Respiratory Flashcards
What are they key symptoms of asthma?
Wheeze, often with clear triggers, reversibility with bronchodilators.
Chest tightness.
Cough.
Atopy.
What are the investigations for suspected asthma?
Peak flow.
Spirometry.
CXR if atypical presentation.
What are the investigations for an acute exacerbation of asthma?
ABG (O2, CO2, PH)
Peak flow (% best or predicted to assess severity).
CXR if diagnosis not clear.
What is the severity grading of acute exacerbation of asthma?
Moderate acute asthma
Increasing symptoms;
Peak flow > 50-75% best or predicted;
No features of acute severe asthma.
Severe acute asthma
Any one of the following:
Peak flow 33-50% best or predicted;
Respiratory rate ≥ 25/min;
Heart rate ≥ 110/min;
Inability to complete sentences in one breath.
Life-threatening acute asthma
Any one of the following in a patient with severe asthma:
Peak flow < 33% best or predicted;
Arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2) < 92%;
Partial arterial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) < 8 kPa;
Normal partial arterial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2) (4.6–6.0 kPa);
Silent chest;
Cyanosis;
Poor respiratory effort;
Arrhythmia;
Exhaustion;
Altered conscious level;
Hypotension.
Near-fatal acute asthma
Raised PaCO2 and/or the need for mechanical ventilation with raised inflation pressures.
What is the management of an acute asthma exacerbation?
O2
Salbutamol nebs, can be repeated, can use ipratropium if salbutamol not effective.
Oral prednisolone, Continue inhaled steroids
Aminophylline or IV magnesium are not evidence based.
Early escalation to ITU if life threatening features.
What is the management of chronic asthma?
Stepwise approach:
1) SABA eg salbutamol
2) Add inhaled corticosteroid if needing reliever 3x per week or more.
3) Add in leukotriene receptor antagonist eg montelukast or add in LABA eg salmeterol, fometerol (or combination inhaler).
4) Add in the other one not tried above.
5) Consider tiptropium; speicalist referral.
6) Under specialist guidance, mAbs eg omalizumab
What extra pulmonary signs might there be in asthma?
Tremor (salbutamol)
Tachycardia (salbutamol)
Thin skin, easy bruising, cushingoid appearance - steroids.
What are the features of a moderate acute exacerbation of asthma?
Increased symptoms
peak flow 50-70% of predicted
No features of acute severe asthma
What are the features of a severe acute exacerbation of asthma?
Peak flow 33-50% of predicted
OR
Respiratory rate >/=25/min
OR
Heart rate >/=110bpm
OR
Inability to complete sentences
What are the features of a life-threatening acute exacerbation of asthma?
Peak flow <33% predicted
OR
normal PaCO2
OR
Sats<92%
OR
Pa02<8
Or silent chest/cyanosis/poor respiratory effort/arrhythmia/exhaustion/altered level of consciousness
What are the features of a near-fatal acute exacerbation of asthma?
High PCO2 and/or need for mechanical ventilation
What is bronchiectasis?
A chronic condition of abnormal, permanent thickening of the bronchi and bronchioles due to repeated infection, impaired draining, airway obstruction or abnormal immune response
What are some common symptoms of brochiectasis?
Shortness of breath
Chronic productive cough
Repeated infections
Haemoptysis
Pleuritic chest pain
Childhood infections
What are the top three causes of bronchiectasis?
Post-infective
COPD
Cystic fibrosis
What signs of an underlying cause for bronchiectasis should you look for on physical examination?
Cystic fibrosis - young, thin patient. PEG/permanent line, signs of chronic liver disease
Kartageners - Dextrocardia/situs inversus
Connective tissue disease - peripheral polyarthropathy, lupus skin changes
What are some differential diagnoses for a patient with lung crepitations and finger clubbing?
Bronchiectasis - generally fine late-inspiratory that don’t improve with coughing but do on leaning forwards
Lung cancer - signs of malignancy inc tar staining, cachexia
Abscess
How is the severity of bronchiectasis determined?
MRC dyspnoea scale - severe if >4
Number of bronchopulmonary segments involved
Lung function assessment
What is Youngs syndrome?
Includes bronchiectasis, male infertility and sinustitis. Thought to be due to genetic factors or mercury exposure in childhood
What signs may be seen on a chest xray of a person with bronchiectasis?
Tramlines when diseased bronchi seen side on
Signet rings when diseased bronchi seen end-on
Hyperinflation
What pattern would be seen on lung function tests in a patient with bronchiectasis?
Obstructive pattern
How should bronchiectasis be managed?
MDT approach including physio
Educate patient
Stop smoking
Postural drainage
Vaccines optimise nutrition
Treat the cause
Rescue abx
Steroids
Mucolytics
Bronchodilators
What are some complications of bronchiectasis?
Pulmonary: haemoptysis, recurrent infections, empyema or abscess, cor pulmonale
Extra-pulmonary: Anaemia, secondary amyloidosis
What are some extra-pulmonary manifestations of cystic fibrosis?
Pancreatic insufficiency
Male infertility
Distal intestinal obstruction syndrome
Gallstones
Biliary cirrhosis and portal hypertension
Sinus disease
Intestinal malabsorption
Diabetes
What are some differential diagnoses for bilateral lower-zone crackles?
Pulmonary oedema
Pulmonary fibrosis
Bronchiectasis
Bilateral pneumonia