respiratory Flashcards
sarcoidosis presentation
20-40 year old black woman presenting with a dry cough and shortness of breath. They may have nodules on their shins suggesting erythema nodosum
lymphadenopathy
Lupus pernio (raised, purple skin lesions commonly on cheeks and nose)
eye + heart sx
what is sarcoidosis
granulomatous inflammatory condition.
Granulomas are nodules of inflammation full of macrophages.
what is lofgren’s syndrome
classical presentation of systemic sarcoidosis
classic triad of fever, erythema nodosum, and bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy
+polyarthralgia
Triad of Lofgren’s Syndrome
Erythema nodosum
Bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy
Polyarthralgia (joint pain in multiple joints)
blood tests for sarcoidosis
raised serum ACE
hypercalcaemia
Raised serum soluble interleukin-2 receptor
gold standard for sarcoidosis dx
histology from biopsy
= non-caseating granulomas with epithelioid cells.
tx for sarcoidosis
No treatment in px w no/mild sx - condition often resolves spontaneously.
Oral steroids 1st line where tx is req - for between 6 + 24 months
- bisphosphonates to protect against osteoporosis whilst on such long term steroids.
Second line options are methotrexate or azathioprine
Lung transplant is rarely required in severe pulmonary disease
COPD spirometry results
FEV1 according to stage
FEV1 <80% of predicted; FEV1/FVC <0.7
as OBSTRUCTIVE lung disease
Stage 1 Mild FEV1 ≥ 80% predicted
Stage 2 Moderate FEV1 50-79% of predicted
Stage 3 Severe FEV1 30-49% of predicted
Stage 4 Very Severe FEV1 <30% of predicted
CXR for COPD
Hyperinflated chest (>6 anterior ribs)
Bullae
Decreased peripheral vascular markings
Flattened hemidiaphragms
PE presentation
Sudden-onset shortness of breath
pleuritic chest pain
haemoptysis
signs of shock
PE ix
CT pulmonary angiogram
V/Q scan if renal impairment / preg/ contrast allergy
pneumothorax chest exam
- reduced chest expansion of the affected side.
- hyper-resonant percussion note on the affected side.
- reduced or absent breath sounds on the affected side, with no added sounds.
- vocal resonance (tactile vocal fremitus) is reduced on the affected side.
tension pneumothorax: signs of haemodynamic compromise (tachycardia and hypotension) and tracheal deviation to the contralateral side.
ix for pnuemothorax
urgent erect CXR (if no signs it is a tension pneumothorax)
CT thorax if too small to see on CXR
primary pneumothorax mx
No shortness of breath and less than a 2cm rim of air on the chest x-ray:
- No treatment is required as it will spontaneously resolve
Follow up in 2 – 4 weeks is recommended
Shortness of breath and/or more than a 2cm rim of air on the chest x-ray:
- Aspiration followed by reassessment
When aspiration fails twice, a chest drain is required
Emergency/earlier fails:
- Chest drain
what is the triangle of safety for insertion of a chest drain
- The 5th intercostal space (or the inferior nipple line)
- The midaxillary line (or the lateral edge of the latissimus dorsi)
- The anterior axillary line (or the lateral edge of the pectoralis major)
signs of tension pneumothorax
Tracheal deviation away from side of the pneumothorax
Reduced air entry on the affected side
Increased resonance to percussion on the affected side
Tachycardia
Hypotension
mx of tension pneumothorax
Do not wait for ix.
Insert a large bore cannula into the second intercostal space in the midclavicular line. (needle decompression)
abx prophylaxis for COPD
azithromycin
what are the ECG changes in a PE
large S wave in lead I, a large Q wave in lead III and an inverted T wave in lead III - ‘S1Q3T3’
but not always
may also see:
RBBB
right axis deviation
sinus tachycardia
CXR in PE
may be normal but cld show wedge shaped opacification
PE tx
Thrombolysis (alteplase)
thrombolysis is now recommended as the first-line treatment for MASSIVE PE where there is circulatory failure (e.g. hypotension)
If not + usually :
Apixaban as first line mx (DOAC)
if the patient has active cancer
- DOAC (prev guidelines said LMWH)
if renal impairment is severe (e.g. < 15/min) then LMWH, unfractionated heparin or LMWH followed by a VKA
if the patient has antiphospholipid syndrome then LMWH followed by a VKA should be used
anticoag for at least 3 months (6 months if unprovoked)
what is bronchiectasis?
permanent dilation of the airways secondary to chronic inflammation or infection
what are the causes of bronchiectasis
- post-infective: tuberculosis, measles, pertussis, pneumonia
- cystic fibrosis
- bronchial obstruction e.g. lung cancer/foreign body
- immune deficiency: selective IgA, hypogammaglobulinaemia
- allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA)
- ciliary dyskinetic syndromes: Kartagener’s syndrome, Young’s syndrome
- yellow nail syndrome
s + sx bronchiectasis
sx
- persistent productive cough
- dyspnoea
- haemoptysis
s
- coarse crackles, wheeze
- clubbing
ix for bronchiectasis
CXR: sometimes normal
if severe: tram lines + ring shadows
GS = CT chest - bronchial dilation
what increase of FEV1 is indicative of asthma (after inhalation of SABA)
12%
what blood result might be seen in lung cancer
raised platelets
ix for lung cancer
CXR
CT IS GS
bronchoscopy for biopsy
pulmonary HTN presentation
Shortness of breath is the main presenting symptom. Others include:
Syncope (loss of consciousness)
Tachycardia
Raised jugular venous pressure (JVP)
Hepatomegaly
Peripheral oedema
ECG signs in pulmonary HTN
indicate R sided heart strain
P pulmonale (peaked P waves)
Right ventricular hypertrophy (tall R waves in V1 and V2 and deep S waves in V5 and V6)
Right axis deviation
Right bundle branch block
what cancer is most assoc w asbestos exposure
Mesothelioma - cancer of the mesothelial layer of the pleural cavity
there is a substantial latent period between exposure + dev
chemo can help, but is palliative
characteristic chest signs of pneuomonia
bronchial breath sounds - harsh inspiratory + expiratory breath sounds due to consolidation around the airways
focal course crackles due to air passing through sputum in the airways
dullness to percussion due to lung tissue filled w sputum or collapsed
sx of pneumonia
Cough
Sputum production
Shortness of breath
Fever
Feeling generally unwell
Haemoptysis
Pleuritic chest pain
Delirium )
what can indicate sepsis secondary to pneumonia
Tachypnoea (raised respiratory rate)
Tachycardia (raised heart rate)
Hypoxia (low oxygen)
Hypotension (shock)
Fever
Confusion
severity assessment for pneumonia + what it means
CURB-65
C – Confusion (new disorientation in person, place or time)
U – Urea > 7 mmol/L
R – Respiratory rate ≥ 30
B – Blood pressure < 90 systolic or ≤ 60 diastolic.]
65 – Age ≥ 65
The CURB-65 score predicts mortality. NICE state 0/1 is low risk (under 3%), 2 is intermediate risk (3-15%), and 3-5 is high risk (above 15%):
Score 0/1: Consider treatment at home
Score ≥ 2: Consider hospital admission
Score ≥ 3: Consider intensive care
most common causes of typical pneumonia
Streptococcus pneumoniae (most common)
Haemophilus influenzae
other causes of typical pneumonia
- Moraxella catarrhalis in immunocompromised patients or those with COPD
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa in patients with cystic fibrosis or bronchiectasis
- Staphylococcus aureus in patients with cystic fibrosis
- Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in hospital-acquired infections
causes of Legionella pneumophila (Legionnaires’ disease)
inhaling infected water from infected water systems, such as air conditioning units
what can Legionnaires’ disease cause
syndrome of inappropriate ADH (SIADH), resulting in hyponatraemia
initial screening test for Legionnaires’ disease
urine antigen test
Mycoplasma pneumoniae presentation
causes a milder pneumonia
erythema multiforme - varying-sized ‘target lesions’ formed by pink rings w pale centres
can cause neuro sx in young px
how do you get chlamydia psittaci pneumonia
typically contracted from contact with infected birds.
how do you get Coxiella burnetii pneumonia
or Q fever
linked to exposure to the bodily fluids of animals. The typical exam patient is a farmer with a flu-like illness.
5 causes of atypical pneumonia (cannot be tx by penicillin)
Legions – Legionella pneumophila
Psittaci – Chlamydia psittaci
M – Mycoplasma pneumoniae
C – Chlamydophila pneumoniae
Qs – Q fever (coxiella burnetii)
what fungal pneumonia commonly occurs in immunocompromised px + how does it present
Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP)
px w poorly controlled HIV + low CD4 count - at risk
usually presents w dry cough
SOB on exertion
night sweats
PCP tx
Co-trimoxazole (trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole)
brand name Septrin
px with a low CD4 count are prescribed prophylactic co-trimoxazole to protect against PCP. (under 200)
pneumonia tx
Mild community-acquired pneumonia is typically treated with 5 days of oral abx, eg:
Amoxicillin
Doxycycline
Clarithromycin
Moderate or severe pneumonia is usually treated initially with IV abx and stepped down to oral antibiotics as the condition improves.
- dual abx - amoxicillin + a macrolide (clarithromycin) 7-10 days
Respiratory support (e.g., oxygen or intubation and ventilation) is also used.
V high severe
co-amoxiclav/tazocin + mactolide
what is exudate
a high protein content (more than 30g/L)
what is transudate
a lower protein content (less than 30g/L)
when would you start steroids in sarcoidosis
parenchymal lung disease
uveitis
hypercalcaemia
neurological or cardiac involvement
what ph does someone benefit most from NIV
7.25-7.35
what is a restrictive respiratory pattern
FVC and FEV1 are reduced proportionately so the FEV1/FVC ratio is normal
FVC < 70%
FEV1 reduced
usually has a reduced transferred factor for CO2 reflecting impaired gas exhange
examples of restrictive lung disease
where lung vol is reduced
pulmonary fibrosis
scoliosis
what is an obstructive resp pattern
FVC and FEV1 are reduced disproportionately so the FEV1/FVC ratio is reduced (<70%)
FVC normal or reduced
FEV1 reduced <80%
examples of obstructive lung disease
airways are obstructed due to diffuse airway narrowing of any cause
COPD
cystic fibrosis
asthma
bronchiectasis
airway obstruction due to lung tumours
CXR for PCP
bilateral interstitial pulmonary infiltrates
moderate asthma attack
PEFR 50-75% best or predicted
Speech normal
RR < 25 / min
Pulse < 110 bpm
severe asthma attack
PEFR 33 - 50% best or predicted
Can’t complete sentences
RR > 25/min
Pulse > 110 bpm
life-threatening asthma attack
PEFR < 33% best or predicted
Oxygen sats < 92%
‘Normal’ pC02 (4.6-6.0 kPa)
Silent chest, cyanosis or feeble respiratory effort
Bradycardia, dysrhythmia or hypotension
Exhaustion, confusion or coma
near-fatal asthma
raised pC02 and/or requiring mechanical ventilation with raised inflation pressures
first line treatment for Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA)
oral glucocorticoids - pred
Refer people using a suspected cancer pathway referral (for an appointment within 2 weeks) for lung cancer if they:
have chest x-ray findings that suggest lung cancer
are aged 40 and over with unexplained haemoptysis
OFFER an urgent chest x-ray (to be performed within 2 weeks) to assess for lung cancer if:
they are 40+ + have 2+ of the following unexplained sx, or if they have ever smoked and have 1+:
cough
fatigue
shortness of breath
chest pain
weight loss
appetite loss
CONSIDER an urgent chest x-ray (to be performed within 2 weeks) to assess for lung cancer in people:
aged 40 and over with any of the following:
persistent or recurrent chest infection
finger clubbing
supraclavicular lymphadenopathy or persistent cervical lymphadenopathy
chest signs consistent with lung cancer
thrombocytosis
lung abscess sx
sim features to pneumonia but more SUBACUTE - sx may dev over wks
may get systemic features such as night sweats and weight loss
fever
productive cough - often w foul smelling sputum
sometimes haemoptysis
chest pain
dypsnoea
lung abscess signs
bronchial breathing
dull percussion
maybe clubbing
hx aspiration pneumonia
lung abscess CXR
fluid filled space w area of consolidation
usually see an air-fluid level
lung abscess mx
intravenous antibiotics
if not resolving percutaneous drainage may be required and in very rare cases surgical resection
when might you get Legionnaire’s disease from Legionella pneumophilia
It typically colonizes water tanks and hence questions may hint at air-conditioning systems or foreign holidays (often SPAIN).
features of Legionnaire’s disease
flu-like symptoms including fever (present in > 95% of patients)
dry cough
relative bradycardia
confusion
lymphopaenia (low WBCs)
HYPONATRAEMIA
deranged liver function tests
pleural effusion: seen in around 30% of patients
dx of Legionnaire’s disease
urinary antigen
tx of Legionnaire’s disease
erythromycin/clarithromycin
what is bronchitis
self-limiting chest infection
result of inflammation of the trachea + major bronchi -> oedematous large airways and the production of sputum