Respiratory Flashcards
Obstructive Spirometry
FEV1:FVC <70% indicates and obstructive airway defect. Reduced FEV1 vital capacity is preserved to an extent. Often pt have prolonged expiration
Causes of obstructive spirometry
COPD, Asthma (reversible), Bronchiestasis
Severity of Obstructive lung disease
Assessed by FEv1 usually applies to COPD Mild >80% Moderate 50-79% Severe 30-49% Very Severe <30%
Bronchodilator challenge
Reversibility >15% or increase in peak flow 200ml = asthma. Alternative = diurnal variation in serial peak flows
Restrictive Spirometry
FEV1:FVC maintained. FVC approx 50%, FEV1 usually maintained
Causes of restrictive spirometry
Obesity, neuromuscular, thoracic cage abnormality, pul fibrosis
Flow volume loops
Airflow (L/s) against volume (L) in contrast to spirometry which is airflow over time. Appropriate to lung volume. i.e. slower airflow due to reduced elastic recoil
Diffuse small airway disease
Highest flow rate achieved via forced expiration, due to loos of elastic recoil air fails to be expelled. Leading to ski slope shaped curve. Inspiratory curve normal/increases
FEV1:FIV1 is always <1 unless
Extra thoracic obstruction increasing tracheal resistance which makes inspiration harder than inspiration. At inspiration the trachea is compressed leading to proportionally greater reduction
Large airway obstruction
Leads to squashing of the flow volume loop
Lung volumes
Measured in an oxygen tank.
i) Obstructive = Increased RV and TVC
ii) Restrictive = reduced TVC due to restriction of lung expansion
V/Q
Better perfusion @ bases better ventilation @ apices
V/Q < 1 normal perfusion with reduced ventilation due to COPD, fibrosis, emphysema, consolidation = shunt
V/Q > 1 normal ventilation poor perfusion due to PE, pulmonary arteritis = physiological dead space leads to increased work of breathing
Transfer factor
Functionality of the alveolar capillary membrane. Breathe in fixed vol carbon monoxide and calculating how much diffuses into the blood
KCO
Assess functionality per unit volume of lung
COPD transfer factor
Reduced TCLO and KCO widespread destruction
Factors affecting TCLO
V/Q mismatch, pulmonary HTN, haemoglobin conc, increased alveolar membrane thickness, reduced alveolar area
Extrapulmoary restrictive defect
reduced TLCO, increased KCO - compensation of healthy tissue
Spiral CT
Done in continuum won’t miss any lesions good if suscpet cancer but unable to find source
HRCT
High resolution used for diffuse conditions such as IPF, EAA, bronchiestasis
CXR
minimal radiation, 1st line, can pick up large abnormalities
Pneumoconiosis
Restrictive lung disease caused by inhalation of fine particles of mineral dust
Caplans
Pneumoconiosis + RA nodules
Silicosis PC
slowly progressive from exposure usually 10-30 yrs ago
exposure - sand blasting, mining, stone mason
SOB, exertional cough
fatigue, wt loss can progress to cor pulmonate
Diagnosis of silicosis
Biopsy = gold standard onion skinned arrangement of collagen fibres, central hyalinisation, birefringent particles under polarised light
Pathogenesis pneumoconiosis
1-5 micrometre particles - silica and asbestos very reactive. Some impact @ alveolar bifurcations where they are engulfed by macrophages. IL-1 induces and inflammatory response, fibroblast proliferation and collagen deposition
Invx and Mx Silicos
CXR - small nodules in upper lobes, increased hilar size. can lead to progressive egg shell calcification and large patches @ apices
Mx - prevention at workplace -water spray, breathing masks, chest physic, O2 if needed. Transplant - cure
Coal workers
Long term exposure due to coal dust incidence falling due to closure of the mines.
Simple - 1-2mm nodular upper zone shadowing
Massive - large conglomerate masses of dense fibrosis . Lung grossly blackened on inspection post mortem, black sputum mixed obstructive and restrictive lung defect
Light asbestos exposure
pleural plaques, mesothelioma, pleural fibrosis
Heavy asbestos exposure
lung cancer, asbestosis
Asbestos
Used in insulation, roofing sheet and shipbuilding commonly. Increased risk of adenocarcinoma
Clubbing in resp disease
Lung cancer - squamous, bronchiectasis, CF, IPF, mesothelioma
Haemoptysis differntials
Infection, lung cancer, Vasculitis, COPD, TB
Fibrosis O/E and CXR
Increased vocal resonance, fine late inspiratory crackles, streaky shadowing, honeycomb appearance
Pleural effusion O/E and CXR
Dull to percussion, reduced vocal resonance, absent breathe sounds, blunting of costophrenic angle (500ml)
Spirometry needs
Height, age, sex
Risks of smoking
COPD, lung cancer, bladder cancer, HTN, IHD, infertility in males, increased neonatal mortality and IUGR
Pleural plaques
Seen in 58% of people with asbestos exposure. They are discrete areas of hyaline fibrosis in the parietal pleura often at the diaphragm. Usually asymptomatic.
CXR - holly leaf
Bilateral diffuse pleural thickening
Fibrous thickening of the visceral pleura with adherence to parietal and obliteration of the pleural space. Extends over 25% of chest wall. Restrictive lung defect and recurrent pleural effusions
CXR - continuous irregular pleural shadowing, loss of costophrenic angle
Asbestosis
Heavy exposure often 5-10 yrs after. Progressive SOB, diffuse basal interstitial fibrosis , severe restrictive defect
CXR - basal honeycomb lung/reticular shadowing
Smoking and asbestosis
Synergistic 5x
Mesothelioma
Cancer derived from the mesothelium. light asbestos exposure
PC long latency, SOB, pleural effusions, bloody sputum and chest pain. wt loss and night sweats. Mets to liver, adrenals and kidney
Imvx - pleural thickening on CT, calrectin stain on biopsy
Mx - 2yrs then death
Asthma
Reversible airway limitation, airway hyper responsiveness to many stimuli and bronchial inflammation - T lymphocytes, mast cells, oedema, SM hypertrophy, mucus plugging
PC Asthma
PC - diurnal variation in symptoms worse @ night and morning, triggers by cold weather, emotion and exercise. Wheeze cough and shortness of breathe
Occupational asthma vs work aggravated
Occupational - caused by an agent at work either new or substantial deterioration
Aggravated - increased symptoms but can be managed
Hallmarks of Occupational asthma
Better after holidays / 3 days off, onset within 1 year at work, associated with nasal and eye symptoms preceding the asthma.
Investigating work place asthma
Peak flow diary or OASYS. Plots and interprets serial peak flow readings
Allergen provocation testing - direct inhalation or work place challenge
Skin prick testing and serum IgE levels
Sputum eosinophils are collected using hypertonic saline with a deep cough often linked to HMW allrgens
Methacholine challenge
Pt inhales a bronchoconstrictor acts via M3 receptor to narrow the airways, those with pre-existing hyperresponsiveness will react to extremely low doses
High weight allergens
Proteins with specific IgE i.e. detergents, animals and pollen, antibiotic and latex, flour and organic dusts
Low weight allergens
Reactive chemicals isocyanates, wood dust, complex metal salts, dyes and metal salts