Respiratory Flashcards
Define pneumothorax
Presence of air in the pleural space causing partial or total collapsing of the lung
Describe a primary spontaneous pneumothorax
- no underlying lung disease
- rupture of apical pleural bleb (cyst)
- risk factors = male, smoker, tall, thin
Describe a secondary spontaneous pneumothorax
Known lung disease:
- COPD
- asthma
- interstitial lung disease
- CF
- lung cancer
Infection:
- PCP
- TB
Genetic predisposition:
- catamenial pneumothorax (thoracic endometriosis)
Describe a traumatic pneumothorax
Penetrating chest wall injury
Puncture from rib fracture
Rupture of bronchus/oesophagus
Describe an iatrogenic pneumothorax
Doctor induced
Risk with:
- pacemakers
- CT lung biopsies
- central line insertion
- mechanical ventilation
- pleural aspiration
What are the signs/symptoms of a pneumothorax?
May be asymptomatic
Breathlessness
Tachypnoea
Pleuritic chest pain
Cough
Hypoxia/cyanosis
Unilateral chest wall expansion
Reduced breath sounds
Hyper-resonant percussion
* tension pneumothorax (emergency):
- deviated trachea
- surgical emphysema
- distended neck veins
- cardiovascular compromise
What investigations are needed for a pneumothorax?
CXR: shows collapsed lung
ABG: detect hypoxia
What are the treatments for a pneumothorax?
High flow oxygen
Conservative management (for small pneumothorax)
Aspiration
Chest drain
Surgery (for persistent/recurrent air leak)
*tension pneumothorax requires emergency needle decompression
Define pleural effusion
Collection of fluid in the pleural space
How are pleural effusions classified?
Transudates = pleural fluid protein < ½ serum protein
Exudates = pleural fluid protein > ½ serum protein
What are the causes of a transudate pleural effusion?
Increased hydrostatic pressure or reduced osmotic pressure in microvascular circulation
- heart failure
- cirrhotic liver disease
- renal failure
- hypoalbuminaemia
- ascites/peritoneal dialysis
What are the causes of a exudate pleural effusion?
Increased capillary permeability and impaired reabsorption
- pneumonia
- cancer
- TB
- autoimmune conditions (SLE, RA)
- PE
- drug induced (e.g. beta-blockers, methotrexate)
What are the signs/symptoms of pleural effusion?
Can be asymptomatic
Breathlessness
Cough
Pain
Fever
Reduced chest wall expansion
Quiet breath sounds
“Stoney” dull percussion
Tactile vocal fremitus/reduced resonance
What investigations are needed for pleural effusion?
CXR: small = blunt costophrenic angles, large = water-dense shadows with concave upper borders
Ultrasound: identifies fluid
Aspiration: DIAGNOSTIC, tested for protein, glucose, pH, microscopy & culture, immunology (e.g. rheumatoid factor)
Biopsy: is aspiration is inconclusive
What are the treatments of pleural effusion?
Conservative management for small effusions
Drainage (may need repeating)
Pleurodesis (uses talc to treat recurrent effusions)
Describe a haemothorax
Blood in the pleural cavity
Caused by trauma, post-operative, bleeding disorders, lung cancer, PE
Treated with chest drain, vascular intervention, surgery
Describe a hydropneumothorax
Air and fluid in the pleural space
Causes: iatrogenic, thoracic trauma, gas forming organisms
CXR: perfectly straight fluid level
Describe empyema
Pus in the pleural space
Patient has resolving pneumonia and develops a recurrent fever
CXR: pleural effusion
Aspiration: yellow and turbid, low pH, low glucose
Treated with chest drain
Define COPD
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, characterised by persistent respiratory symptoms (such as breathlessness, cough, and sputum) and airflow obstruction (usually progressive and not fully reversible)
What causes COPD?
Bronchitis (clinical = cough, sputum production) + emphysema (histological = destruction of alveolar walls, enlarged air spaces)
Chronic inflammation caused by exposure to noxious particles or gases (usually tobacco smoke but also from environmental and occupational exposures)
Describe the epidemiology of COPD
3rd highest cause of death globally
Prevalence is equal in men and women
Onset > 35 y/o
Associated with smoking or pollution
What are the risk factors for COPD?
Smoking
Occupational exposures (dusts, fumes, chemicals)
Air pollution
Genetic factors (alpha-1 antitrypsin)
Lung development in-utero/childhood
What are the signs/symptoms of COPD?
Shortness of breath
Cough
Sputum production
Wheeze
Tachypnoea
Orthopnoea
Accessory muscle use
Hyperinflation of chest
Cyanosis
Cor pulmonale (raised JVP, peripheral oedema)
Weight loss
What investigations are needed for COPD?
Spirometry: FEV1/FVC ratio < 0.7 or 70% (little or no reversibility after bronchodilator)
CXR: hyperinflated lungs, excludes other causes
CT: more detail of structural damage (bronchial wall thickening, increased air spaces)
Serum alpha-1-antitrypsin: detects deficiency
FBC: may show anaemia, high platelets
What are the investigations needed for an exacerbation of COPD
ABG
CXR
ECG
FBC
ESR/CRP
Sputum culture
What are the treatments for COPD?
Non-pharmacological:
- smoking cessation
- physiotherapy
- pulmonary rehabilitation
- psychological support
- optimise comorbidities
Pharmacological:
- 1st = short-acting beta agonist (e.g. salbutamol) or muscarinic antagonist (e.g. ipratropium) as a reliever
- 2nd + long-acting beta agonist (e.g. salmeterol) and muscarinic antagonist (e.g. tiotropium), OR + inhaled corticosteroid (e.g. beclomethasone) if asthmatic features
- 3rd = LABA + LAMA + ICS
- 4th = refer to specialist (oral steroids, theophylline, mucolytics, prophylactic antibiotics, long-term oxygen)
What are the treatments of an acute exacerbation of COPD?
Nebulised bronchodilators (salbutamol + ipratropium)
Oxygen therapy (with care, as some patients rely on hypoxic drive)
Steroids: IV hydrocortisone + oral prednisolone
Antibiotics (if infectious cause)
IV theophylline
Intubation/ventilation
Describe the epidemiology of lung cancer
2rd most common cancer
More common in males
Incidence is decreasing
10% survival rate after 10 years
What are the causes of lung cancer?
Cigarette smoking (most common, including passive smoking)
Occupational - asbestos, nickel, arsenic
Lung fibrosis
What are the signs/symptoms of lung caner?
Local:
- cough
- shortness of breath
- haemoptysis
- chest pain
- recurrent chest infections
Systemic:
- general malaise
- weight loss
- paraneoplastic syndrome
- clubbing
- anaemia
What are the types of lung cancer?
Primary carcinoma: (95% are bronchial carcinomas)
- small cell (neuroendocrine tumours, often cause paraneoplastic syndromes)
- non-small cell (squamous cell, adenocarcinoma, or large cell)
Metastatic carcinomas (more common than primary carcinomas)
Others:
- benign tumours
- salivary gland type tumours
- soft tissue tumours
- lymphoma
What investigations are needed for lung cancer?
Bloods: FBC (anaemia), LFTs and U&Es (effect of metastases)
Imaging: CXR, CT
Biopsy (DIAGNOSTIC)
Molecular testing
What are the treatment of lung cancer?
Surgery
Chemo/radio therapy
Palliative care
What are the types of tumours of the pleural?
Pleural fibroma (benign)
Mesothelioma (malignant, caused by asbestos)
Define occupational lung disease
A wide-range of respiratory conditions caused by inhaling a harmful substance in the workplace or exposures which may aggravate the symptoms of any pre-existing lung disease
What things may cause occupational lung diseases?
Dusts - chiselling stone/cutting wood, flour
Fumes - soldering/welding
Mists - coolant used in metal work
Vapours/gases - spray paint/gas leaks
What are the most common occupational lung diseases?
Asthma
Non-malignant pleural disease
Pneumoconiosis
Inhalation accidents
Bronchitis/emphysema
Lung cancer
Mesothelioma
What factors affect a persons development of occupational lung diseases?
The physical and chemical nature of the agent
The duration and dose of exposure
Individual susceptibility
Describe the different progressions of occupational lung disease
- Immediate effects: e.g. high dose exposure to chlorine gas resulting in acute airway injury and chronic asthma
- Short latency (months-years): present while patient is still exposed e.g. occupational asthma
- Long latency (often decades): commonly present close to/after retirement e.g. asbestosis, silicosis
How are occupational lung diseases managed?
Standard lung disease education and treatment
Liaison with occupational health and/or employer
Compensation advice
Prevention or reduction of exposure
What are the effects of occupational lung disease?
Unemployment (up to one third of OA)
Loss of earnings
Chronic resp ill health
Depression
Loss of self worth
Breakdown of relationship
How are occupational lung diseases prevented?
Elimination or substitution of cause
Engineering controls (ventilation)
Training and behaviour
Respiratory protective equipment
Surveillance of workers at risk
What are the common causes of occupational asthma?
Flour
Cleaning products/disinfectant
Isocyanates (in spray paint)
Glue/adhesive
Wood
Welding fumes
Define hypersensitivity pneumonitis
Granulomatous inflammation (due to type III hypersensitivity reaction) of the lung parenchyma and airways due to repeated inhalation of organic antigens in dusts (e.g. from dairy/grain products, animal dander, chemicals)
What are the different forms of hypersensitivity pneumocystis?
Acute:
- 4-8 hours after exposure, resolves quickly
- flu-like illness = fever, chest tightness, dry cough, dyspnoea
Subacute:
- gradual onset, may be history of repeated attacks
- less severe symptoms = productive cough, dyspnoea, fatigue
Chronic:
- long-term exposure, gradual onset
- exercise intolerance, weight loss, may develop cyanosis, clubbing, hypoxaemia, right-sided heart failure
- can cause fibrosis, emphysema, and permeant damage
What are the causes of pneumoconiosis?
Asbestos = pleural disease -> lung fibrosis (asbestosis) -> cancer (mesothelioma)
Silica (from stone/brick) = causes silicosis, COPD, can lead to cancer
Coal dust = known as coal worker’s pneumoconiosis