness Cough Sputum Haemoptysis Pleuritic pain
What is shown in a CXR for TB?
Peripheral consolidation
Hilar lymphadenopathy
What is shown in a CXR for TB?
Peripheral consolidation Hilar lymphadenopathy Upper lobe shadowing Calcification Pleural effusion
What diagnostic tests are performed to confirm TB?
Sputum acid-fast bacilli smear
What is the management of TB?
Rifampicin – Orange body fluids, enzyme-inducing
Isoniazid (+pyridoxine) – Pyridoxine deficiency, peripheral neuropathy
Ethambutol – Optic neuropathy
Pyrazinamide - ↑ Urate/arthralgia, hepato-toxicity
Streptomycin – Only for highly resistant organisms
What are the side effects of Rifampicin?
orange body fluids
What are the side effects of isoniazid?
Peripheral neuropathy
Pyridoxine deficiency
What are the side effects of pyrazinamide?
Increased urate/arthralgia - hepato-toxicity
What are the side effects of ethambutol?
Optic neuropathy
What is bronchiectasis?
Lung airway disease characterised by chronic bronchial dilation - impaired mucociliary clearance
What is the aetiology of bronchiectasis?
Severe inflammation in the lung, fibrosis and dilation of bronchi
Pooling of mucous - predisposition to infection, damage, and fibrosis of bronchial walls
Which host defence defects are associated with the development of bronchiectasis?
Cystic fibrosis, immunoglobulin deficiency, yellow-nail syndrome, and Kartagener’s syndrome.
What is the presentation of bronchiectasis?
Productive cough with purulent sputum
Haemoptysis
Breathlessness, chest pain, malaise, fever, weight loss
Rhinosinusitis
What are the examination findings of bronchiectasis?
Finger clubbing
Coarse basal crepitations
Wheeze rhonchi
What type of crepitations are associated with bronchiectasis?
Coarse basal crepitations
What common organisms are associated with bronchiectasis?
Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Haemophilus influenzae, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumonia, Klebsiella, Moraxella catarrhalis, Mycobacteria.
What does a CXR reveal in bronchiectasis?
Parallel lines radiating from the hilum to the diaphgram (tramline shadows)
What is the gold-standard investigation for diagnosing bronchiectasis?
High-resolution CT
What does a high-resolution CT reveal in bronchiectasis?
Dilated bronchi with thickened walls
Signet ring sign
Signet ring sign on a CT suggests what diagnosis?
Bronchiectasis
What investigation is performed in CF?
Sweat electrolytes
What is the management of bronchiectasis?
Treat acute exacerbations with IV ABx (Amoxicillin, flucloxacillin ,doxycycline)
Airway clearance therapy - Oral hydration
Bronchodilators - Salbutamol, ipratropium
Mucoactive agents - Nebulised hypertonic saline
Inhaled corticoteorids (fluticasone)
What is COPD?
A chronic progressive lung disorder that is characterised by irreversible airflow obstruction, encompassing both chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
What is chronic bronchitis?
Chronic cough and sputum production involving hypertrophy and hyperplasia of the mucous glands
What is emphysema?
Permanent destructive enlargement of air spaces distal to the terminal bronchioles.
What genetic deficiency is associated with COPD?
Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency
What is main cause of COPD?
Bronchial and alveolar damage because of environmental toxins (cigarette smoke).
What is the presentation of COPD?
- Chronic cough with sputum production
- Breathlessness
- Wheeze
- Decreased exercise tolerance
What are the examination findings for COPD?
Signs of respiratory distress, use of accessory muscles, cyanosis
Barrel-shaped overinflated chest
Percussion: Hyperresonant chest
Auscultation: Quiet breath sounds, prolonged expiration wheeze, rhonchi and crepitations
Signs of CO2 retention: Bounding pulse, warm peripheries, flapping tremor
What investigations are performed in diagnosing COPD?
PFTs and spirometry
CXR
ABG
What do PFTs reveal in COPD?
• Decreased FEV1: FVC ratio
Mild = 60-80%
Moderate = 40-60%
Severe = <40%
What is the characteristic feature for COPD when compared with asthma in terms of bronchodilator?
No bronchodilator reversibility
What is seen on a CXR for a patient with COPD?
- Reveals hyperinflation (>6 anterior ribs, flat hemidiaphragm).
- Decreased peripheral lung markings
- Elongated cardiac silhouette
What type of respiratory failure is associated with COPD?
Type 2 respiratory failure
What is the lifestyle management for COPD?
Smoking cessation
What is the first-line management for COPD?
SABA or SAMA
Salbutamol or ipratropium bromide
If there are more than 2 COPD exacerbations per year what is the step-up management for COPD?
Long-acting bronchodilators
Describe asthmatic features/steroid responsiveness
Previous diagnosis of asthma/atopy
Raised blood eosinophil count
Substantial variation in FEV1 over time
Substantial diurnal variation in peak expiratory flow
What is the long-term management for COPD?
SABA as required
LAMA + LABA
What is the long term management for asthma-COPD overlap?
SABA or SAMA as required
LABA + ICS
What is the management for acute exacerbations of COPD?
increase frequency of bronchodilator use and consider giving via a nebuliser
give prednisolone 30 mg daily for 5 days
They recommend giving oral antibiotics ‘if sputum is purulent or there are clinical signs of pneumonia’
the BNF recommends one of the following oral antibiotics first-line: amoxicillin or clarithromycin or doxycycline.
What is asthma?
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease characterised by reversible airway obstruction
-Initial trigger releases inflammatory mediators
Lumen is reversibly folded due to smooth muscle bronchoconstriction and mucous hypersecretion
What are the cardinal features of asthma?
Atopy/Allergen sensitization Reversible airflow obstruction Airway inflammation Eosinophilia Type 2 lymphocytes
Wheeze/+- dry cough on exertion worse with colds and allergen exposure
What type of immune reaction is associated with asthma?
Type 2 immunity in allergic asthma
What cytokines are released in Asthma?
- IL-5 – Responsible for the maturation and release of eosinophils in the bone marrow.
- IL-4 is a prominent immune mediator that supports the activation of B-cells into plasma cells to release IgE.
- IL-15 is a central regulator in IgE synthesis, goblet cell hyperplasia, mucous hypersecretion, and airway hyperresponsiveness.
What roles does IL-5 have in asthma?
Maturation and releases of eosinophils in the bone marrow
What does role does IL-4 have in asthma?
A prominent lumen mediator that supports the activation of B-cells into plasma cells to release IgE
What effect does IgE have in asthma?
Mast-cell degranulation leading to the release of histamines and cytokines
What blood test is used to test for allergic sensitiation?
Blood test for specific IgE antibodies to allergens
What are the risk factors for asthma?
Family history
Atopy (Tendency for T lymphocytes to drive production of IgE exposure
What environmental factors are associated with asthma?
- House dust mites
- Pollen
- Pets
- Cigarette smoke
- Viral respiratory tract infections
- Aspergillus fugimatus spores
- Occupational allergens
What is the presentation of asthma?
- Intermittent dyspnoea
- Wheeze
- Cough (worse in the morning and at night) + sputum. DIURNAL pattern of symptoms.
- Nasal polyposis
When is the asthma cough worse during the day?
Worse in morning and at night
What is the pattern of symptoms for asthma?
Diurnal
What are the precipitating factors for asthma?
• Cold air – Induced bronchospasm
• Viral infection
• Drugs (E.g., beta-blockers, NSAIDs)
• Exercise
• Emotions
• Allergens – House dust mite, pollen, fur, pets – query.
• Smoking/passive smoking
• Pollution
• Ask if symptoms remit at weekend – may be triggered at work.
N.B: Check for history of atopic disease (Allergic rhinitis, urticaria, eczema).
What are the examination findings for asthma?
- Tachypnoea
- Use of accessory muscles
- Prolonged expiratory phase
- Polyphonic wheeze
- Hyperinflated chest
- Hyper-resonant percussion notes
- Reduced air entry
What defines a moderate asthma attack for PEFR?
PEFR > 50-75% predicted.
What parameters are associated with a severe asthma attack?
- PEFR 35-50% predicted
- Pulse > 100/min
- RR > 25/min
- Inability to complete sentences.
What parameters are associated with a life-threatening asthma attack?
- PEFR < 33% predicted
- Silent chest
- Cyanosis – PaO2 < 8 kPa, normal/high PaCO2 > 4.6 kPa, low pH <7.35.
- Bradycardia
- Hypotension
- Confusion
- Coma
What investigations are performed for the diagnosis of asthma?
Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO)
Spirometry with bronchodilator reversibility test
Peak Expiratory flow rate
What does a FeNO test reveal in asthma?
Confirm eosinophilic airway inflammation to support an asthma diagnosis in patients
Adults >40ppb
>35 ppb in children
What does a FeNO test reveal in asthma for adults?
> 40 ppb
What does a FeNo test reveal in asthma for children?
> 35 ppb
What does a FeNo indicate in a patient with diagnosed asthma?
A non-invasive biomarker of the airway (Type-2 inflammation) – can be used to determine adherence and steroid response. An elevation in NO is indicative that the asthma is not adequately controlled or unresponsive to steroids.
What does a spirometer with a bronchodilator reversibility test reveal?
FEV1/FVC ratio <70%
Defined improvement >12%
What is the defined improvement with the administration of a bronchodilator in asthma?
> 12%
What does an FBC reveal in asthma?
Eosinophillia
What are the atypical signs associated with mycoplasma pneumonia?
Transverse myelitis (inflammation of spinal cord)
Erythema multiforme (round lesions with bullseye appearance)
Associated with autoimmune haemolytic anaemia
What does erythema multiforme look like?
Round lesions with bullseye appearance
What atypical pnuemonia organism is associated with erythema multiforme?
Mycoplasma pnuemoniae
On inspection what signs are seen in pnuemonia?
Respiratory distress
Cyanosis
On palpation what is seen in pneumonia?
Reduced chest expansion
On percussion what is seen in pnuemonia?
Dull percussion over areas of consolidation
What is auscultated in pnuemonia?
Basal coarse crepitations
Bronchial breathing
Increased vocal resonance
What is the most common cause of CAP?
Streptococcus pneumoniae
What is the most common cause of atypical pneumonia?
Legionella pneumophilia
Chlamydia psitacci
What is the most common cause of HAP?
Staph Aureus
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Klebsiella
Which pnuemonia is associated with pet birds?
Chlamydia psitacci
Which pnuemonia is associated with air conditioning?
Legionella
What atypical signs are associated with legionella pneumonia?
Hyponatremia
Abnormal LFTs
Hyponatremia is associated with what type of atypical pneumonia?
Legionella
What bedside test is used in diagnosing pneumonia?
Sputum MCS
What blood tests are used in diagnosis pnuemonia?
FBC (high WCC)
CRP (high)
ABG (Type 1 resp failure)
What invasive tests are used in diagnosing pneumonia?
Pleural fluid MCS via thoracentesis
What investigations are performed in diagnosing atypical pneumonia for mycolplasma?
Blood film
Red cell agglutination with cold agglutinin
What blood film result i associated with mycoplasma pneumonia?
Red cell agglutination with cold agglutinin