Respiratory Flashcards
how would COPD present?
in a long term smoker usually with progressive shortening of breath, sputum, wheeze, recurrent RTIs and fatigue
name some DDx for COPD?
HF, fibrosis, cancer
how is COPD diagnosed?
clinical and spirometry
FEV1 reduces but FVC is normal therefore FEV1/FVC<0.7
CXR, FBC, BMI, ECG, sputum sample, echo, CT thorax, serum A1AT, TLCO (reduced)
how is COPD managed?
stop smoking, annual flu and the pneumococcal vaccines, SABA or SAMA, if there is asthmatic properties then use LABA and ICS or if not then LAMA and LABA
if severe - nebs, oral theophylline, oral mucolytics, LT prophylactic ABx, LTOT
why is LTOT needed?
chronic CO2 retention reduces the respiratory drive - therefore need to maintain O2 sats but also regular monitoring and ABGs to ensure not over saturated
what is the management of a COPD exacerbation?
usually infection with respiratory acidosis - pred 30mg OD for 7-14 days, inhalers or nebs, ABx, physio, IV aminophylline, NIV or doxapram if NIV not appropriate
what is the MRC dyspnoea scale?
measure of breathlessness
grade 1 - breathless with strenuous exercise
II - walking up a hill
III - on the flat
IV - 100m on the flat
V - at rest
what is pneumonia and how does it present?
it is inflammation of the lung tissue and sputum filling the alveoli
it presents with shortness of breath, sputum, fever, haemoptysis, pleuritic chest pain, delirium, sepsis, tachycardia, tachypnoea, hypoxia, hypotension, confusion, bronchial breathing, dull to percuss and coarse crackles
what are some investigations for pneumonia?
CRP, CXR, FBC, U+Es, cultures if moderate or severe, legionella urinary antigens
what are some complications of pneumonia?
sepsis, lung abscess, empyema, pleural effusion, death
what is the management of pneumonia?
use CURB65 to determine severity - if mild oral ABx for 5 days - amoxicillin or macrolide, moderate or severe ABx 7-10 days dual parenteral if needed
what is the most common lung cancer?
non small cell
what is the presentation of lung cancer?
shortness of breath, cough, haemoptysis, clubbing, pneumonia, weight loss, night sweats, lymphadenopathy
what are some extrapulmonary manifestations of lung cancer?
recurrent laryngeal and phrenic nerve palsy, SVCO, Horner’s, SIADH, Cushing’s, hypercalcaemia, limbic encephalitis, Lambert Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome
what investigations are done for lung cancer?
CXR (hilar enlargement, peripheral opacity, pleural effusion, collapse), staging CT, PET-CT, bronchoscopy with endobronchial USS, histology
what is the management for NSC and SCLC?
NSCLC - lobectomy, segmentectomy, wedge resection, radio and chemo
SCLC - chemo and radio, endobronchial treatment with stents and debulking - palliative
what is asthma?
it is episodic exacerbations of bronchoconstriction with reduced diameter and caused by hypersensitivity- reversible with bronchodilators
what is the presentation of asthma?
episodic, diurnal variation, dry cough, bilateral widespread polyphonic wheeze in absence of illness, atopic conditions, FHx, SOB
how is asthma investigated?
fractional exhaled nitric oxide, spirometry with bronchodilator reversibility
if uncertainty - peak flow variability, direct bronchial challenge test with histamine and metacholine
what is the management of asthma?
non pharmacological - asthma programme and yearly review, annual flu jab, avoid smoking and advise exercise
pharmacological - SABA, ICS, LRA, LABA, MART, increase ICS, oral theophylline or inhaled LAMA, specialist input
what will obstructive and restrictive disease show on lung function tests?
obstruction - FEV1/FVC<0.75
restrictive - FEV1/FVC>0.75
what is ILD?
affects the lung parenchyma with inflammation and fibrosis
how is ILD diagnosed?
high resolution CT showing ground glass appearance or if unclear use biopsy