Respiratory Flashcards
At what level does the trachea bifurcate?
T4
How many pulmonary veins do you have?
Do they carry deoxygenated or oxygenated blood?
4 pulmonary veins
They carry oxygenated blood.
Describe the passage of structures between the nose and the alveoli…
Nose
Pharynx
Larynx
Trachea
Bronchi
Bronchioles
Alveoli
What type of pneumocytes produce surfactant?
What does surfactant do?
Type II
Surfactant lowers the surface tension of the lungs.
What 6 structures are found at the hilum of the lung?
Pulmonary artery
Pulmonary veins (2)
Bronchi
Pulmonary Plexus
Lymphatics
Bronchial vessels
What is the main cell type found in the upper airways?
What alternative cell type is found in bronchioles?
Pseudo stratified columnar cells
Cuboidal cells
What does the sympathetic nervous system do to the respiratory system?
What does the parasympathetic nervous system do to the respiratory system?
The sympathetic NS causes the bronchi to undergo dilation
The parasympathetic NS causes the bronchi to undergo constriction
How many lobes and fissures does the left lung have?
How many lobes and fissures does the right lung have?
Left Lung: 2 lobes and the oblique fissure
Right Lung: 3 lobes and the horizontal and oblique fissure
On what type of CXR can you diagnose cardiomegaly?
PA view
What is an acinus?
Functioning unit consisting of the terminal bronchioles and alveoli
What does the FEV/FVC and FVC values look like in an obstructive respiratory picture?
Obstructive Picture:
FEV/FVC < 70%
What does the FEV/FVC and FVC values look like in a restrictive respiratory picture?
FEV/FVC >70%
With FVC normally being low
What condition would cause the transfer coefficient to be higher than normal?
Pulmonary haemorrhage
In what conditions would the transfer coefficient be reduced?
COPD
Asthma (chronic severe)
Anaemia
The mneumonic BODE is used to stage patients with COPD.
What does it stand for?
BMI
O degree of airflow
D yspnoea
Exercise capacity
What is COPD?
What two conditions make it up?
COPD is a condition where you get an obstructive pattern on spirometry which is not fully reversible with a SABA
Emphysema and Chronic Bronchitis
What are some of the main causes of COPD?
Chronic smoking or exposure to smoke
Alpha 1 anti trypsin disease (? If young person non smoker has COPD like symptoms)
Occupational
What is the pathophysiology of COPD ?
Increased secretion by goblet cells
Infiltration of WBC leads to inflammation and scar tissue formation. This causes the airways to become more narrow.
Emphysema is dilation of the the lung tissue distal to the terminal bronchioles
Do people with COPD have an increased or decreased risk of getting lung cancer? Why?
Further progression of COPD can lead to metaplasia and thus increased cancer risk.
Describe what happens to the V/Q in COPD?
The V/Q undergoes mismatch. This means that there is eventually a rise in CO2 levels and thus the body becomes insensitive to CO2.
hypoxic drive commences
What is the typical presentation of someone with COPD?
Normally an ex smoker.
Dyspnoea, Chronic Productive Cough, Wheeze and has more frequent chest infections.
How do you diagnose COPD?
Spirometry- see an obstructive pattern aka FEV/FVC <70 and FEV<80
CXR
CT
ABG
Alpha 1 anti trypsin levels
What is the management of COPD?
- Smoking Cessation
- Start the patient on a SABA
- Start on a LAMA + LABA
- LAMA + LABA + steroid
Give 3 descriptions of asthma?
Reversible airflow limitation
Airway hyper responsiveness
Bronchial inflammation
Describe what intrinsic and extrinsic asthma means?
Intrinsic = non allergy induced i.e. smoke , cold, exercise
Extrinsic = allergy induced
What factors suggest that an acute asthma attack is
A. Severe
B. Life threatening
A. Severe is characterised by an inability to complete sentences . High HR and High RR
B. Silent chest, confusion, cyanosis and Bradycardia. With a PEFR <35
How do you manage chronic asthma?
- SABA
- SABA + ICS
- SABA + ICS + leukotriene receptor antagonist (montelukast)
- Above and add LABA
What assessment tool can judge a patient’s asthma severity?
RCP 3 form (nocturnal waking, interference with ADLS and how many times asthma symptoms have occurred.
What investigations could we do to determine if asthma is the allergic type?
Skin prick test
NO test.
What two lung diseases can asbestosis cause?
Benign pleural disease
Lung fibrosis
Mesothelioma
What condition does coal worker’s pneumoconiosis mimic?
COPD
What is Silicosis?
What occupations are it associated with?
What is the appearance on a Chest X Ray?
This is an occupational lung condition. That is commonly seen in pottery and ceramic workers.
You see a diffuse egg shell calcification pattern on CXR
Patient normally has dyspnoea and increased TB incidence
What is Extrinsic Allergic Alveolitis?
This is a respiratory condition that is a hypersensitivity Type 3 reaction.
Commonly known as bird fancier or pigeon fancier’s lung.
It causes there to be fibrosis of the lung.
There are 3 phases: Acute, Sub Acute and chronic
What are the 3 phase symptoms of Extrinsic Allergic Alveolitis (pigeon fancier lung) ?
Acute: dyspnoea, fever, malaise, rigors , dry cough and chest tightness.
Resolves generally 24-48 hours after. Note: occurs 4-6 hours post exposure.
Sub acute: less severe than above. normally occurs weeks to months post exposure
Chronic: normally they do not have symptoms (acute) but will suffer from cyanosis, weight loss, dyspnoea and clubbing.
What investigations would you like to do for EAA?
You would want to do a
Chest X Ray: show fibrotic shadow
Bronchoalveolar lavage (look at CD4 and lymphocyte count)
FBC will show a raised WCC and ESR.
What is the management of Extrinsic Allergic Alveolitis?
Acute: avoid exposure and give O2 and short term pred
Chronic: avoid exposure and give long term pred
What is bronchiectasis?
This is when you have chronic infection of the bronchi and bronchioles
This leads to permanent dilation and airways distortion
What are 4 causes of bronchiectasis?
Chronic infections i.e. pneumonia
Cystic Fibrosis
HIV
TB or whooping cough
What is the pathophysiology behind bronchiectasis?
The pathophysiology follows the idea that there is failed mucociliary clearance and impaired immune function. Leading to uncontrolled inflammation and WBC recruitment.
The airway dilation occurs secondary to inflammation and scarring
How does bronchiectasis normally present?
Chronic cough with Purulent sputum
Dyspnoea
Wheeze
Finger clubbing
Increased risk of further chest infections
Commonly affects the lower lobes
How would you diagnose bronchiectasis?
You would do a CXR which would show tram track opacities
You would do a HRCT (gold standard)
Sputum culture
? CF may want to do a sweat test.
How do you treat bronchiectasis?
You need to give an anti mucolytic such as Dornase Alfa
Chest Physio
Abx to treat ongoing infection. Some may require prophylactic abx
What channel does CF affect?
The CFTR channel.
This is a co transporter channel for Na+/Cl-
Most common mutation is F508
How can CF present?
Meconium ileus
Failure to thrive
Frequent infections
Rectal Prolapse and Nasal Polyps
Pancreatic insufficiency
Bronchiectasis , wheeze, dyspnoea
Males can also have atrophy of the vas deferens and epididymis
What diagnostic tests would you want to run on someone you queried CF in?
You would want to do
- newborn heel prick and genetic testing- in younger people
- older people teenage and above use the sweat test.
How would you treat CF?
You can’t treat it. However you can treat the symptoms:
Mucolytic agents: dornase alfa
Pancreatic enzyme replacement: Creon
High Fat and calorie diet.
Prophylactic abx, regular supply of chest physio
Amiloride: inhibits Na+ and leads to less thick mucous!
What is sarcoidosis and where does it affect?
Sarcoidosis is a multi system granulomatous disease that is an interstitial lung disease.
What is the typical presentation of sarcoidosis?
You get Bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy.
Pulmonary infiltrates
Skin and Eye lesions
Is Sarcoidosis more common in men or women ?
Women
Note: it is often detected on routine CXR
How does sarcoidosis present?
Generally presents incidentally after a routine CXR with no symptoms prior
However, it its acute phase it can present with polyarthralgia, fever, fatigue, weight loss and erythema nodosum