Respiratory Flashcards
What is bronchiectasis ?
Chronic respiratory disease where chronic inflammation causes permanent bronchial dilation. The dilated bronchi are usually breeding grounds for microbial colonisation and hence results in a cycle of inflammation, then dilation.
What are some of the causes of bronchiectasis ?
- Idiopathic
- CT disorders like RA, SLE and sarcoidosis.
-Pulmonary disease like COPD and asthma - Cystic fibrosis
- Post infectious like repeated LRTI
What are the MAIN clinical features of bronciectasis ?
- Daily chronic cough
- Production of large amounts of sputum
- Haemoptysis
- Fatigue
- Rhinosinusitus symptoms like nasal discharge, nasal pressure ect
What is likely to be in the history of a patient with bronchiectasis ?
- Hx of childhood RTI.
- FHX or congenital conditions like CF
- Smoking history.
What is present on clinical examination of a patient with bronchiectasis ?
- Finger clubbing ( due to increased secretion of GF)
- Course creps - On inspiration caused by sudden opening and closing of the airways
- Dyspnoea
- Wheeze
What investigations are needed in a patient with suspected bronchiectasis ?
- O2 sats
- Sputum culture - Pseudomonas aeruginosa (common as it forms protective films to antibiotics). Haemophilus influenza is also common
- Lung function tests - Typically show an obstructive pattern ( FEV1/FVC ratio < 70), but may be normal. Spirometry
- Echo - Can cause pulmonary hypertension.
- Patients ECC may be raised and CRP may be raised in acute exacerbation’s.
What is the gold standard of imaging in bronchiectasis ?
Gold standard - High resolution CT chest. Will show bronchial dilation with or without airway thickening. Gold standard for diagnosis.
What imaging modalities (apart from high contract CT) can be used in diagnosing bronchiectasis ?
normal in mild bronchiectasis. In severe disease, there may be tram lines and ring shadows ( thickened bronchial walls and cystic appearance)
Endoscopy, in patients with localised bronchiectasis, that may be caused by foreign body aspiration or bronchial lesion.
How is bronchiectasis managed Conservative ?
- Pulmonary rehab - ways to offload mucus and clear the airway techniques. Is initiated in patients when first presenting with the symptoms
- Smoking cessation
- Influenza and one off pneumococcal vaccination to protect against any
- Patient education and support groups
How is bronchiectasis managed medically ?
- Mucolytics - Carcocystine which reduces the viscosity of sputum.
- Corticosteroid - Prednisolone in ABPA
- Long term antibiotics ( azithromycin 3x per week ) in patients that have three or more exacerbation’s per year.
- Bronchodilators - Long term bronchodilator like formoterol/salbutamol in patients with activity limiting SOB.
- Specific condition treatment like in CF.
- Long term oxygen therapy if o2 saturation’s on room air are less than 88 percent.
What are the side effects of macrolydes like azithromycin ?
side effects such as long QT syndrome, tinnitus and hearing loss.
How is bronchiectasis managed surgically ?
- Lung resection - Local that is not controlled by optimum medical management.
- Lung transplant - Patients younger than 65, with rapid deterioration despite optimum medical management.
What are some of the possible complications of bronchiectasis ?
- Respiratory failure
- Massive heamoptysis if there is a rupture of one of the bronchial arteries
- Anxiety and depression.
What is the gold standard of investigation diagnosis for ILD ?
High resolution CT scan of the thorax.
In ILD, what will be present on high resolution CT ?
Ground glass appearance
If you suspect a patient has ILD, but it is unclear on CT, what is indicated as the next standard of investigation ?
- Lung biopsy
How is ILD managed ?
- Usually, the damage is irreversible.
- Remove/treat the underlying cause
- Home oxygen if hypoxic at rest
- Smoking cessation.
- Pul rehabilitation
- Pneumococcal and flu vaccine
- Advanced life care plan/palliative care if possible
- Lung transplant - in severe cases.
What is idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis ?
Progressive pulmonary fibrosis with no clear cause. Usually presents at an older age and is more common in men and smokers.
What will be spirometry results in a patient with IPF ?
FEV1/FVC will be more than 70. TLCO (carrying capacity of CO) will also be reduced
What drugs can cause idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis ?
Amiodarone (used to treat ventricular arrhythmias) - Can cause IPF as well as thyroid eye disease and corneal deposits.
Nitrofurantoin is also used commonly to treat UTIs and can cause ILD
What are the common symptoms of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis ?
- dry cough
- SOB
- Fatigue
- Arthralgia
What signs are commonly seen in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis ?
Cyanosis, clubbing, Fine end inspiratory crackles. Reduced chest expansion.
What are some of the common complications of IPF ?
- T2RF
- Increased risk of lung cancer
- Cor pulmonale
What is present on a CXR in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis ?
- Honeycomb appearance on CXR
- Reticulonodular shadowing.
How is IPF managed ?
- Smoking cessation
- Pulmonary rehabilitation
- Long term oxygen therapy
What drugs can be given in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis ?
Antifibrotic drugs like pirdenidone (lung transplant in very severe cases)
What drugs can cause pulmonary fibrosis ?
- Amiodarone ( anti arrhythmic used in ventricular dysfunction)
- Cyclophosphamide (chemotherapy)
- Methotrexate (can be used in cancer, chrones)
- Nitrofurantoin ( antibiotic that can be used in UTI)
What are some common causes of secondary pulmonary fibrosis ?
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- SLE
- Systemic sclerosis
- Alpha 1 antitrypsin deficiency.
What is asbestosis ?
Diffuse interstitial lung fibrosis that manifests in patients with plural plaque disease usually more than 10 years following the first exposure.
What criteria make asbestosis more likely ?
- History of asbestos exposure
- Dyspnoea
- Cough
- Creps on auscultation, finger clubbing, cyanosis, reduced chest expansion
- Obstructive spirometry pattern
- High resolution CT
- Bronchoscopy and biopsy
What is present on CXR in a patient with asbestosis ?
- Linear interstitial fibrosis
- Pleural plaques
- Pleural thickening
- Atelectasis
How is asbestosis managed ?
- Smoking cessation
- Pulmonary rehabilitation
- Oxygen therapy if the sP02 is less than 89 percent
- Lung transplant
What is hypersensitivity pneumonitis ?
HP is a type 3 hypersensitivity reaction to an environmental allergen that causes parenchymal inflammation and destruction.
What will be present on bronchoscopy in patients with hypersensitivity pneumonitis ?
then collecting the fluid for testing which will show raised lymphocytes and mast cells.
How is hypersensitivity pneumonitis managed ?
Removal of the allergen, steroids and giving oxygen where necessary.
What is CAP in comparison to HAP ?
- CAP (outside of hospital)
- HAP ( pneumonia that develops more than 48hrs after hospital admission)
What are the most common causes of HAP ?
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa, common in patients with COPD/Bronchiectasis
- Staphylococcal aureus (common in patients with CF)
- Enerobacteria.
How does pneumonia commonly present ?
- SOB
- Cough productive of sputum
- Fever
- Haemoptysis
- Pleuritic chest pain (sharp chest pain worse on inspiration)
- Delirium
- Sepsis.
What are the signs of pneumonia ?
- Tachypnoea
- Tachycardia
- Hypoxia
- Hypotension
- Fever
- Confusion
What is present on auscultation in pneumonia ?
- Bronchial breath sounds - Harsh breath sounds on inspiration and expiration caused by consolidation
- Focal coarse crackles - air passing through sputum
- Dullness to percussion
- Increased vocal resonance
What system is used to grade severity in pneumonia ?
CURB - 65
What does CURB - 65 stand for ?
C- confusion
U - Urea >7
R - RR>30
B - BP<90 systolic or <60 diastolic
65 - 65>age
What CURB - 65 score indicates admission into hospital ?
- Score 0/1: Consider treatment at home
- Score ≥ 2: Consider hospital admission
- Score ≥ 3: Consider intensive care assessment
What are the common causative organisms of Pneumonia ?
Streptococcus pneumoniae
Heamophilus influenzae
Mycoplasma pneumoniae
What conditions is infection with moraxella catarrhalis pneumonia associated with ?
- Immunocompromised
- COPD
What conditions are patients with psudomonas aeurginosa pneumonias associated with ?
- COPD
- Bronchiectasis
In what condition does staphylococcus pneumonia commonly invade the airways ?
Cystic fibrosis
What should atypical pneumonias be treated with ?
- Macrolides (mycin)
- Tetracyclines (docycycline)
Dont respond to penicillin
What are the five atypical pneumonia’s ?
- Legions (legionella, infected pool water or air conditioning)
- Psittaci (Chlamydia psittaci, associated with birds)
- M (mycoplasma pneumoniae - can cause erytheme multifome and associated with the young)
- C (chlaymidia pneumonia), school age children
- Q (Coxiella burnetii (Q fever), exposure to animal bodily fluids like a farmer)
What does legionella pneumonia cause (biochemically)?
Hyponatraemia
What is the most common cause of fungal pneumonia ?
Pneumocytis Jiroverci
In what group of patients does Pneumocycitis Jiroveci occur ?
Occurs in the immunocompromised. Commonly in patients with poorly controlled or new HIV or low CD4 count like in HIV
How is pneumocycitis jiroveci treated ?
- Treatment - Co-trimoxazole (septrin)
- Patients with low C4 counts are prescribed this anyways in order to protect.
How does pneumocycitis Jiroveci present ?
Subtle dry cough without sputum. SOB on exertion and night sweats.
Generally, how is mild CAP treated ?
Mild CAP - 5 days of oral antibiotics like amoxicillin or macrolide (clarithromycin)
Generally, how is moderate/severe CAP treated ?
Moderate to severe CAP - 7-10 day course of dual antibiotics (amoxicillin and macrolide)
Usually IV and changed to oral prep as symptoms improve.
How does pneumonia present on a CXR ?
Consolidation
What is the most common cause of CAP ?
Streptococcus pneumonia
What is used in patients with CAP and penicillin allergy ?
Clarithromycin
What bacteria causes TB ?
Myocobacterium TB bacteria
What are the staining characteristics of TB ?
Require a special staining called Zeihl Neelsen stain that turns bacteria bright red against a blue background. Grows acid fast bacilli.
What is Miliary TB ?
When the immune system is unable to control the disease causing a disseminated, severe disease.
How does TB commonly present ?
- Chronic, gradually worsening symptoms.
- Lethargy
- Fever and nigh sweats
- Cough, with or without haemoptysis.
- Lympandenopathy
- Erythema nodosum
- Spinal pain in spinal TB (potts disease of the spine)
What is the mantoux test ?
Looks for a previous immune response to TB by injecting tuberculin into the intradermal space in the forearm.
In duration of 5mm or more = positive result.
What is nucleic acid amplification in TB ?
used in patients who are at higher risk of developing complications. Faster than traditional cultures and looks at TB
What are interferon gamma release assays (TB) ?
Mix blood sample with TB antigens. If there has previous TB contact, WC will produce IG as part of the immune response and is a positive result. Used in patients that do not have active TB but do have a positive Mantoux test for latent TB.
What will be present on CXR in patient with TB ?
- Patchy consolidation
- Plural effusions
- Hiliar lympandenopathy
In reactivated TB, there may be cavitated lesions.
What does disseminated milary TB look like on a CXR ?
Look on google. Lots of seeds.
How are patients with latent Tb managed ?
- They do not necessarily need treatment, but patients that are at a higher risk of re-activation should be treated with
- Isoniazid and rifampicin for 3 months
- Or Isoniazid (what is it search) for 3 months.
What therapy are patients with acute pulmonary TB treated with ?
RIPE
R - Rifampicin (6)
I - Isoniazid (6)
P - Pyrazinamide (2)
E - Ethambutol (2)
What are some of the side effects of Rifampicin ?
Red/orange discolouration of secretions and can effect the metabolism of the contraceptive pill
What are the side effects of isoniazid (anti TB agent) ?
Can cause peripheral neuropathy
What are the side effects of Pyrazinamide ?
Hyperuricaemia and hence gout
Most common cause of hepatotoxicity
What are the side effects of Ethambutol ?
Colour blindness and reduced visual acuity.
What should prescribed with isoniazid to reduce the chance of peripheral neuropathy ?
Pyrioxine (B6)
What is the first line of management of a patient with suspected active TB ?
Quadruple therapy - before waiting for culture
What should all patients with Tb be investigated for ?
HIV
How is a patient with an acute exacerbation of COPD managed ?
- O2 therapy (aim for 88-92)
- Nebulised bronchodilators like salbutamol and ipratropium.
- Steroids - Hydrocortisone 200mg Iv and prednisone 40mg PO for 7-10 days.
- Antibiotics if there is evidence of infection.
What two subtypes is COPD comprised of ?
- Chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
What are the clinical features of COPD ?
- Chronic productive cough for at least 3 months in at least 2 consecutive years without other identifiable cause
- Purulent sputum production
- Hypoxia
- Hypercapnia
- Exertional dyspnoea
- Cyanosis (‘Blue bloaters’)
- Peripheral oedema secondary to cor pulmonale
- Barrel shaped chest and pursed lip breathing
- Excertional dyspnoea
What is emphysema ?
Abnormal, irreversible enlargement of the airspaces distal to the terminal bronchioles, reducing the alveolar surface area and effecting gaseous exchange.
Seen in smoking and A1 trypsin deficiency.
What are the signs on clinical examination in a patient with COPD ?
- Pursed lip breathing
- Tripod position
- Use of accessory muscles
- Barrel shaped chest
- Hyper-resonant on percussion
- Wheeze on auscultation
- Reduced chest expansion
- Decreased or quiet breath sounds
Is COPD a restrictive or obstructive disease and what will be the spirometry pattern ?
- Obstructive
- FEV1/FVC < 0.7
What does a lower FEV1 indicate in COPD ?
More severe disease and a greater need for intervention.
P pulmonale is an indicator of COPD. What are the signs of P pulmonale on ECG ?
Large P waves in L2,3 and aVF.
What is present on CXR in patients with COPD ?
- Hyperinflated chest
-Bullae
-Decreased peripheral vascular markings - Flattened hemidiaphrams.
How is chronic COPD managed ?
1 - SABA and SAMA
2 - patients with persistent exacerbation’s but no asthmatic features, add a LABA and LAMA.
2 - In patients with exacerbations and history of asthma, add LABA and inhaled corticosteroid
What are the indications for long term oxygen therapy ?
- Pa02 < 7.3 on two readings more than 3 weeks apart and non smokers.
- Pa02 7.3-8 alongside nocturnal hypoxia, polycythaemia, peripheral oedema and pulmonary hypertension.
When is long term home oxygen absolutely CI ?
Smokers
What are the indications for surgery in patients with COPD ?
Lung volume reduction surgery.
- Upper lobe predominant emphysema
- Fev1> 20 percent of indicated value.
-PaCO2 < 7.3
What is the best method of oxygen administration in patients with COPD ?
Due to the risk of CO2 retention, it is best to give patients oxygen in a controlled method like via a venturi mask.
What is ARDS ?
Non cardiogenic pulmonary odema and diffuse lung inflammation usually secondary to an underlying illness. There is diffuse alveolar damage with hyaline membrane formation.
Usually 7 or more days after the onset of a lung injury. Patients usually have bilateral alveolar injury as a result of inflammation.
What is the most common cause of ARDS ?
Pneumonia.
What are some of the side effects of methotrexate (key to remember in respiratory) ?
Patients taking methotrexate for rheumatoid arthritis can develop pulmonary fibrosis and can cause restrictive pattern, exertion dyspnoea and SOB
What is acute respiratory distress syndrome ?
Non cardiogenic pulmonary odema and diffuse lung inflammation and is typically due to an underlying illness. Can develop up to 7 days post onset of lung injury.
What is the most common cause of ARDS ?
Pneumonia
Apart from pneumonia, what are the other common causes of ARDS ?
- Sepsis
- Aspiration
- Pancreatitis
- Transfusion reactions
- Trauma and fractures
- Fat embolism
How does ARDS present (including lung sounds)
?
- Acute onset resp failure that fails to resolve with supplemental oxygen.
- Severe dyspnoea
- Tachypnoea
- Confusion
- Pre-syncope
- Fine bibasal crackles,
What will be present on auscultation in a patient with ARDS ?
Fine bibasal crackles
What will be present on CXR in a patient with ARDS ?
Bilateral alveolar infiltrates, without other features of HF (cardiomegaly/kerley B lines)
How is ARDS managed ?
Transfer to intensive care.
- Ventilatory support (mechanical support rather than bipap on a low pressure (associated with better outcomes))
- Haemodynamic support
- DVT prophylasis
- Nutritional support
- Repositioning for ulcer prophylaxis
- Antibiotics if there is an infectious cause like in pneumonia or sepsis.
What are some of the key features of a life threatening asthma exacerbation ?
- PEF < 33
- SO2 < 92 or PO2 < 8
- Cyanosis
- Hypotension
- Exhaustion
- Altered consciousness
- Silent chest
- Tachyarrhythmias.
On auscultation, what is a sign of a severe asthma exacerbation ?
Silent chest
What are some of the signs of a severe asthma exacerbation ?
- PEF 33-50 percent
- RR > 25
- HR > 100
- Inability to complete sentence in one breath
If a patient suffering from an acute exacerbation of COPD has a raised PCO2 on ABG, what is this a sign of ?
Near fatal asthma
What criteria required ICU referral in a patient with life threatening asthma ?
- Requires ventilatory support
- Deteriorating PF
- Persisting or worsening hypoxia
- Hypercapnia
- Exhaustion, feeble respiration
- Respiratory arrest