Respiratory Flashcards
What are the criteria in the CURB 65 score for pneumonia severity?
C - confusion = +1
U - serum Urea >7 mmol/L = +1
R = resp rate greater than or equal to 30 = +1
B = BP systolic <90 or diastolic <60 = +1
Age 65 or older = +1
0/1 = mild = consider OP Mx
2 = moderate = consider iP or OP with close-follow up
3 or more = severe = IP Mx, may require ITU input
For a patient recently treated as an inpatient for a pneumonia, how should they be followed-up in the community as per NICE guidelines?
CXR in 6-12 weeks to assess for resolution of consolidation / assess for an underlying malignancy which may be missed during the acute infective phase.
What is the classical presentation of COPD?
Smoking history +
- EXERTIONAL SOB
- chronic productive cough / sputum production
- frequent winter bronchitis
- wheeze
What is the grading system that should be used to grade breathlessness in COPD?
The MRC Dyspnoea Scale:
Grade I - not breathless except after strenuous exercise
Grade II - SOB when hurrying or on an incline
Grade III - has to stop to catch breath even at own pace on the flat
Grade IV - has to stop to catch breath after 100 metres / a couple of minutes
Grade V - Too breathless to leave the house / breathless when dressing
What is the 1st line diagnostic test for COPD?
Pre + post bronchodilator spirometry
Diagnostic criteria = post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC ratio <0.7
At the time of diagnosis they should also get:
- a CXR (t exclude other pathologies)
- FBC to check for anaemia / polychythaemia
- BMI calculated
How should you manage incidental findings of emphysema or chronic airways disease on a CXR or CT?
Consider referral for lung MDT discussion.
If asymptomatic, normal spirometry and current SMOKER -> provide smoking cessation support, advise the presence of emphysema on a CT in an independent risk factor for lung cancer, advise them to return if they develop respiratory symptoms.
If asymptomatic, normal spirometry and NON-SMOKER -> ask about fam Hx of lung or liver disease or alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency, reassure unlikely to get worse but that still an independent risk factor for emphysema.
What additional inv should you consider in patients suspected to have COPD but with some features of asthma?
Serial home peak flow measurements
When should you check serum alpha 1 anti-trypsin?
Early onset
Minimal or no smoking Hx
Strong family Hx
When should you check Transfer Factor for Carbon Monoxide (TLco)
TLco = the gas transfer test = tests how well your lungs uptake the air = breath in small amounts of helium and carbon monoxide
Do TLco:
If symptoms are disproportionately bad compared to the spirometry values
OR
If assessing suitability for lung volume reduction surgery
What are the spirometry patterns in restrictive versus obstructive lung disease
FEV1 = expired air in 1st second = REDUCED IN BOTH OBSTRUCTIVE AND RESTRICTIVE.
FVC = total expiratory capacity = NORMAL in obstructive, reduced in restrictive
FEV1/FVC ratio = represents the efficiency of the lungs -> NORMAL in restrictive, reduced in obstructive
Obstructive:
FEV1 = reduced. FVC = normal. FEV1/FVC ratio = reduced
Restrictive:
FEV1 = reduced. FVC = reduced. FEV1/FVC ratio = normal
What features of spirometry suggest asthma as either an alternative or concurrent diagnosis with COPD?
Classically, the FEV1 and FEV1/FVC ratio improves dramatically post-bronchodilator in asthmatics. It may improve in COPD but the FEV1/FVC ratio will remain <0.7 after bronchodilation. The greater the rise in FEV1, the more likely there is a component of asthma.
CLINICALLY SIGNIFICANT COPD IS NOT PRESENT IF THE FEV1 AND FEV1/FVC RATIO RETURN TO NORMAL WITH DRUG THERAPY (EITHER BRONCHODILATORS OR ORAL STEROIDS`)
What are clinical features that suggest asthma as a diagnosis rather than COPD?
- Symptoms < age 35
- Significant diurnal variation in symptoms
- Night time waking with wheeze / SOB
- don’t have chronic productive cough
What are the 2010 NICE guidelines on grading airflow obstruction from spirometry values in COPD?
COPD = heterogenous, airflow obstruction - staging alone doesn’t signify the severity of disease, also take into account MRC dyspnoea scale, COPD Assessment Test (CAT) score on symptom burden, freq of admissions etc.
Airflow obstruction staging: (in all stages the post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC ratio must be <0.7 otherwise it’s not COPD!)
Stage I - FEV1 > 80% of predicted (mild)
Stage II - FEV1 50 - 80% (moderate)
Stage III - FEV1 30-50% (severe)
Stage IV -FEV1 < 30% (very severe)
What are indicators to refer to a specialist for patients with COPD?
Diagnostic uncertainty, onset < 40 years, alpha 1 antitrypsin deficiency, severe COPD, onset of cor pulmonale, needs consideration for 02 therapy/home nebs or oral steroids, to assess suitability for pulmonary rehab or lung reduction surgery (eg in bullous disease), frequent infections (to exclude bronchiectasis), haemoptysis
What is the pathway of managing stable COPD?
For all: smoking cessation advice, pneumococcal vaccine + annual flu vaccine, refer for pulmonary rehab if indicated (those that are functionally impaired by COPD including those MRC grade 3 and above, recent hospital admission for acute exacerbation -> PULMONARY REHAB NOT SUITABLE FOR THOSE WITH UNSTABLE ANGINA OR RECENT MI OR UNABLE TO WALK
Start inhaled therapies only IF needed to relieve SOB/exercise intolerance AND the pt adequately trained in inhaler technique.
1) PRN SABA [Salbutamol, Albuterol, Terbutaline] or SAMA [slower onset of action than SABAs (30-60 mins), duration of action up to 6 hrs] [Ipratropium].
2) If still having exacerbations / troubled by symptoms then consider whether features of asthma / steroid responsiveness.
-> Asthmatic / Steroid-responsive Features:
LABA + Inhaled Corticosteroid
(If continues to have exacerbations / symptoms add-in a LAMA)
-> No asthma/steroid-responsive features:
LABA + LAMA
(if persistent daily symptoms -> consider 3 month trial of adding in ICS)
(if 1x severe or 2x moderate annual exacerbations -> start ICS)
3) Once on maximal trio of inhalers other add-ons can consider are: * home nebs * oral theophylline - caution in the elderly, need serum theophylline levels checked 1-2 a year * oral mucolytics (carbocysteine, acetylcysteine)
Tx with antioxidants (alpha-tocopherol or beta carotene) or anti-tussive therapy is NOT recommended in COPD.
How do you calculate pack years in smoking history?
Pack years = (No of cigs smoked per day / 20) x No of years smoked.
Examples of SABAs
Salbutamol, Albuterol, Terbutaline
Examples of SAMAs
Ipratropium
Examples of LABAs
Salmeterol, Formoterol, Indacaterol, Arformoterol
Examples of LAMAs
Tiotropium, Glycopyronium bromide, Aclidinium Bromide
Examples of ICS
Beclamethasone, Budesonide, Fluticasone, Mometasone
What features suggest asthmatic features / steroid responsiveness when considering treatment for COPD?
1) Prev dx of asthma or atopy
2) Diurnal variation (>20%) in PEF
3) High eosinophil count
4) Significant variation in FEV1 (>400ml) over time
When should you consider antibiotic prophylaxis for patients with COPD?
Consider abx prophylaxis (with Azithromycin three times a week) IF:
* Non-smoker
AND
* Optimised inhaler regime
AND
* 4 or more IECOPD/year or prolonged IECOPDs with purulent sputum production or exacerbations resulting in hospitalisation
What tests should be done before starting a COPD patient on prophylactic azithromycin / antibiotics?
1) CT Thorax to exclude bronchiectasis
2) Sputum culture to assess for atypical / resistant bacteria
3) Optimised sputum clearance technique
4) ECG (to assess QTc) and baseline LFTs are needed before starting Azithromycin -> must advice pts on small risk of tinnitus + hearing loss
What are features that indicate referral to be considered for long-term oxygen in COPD
- Polycythaemia
- Cyanosis
- Severe airflow obstruction (FEV1 <30%)
- Peripheral oedema / ^ JVP / pulmonary HTN (Signs of cor pulmonale)
- Sats 92% or less on air
What investigation should be done to assess whether COPD patient is eligible for long-term 02?
2 ABGs at least 3 weeks apart
What are the eligibility criteria for long term 02 in COPD?
- NON-SMOKER
and - pa02 < 7.3
OR pa02 7.3 - 8 plus polycythaemia, peripheral oedema or pulmonary hypertension
What are the diagnostic features of Acute Severe Asthma?
Any one of:
PEF 33-50% of best/predicted
RR 25 or more in adults, >30 in children >5 and >40 in children under 5.
HR >110 in adults, >125bpm in children over 5, or > 140bpm in children under 5.
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