Respiratory Flashcards
What is Emphysema?
- In emphysema, the alveolar air sacs become damaged or destroyed.
- The alveoli permanently enlarge and lose elasticity, and as a result, individuals typically have difficulty with exhaling, which depends heavily on the ability of lungs to recoil.
What are the risk factors for Emphysema?
- Smoking
- Air pollution
What are the signs of Emphysema
- Breathing with pursed lips (pink puffers)
- Barrel shaped chest
- Loss of cardiac dullness
- Downward displacement of the liver
- On imaging: increased anterior-posterior diameter, a flattened diaphragm, and increased lung field lucency
What are the symptoms of Emphysema?
- Dyspnoea
- Cough: could be productive
- Weight loss: due to energy expenditure while breathing
- Signs of CO2retention
- Drowsy
- Asterixis
- Confusion
What is the management for emphysema?
Examples include:
- Smoking cessation
- Supplemental oxygen
- Bronchodilators
- Inhaled steroids
- Antibiotics: for secondary infections
Full management is on CPOD flashcard.
What are the complications of emphysema?
Examples include
- Pneumothorax
- Cor pulmonale
- RSHF
- Pulmonary hypertension
Full complications are on CPOD flashcard.
What is chronic bronchitis?
- Bronchitis means inflammation of the bronchial tubes in the lung.
- It is said to be chronic when it causes a productive cough for at least 3 months each year for 2 or more years.
- Usually co-exists with emphysema, causing COPD.
What are the risk factors for chronic bronchitis?
- Smoking
- Exposure to air pollutants e.g. sulfur and nitrogen dioxide
- Exposure to dust and silica
- Family history of chronic bronchitis
What are the signs of chronic bronchitis?
- Wheeze: due to narrowing of the passageway available for air to move in and out
- Crackles or rales: caused by the popping open of small airways
- Cyanosis (blue bloaters): if there is build-up of CO2 in blood
What are the symptoms of chronic bronchitis?
- Productive cough
- Dyspnoea
- Signs of CO2retention
- Drowsy
- Asterixis
- Confusion
What is the management for chronic bronchitis?
Examples include:
- Smoking cessation
- Management of associated illnesses
- Antibiotics for infections
- Supplemental oxygen
- Bronchodilators
- Inhaled steroids
Refer to COPD for full management
What are the complications of chronic bronchitis?
Examples include
- Cor pulmonale
- RSHF
- Pulmonary hypertension
- Lung infections
Refer to COPD for full lost of complications
What is asthma?
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory airway disease characterised by intermittent airway obstruction and hyper-reactivity.
What are the two causative types of Asthma?
- Allergic/ eosinophilic: allergens and atopy
- Non-allergic/ non-eosinophilic: e.g. exercise, cold air and stress
What are the risk factors for asthma?
- History of atopy
- Family history
- Allergens
- Viral upper respiratory infections
- Other triggers: cold weather and exercise
- Occupational exposure
What are the signs of asthma?
- Diurnal PEFR variation: worse at night and early morning
- Dyspnoea and expiratory wheeze
- Samter’s triad
- Nasal polyps
- Aspirin insensitivity
- Asthma
What are the symptoms of asthma?
- Episodic shortness of breath: diurnal variation (worse at night and early morning)
- Dry cough
- Wheeze and ‘chest tightness’
- May be sputum
- History of exposure to a trigger
What are the 4 types/severities of asthma?
- Intermittent
- Mild persistent
- Moderate persistent
- Severe persistent
What are the investigations for asthma?
- FIRST LINE - Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO)
- FIRST LINE - Spirometry with bronchidilator reversibility
- Allergy testing
- Chest X-ray
- Airway hyperreactivity testing
- Peak flow rate (PEFR)
What is the first line management for asthma?
Short-acting beta antagonist (SABA)
- e.g. Salbutamol
What is the second line management for asthma?
- SABA (salbutamol)
+ Low dose inhaled corticosteroid (ICS)
What is the third line treatment for asthma?
- SABA (salbutamol)
- Low dose ICS
- Check adherence and how they are taking the drugs if using properly then:
+ Leukotriene Receptor antagonist e.g. Montelukast
What other treatment options are there for asthma?
- Short- and long-acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMA) e.g. ipratropium, tiotropium.
- Maintenance and reliever therapy (MART)
- Phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors e.g. theophylline & aminophylline
What is the fourth line management for asthma?
- SABA (salbutamol)
- Low dose ICS
- LTRA (montelukast)
+ Long-acting beta antagonist (LABA)
- e.g. Salmeterol
What are the complications of asthma?
- Asthma exacerbations:typically triggered by an upper respiratory tract infection, pneumonia, or exposure to a trigger, e.g. an allergen or occupational exposure
- Pneumothorax
- Oral thrush: due to steroid medication
What is cystic fibrosis?
- Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an inherited, autosomal recessive, multi-system disease affecting mucus glands.
- Respiratory problems most prominent, as well as pancreatic insufficiency.
What are the risk factors for cystic fibrosis?
- Family history of cystic fibrosis
- Known parental carriers: if both parents are known carriers, the child has a 1 in 4 chance of having cystic fibrosis
- Caucasian ethnicity
What are the signs of cystic fibrosis?
- Low weight or height on growth charts
- Nasal polyps
- Finger clubbing
- Crackles and wheezes on auscultation
- Abdominal distention
What are the symptoms of cystic fibrosis?
- Chronic cough
- Can be haemoptysis if inflammation erodes into a blood vessel
- Thick sputum production
- Recurrent respiratory tract infections
- Loose, greasy stools (steatorrhoea) due to a lack of fat digesting lipase enzymes
- Abdominal pain and bloating
- Parents may report the child tastes particularlysaltywhen they kiss them, due to the concentrated salt in the sweat
- Poor weight and height gain (failure to thrive)
How would an antenatal patient present with cystic fibrosis?
Hyperechogenic bowel (appears brighter than usual) on ultrasound
How would a neonatal patient present with cystic fibrosis?
- Prolonged jaundice
- Meconium ileus: first stool passed is thick and sticky and obstructs the bowel
How would a child present with cystic fibrosis?
- Recurrent chest infections (40%)
- Failure to thrive despite a voracious appetite
- Malabsorption: diarrhoea and steatorrhea (30%)
- Nasal polyps and chronic sinusitis
- Delayed puberty and short stature
- Other features: pancreatitis, rectal prolapse, portal hypertension (5-10%)
How would an adult patient present with cystic fibrosis?
- Recurrent chest infections
- Atypical asthma
- Diabetes mellitus
- Male infertility: absence of vas deferens
- Female subfertility
What are the primary investigations for cystic fibrosis?
- Sweat test - GOLD STANDARD
- Genetic testing for CFTR gene mutation
- Guthrie heel prick test
What are the other investigations for cystic fibrosis?
- Lung function test
- Sputum sample
- Faecal elastase
- Chest X-ray
What is the management for cystic fibrosis?
NOTE: Cystic fibrosis is managed by a specialist MDT
GI and Hepato-
- High calorie diet
- Liver transplant
- CREON tablets
- PPI
- Ursodeoxycholic acid
Respiratory
- Chest physiotherapy
- Antibiotics
- SABAs (salbutamol)
- Vaccinations
- Lung/ heart transplant
- Mucoactive agents
Other
- Fertility treatment
- Genetic counselling
What Mucoactive agents can be used in the management of cystic fibrosis?
- First-line:rhDNasee.g. dornase alfa / recombinant human deoxyribonuclease
- Second-line:hypertonic sodium chloride+/- mannitol dry powder (for inhalation)+/- rhDNase
- Third-line:Lumacaftor/Ivacaftor(Orkambi)
What is bronchiectasis?
Bronchiectasis is the permanent dilation of bronchi due to the destruction of the elastic and muscular components of the bronchial wall.
What are the clinical manifestations of bronchiectasis?
Usually affects the lower lobes
- Inspiratory crepitations
- Wheezing
- Productive coughing
- Large amounts of khaki coloured sputum (sometimes flecked with blood)
- Shortness of breath
- Foul smelling mucus
- Chest pain
- Digital clubbing: due to long term hypoxia
What are the investigations for bronchiectasis?
- HR-CT - GOLD STANDARD
- Sputum culture
- Pulmonary function testing
- Genetic testing
- CXR
- FBC
What is the management for bronchiectasis?
- Antibiotics: for recurrent infections
- Postural drainage: to remove excess mucus
- Chest physio
- Mucolytics
- Bronchodilators e.g. nebulised salbutamol: useful for asthma or COPD sufferers
- Anti-inflammatory agents e.g. long term azithromycin can reduce exacerbation frequency
- Surgery: to remove physical obstruction e.g. foreign object
What are the differential diagnoses for bronchiectasis?
- COPD
- Asthma
- Pneumonia
- Chronic sinusitis
What are the complications of bronchiectasis?
- Pulmonary hypertension
- LV hypertrophy
- Cor pulmonale
- Pneumonia
- Pneumothorax
- Haemoptysis
What is lung cancer?
- Lung cancer is the uncontrolled division of epithelial cells which line the respiratory tract.
- The majority of lung cancers are primary bronchial carcinomas. These are categorised into small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
What are the risk factors for lung cancer?
- Increasing age
- Smoking
- Other environmental exposure
- Family history
What are the signs of lung cancer?
- Reduced breath sounds and a fixed monophonic wheeze may be present
- Stony dull percussion: suggests a malignant pleural effusion
- Supraclavicular or persistent cervical lymphadenopathy
- Extrapulmonary manifestations:
- Clubbing
- Facial plethora and swelling
- Hoarseness
What are the symptoms of lung cancer?
- Persistent cough +/- haemoptysis
- Dyspnoea
- Pleuritic chest pain
- Recurrent pneumonia
- Fever
- Weight loss and anorexia
- Night sweats
- Lethargy
What are the NICE guidelines in relation to lung cancer referral?
- If you suspect cancer offer a chest X-ray to be carried out within 2-weeks to patients over 40 with:
- Clubbing
- Lymphadenopathy(supraclavicularor persistent abnormal cervical nodes)
- Recurrent or persistent chest infections
- Raised platelet count (thrombocytosis)
- Chest signs of lung cancer
What are the primary investigations for lung cancer?
- Chest X-ray - FIRST LINE
- Chest CT with contrast GOLD STANDARD
- PET-CT if CT is suggestive of malignancy.
- Biopsy
- Mediastinoscopy for NSCLC
What are the other investigations for lung cancer?
- Mediastinoscopy
- Sputum cytology
- Lung function test
- Brain imaging for metastasis
- FBC
What staging is used for lung cancer?
TNM
What is the management for small cell lung cancer?
- Surgery is not usually offered due to the late presentation of disease.
- Limited disease - chemoradiotherapy with platinum-based agents, e.g. cisplatin
- Extensive disease - chemoradiotherapy with platinum-based agents, or palliative chemotherapy.
What general management is given to patients with lung cancer?
- Smoking cessation
- Pain management
- Endobronchial treatment with stents or debulking
What are the complications of lung cancer?
- Local obstruction
- Metastasis
- Paraneoplastic syndromes
- Nephrotic syndromes
- Hypercoagulability
- DIC
What is the management for non-small cell lung cancer?
- Non-metastatic disease (stage I-IIIa):surgery, usually with adjuvant chemotherapy
- Typically involves lobectomy or pneumonectomy. Segmentectomy or wedge resection (taking a segment or wedge of lung to remove the tumour) is also an option.
- Removal of lymph nodes, if affected
- Curative radical radiotherapycan be used as an alternative to surgery
- Metastatic disease (stage IIIb and above):palliative treatment with immunotherapy, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy
What is an upper respiratory tract infection?
- Defined as self-limited irritation and swelling of the upper airways.
- Any infection of the: paranasal sinuses, nasal cavity, pharynx, larynx.
What are the risk factors for upper respiratory tract infections?
- Close contact with children: both day-cares and schools
- people with asthma and allergic rhinitis
- smoking,
- Immunocompromised individuals
What are the clinical manifestations of an upper respiratory tract infection?
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Runny nose (underlying rhinitis)
- Nasal congestion
- Headache
- Fever
- Sneezing
- Malaise
- Myalgia
Rhinosinusitis - pain or pressure on face, change in voice
Pharyngitis - sore throat
Tonsillitis - pain or swelling, hard to swallow
Laryngitis - hoarse voice and dry cough
Epiglottitis - trouble breathing, tripods (leans forward to keep airway open)
- Epiglottitis is an emergency
What are the investigations for an upper respiratory tract infection?
- Clinical diagnosis
- Nasal swab to identify causative pathogen
What are the differential diagnoses for an upper respiratory tract infection?
- COVID-19
- Hay fever
- Chronic sinusitis
- Streptococcal tonsillopharyngitis
- Acute sinusitis
What is the management for an upper respiratory tract infection?
- Reassurance and supportive care
- Analgesic/Antipyretic
- Decongestant and/or antihistamine
- Antitussive
- Could give antibiotics for bacterial cause
What are the complications of upper respiratory tract infections?
- Otitis media
- Asthma acute exacerbation
- Acute sinusitis
- Bronchospasm
- Pneumonia
What is sinusitis?
- Sinusitis is inflammation of the paranasal sinuses.
- Acute sinusitis can last up to four weeks, subacute sinusitis lasts between 1 to 3 months, and chronic sinusitis lasts more than 3 months.
What are the clinical manifestations of sinusitis?
- Purulent rhinorrhoea
- Facial pain
- Headache
- Fever
- Voice changes
- Change in smell and taste
- Cough: due to mucus build-up
What are the investigations for sinusitis?
- Diagnosis is mainly based on clinical presentation
- Investigations to consider:
- Rhinoscopy: tube containing a camera is inserted into the nose; shows evidence of clogged up sinuses that may be filled with mucus or pus.
- Sinus culture
- CT/ X-ray/ MRI sinuses
What is the management for sinusitis?
- Sinusitis usually last 2-3 weeks and resolves without treatment
- High dose steroid nasal spray: if no improvement
- Antibiotics: if likely due to bacterial cause
- First line: penicillin V (phenoxymethylpenicillin) for a 5 day course
- Second line: co-amoxiclav
- If penicillin allergy: clarithromycin, erythromycin (pregnancy), doxycycline
- Sinus surgery: to allow drainage in cases of chronic or recurrent sinusitis
What is acute epiglottitis?
Epiglottitis refers to inflammation and localised oedema of the epiglottis, which can result in potentially life-threatening airway obstruction.
What are the risk factors for acute epiglottitis?
- Age: since the introduction of the HiB vaccination, its incidence has shifted from children to adults. The peak age of presentation is 6 to 12 years, although it can occur at any age.
- Male gender
- Unvaccinated
- Immunocompromised
What are the signs of acute epiglottitis?
- Stridor
- Muffled voice: voice box is located close to epiglottis
- Respiratory distress: intercostal and subcostal recession (ribs show when breathing), tracheal tug, nasal flaring, accessory muscle use
- Tripod position: a sign of respiratory distress
- The patient leans forward and supports their upper body on their knees
- Pyrexial: often a very high temperature ~40°C
- Looks very unwell or ‘toxic’
What are the symptoms of epiglottitis?
- Fever
- Sore throat
- Dysphagia
- Dysphonia (stridor)
- Drooling
- Distress
What are the investigations for acute epiglottitis?
- Laryngoscopy - GOLD STANDARD
- Lateral neck radiograph
- FBC
- Cultures of blood/supraglottic region
What is the management for acute epiglottitis?
- FIRST LINE - secure the airway
- FIRST LINE - IV antibiotics
- Nebulised adrenaline may be used in an emergency
- Oxygen supplementation
- Corticosteroids - Dexamethasone
What are the complications of acute epiglottitis?
- Airway obstruction: occurs secondary to significant upper airway inflammation and oedema
- Respiratory failure can lead to a respiratory acidosis
- Mediastinitis:infection can track along the retropharyngeal space and involve the mediastinum, which is associated with a poor prognosis
- Soft tissue involvement:cellulitis or abscess within the neck
What is pharyngitis?
Acute pharyngitis is characterised by the rapid onset of sore throat and pharyngeal inflammation.
What is tonsillitis?
Acute tonsillitis refers to inflammation of the parenchyma of the palatine tonsils.
What are the risk factors for Pharyngitis / Tonsillitis?
- Young age
- Infected contacts: school-age children are often in close contact with others and are frequently exposed to viruses or bacteria that can cause tonsillitis
What are the signs of Pharyngitis / Tonsillitis?
- Pyrexia
- Red, inflamed, and enlarged tonsils with(out) exudates
- Anterior cervical lymphadenopathy
- Evidence of dehydration
What are the symptoms of Pharyngitis / Tonsillitis?
- Sore throat: usually sudden onset
- Pain on swallowing
- Loss of appetite
- Fever
- Malaise
- Non-specific symptoms: headache, nausea, vomiting
What are the investigations for Pharyngitis / Tonsillitis?
- Acute tonsillitis is primarily aclinical diagnosis
- Throat culture - GOLD STANDARD
- Rapid group A streptococcal (GAS) antigen test
What are the differential diagnosis of pharyngitis / tonsillitis?
- Infectious mononucleosis (glandular fever; due to EBV)
- Epiglottitis
What is the management for pharyngitis / tonsillitis?
- Supportive care - FIRST LINE
- Analgesics and local anaesthetics
- Confirmed GAS - Antibiotic therapy
- Obstructive sleep disorder or recurrent disease - tonsillectomy
- Candida - Antifungal therapy
What are the complications of pharyngitis / tonsillitis?
- Chronic tonsillitis
- Acute otitis media
- Scarlet fever
- Acute rheumatic fever
- Glomerulonephritis
What is otitis media?
- Acute otitis media (AOM) is defined by NICE as “the presence of inflammation in the middle ear, associated with an effusion and accompanied by the rapid onset of symptoms and signs of an ear infection”
- It is a common complication of viral respiratory illnesses.
What are the risk factors for otitis media?
- Children:6 to 24 months are most frequently affected
- Bottle feeding:the absence of breastfeeding is a well-recognised risk factor
- Family history
- Craniofacial abnormalities
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease
What are the signs of otitis media?
- Otoscopy findings:
- A red or cloudy tympanic membrane
- Bulging of the tympanic membrane
- Middle ear effusion: air-fluid level behind the tympanic membrane
- Tympanic membrane perforation may be present
- Otorrhoea: discharge due to perforation of tympanic membrane
What are the symptoms of otitis media?
- Ear pain often associated with holding, tugging or rubbing of the ear in children
- Reduced hearing
- Recent upper respiratory tract infection
- Balance issues and vertigo: if infection affects the vestibular system
- Non-specific symptoms
- Fever
- Irritability and poor feeding
- Vomiting
- Sore throat
- Cough and coryza
What are the investigations for otitis media?
- Otitis media is a clinical diagnosis
- Examination: of ears and throat. Use otoscope to visualise the tympanic membrane - may appear bulging, red and inflamed. May be signs of discharge.
- Triad of: bulging tympanic membrane, impaired mobility, and redness or cloudiness of the tympanic membrane
- Imaging:
- CT to confirm diagnosis but not strictly necessary
What is the management for otitis media?
- Observation: many cases are self-resolving
- Analgesia: e.g. paracetamol or ibuprofen - FIRST LINE
- Antibiotics: if not self-resolving, systemically unwell or suspected complications
- First line:amoxicillin
- Second line:co-amoxiclav if no improvement on amoxicillin
- Penicillin allergy: macrolide, e.g. clarithromycin or erythromycin
- Tympanocentesis for relief of middle ear pressure