Respiratory Flashcards
What is asthma?
Chronic inflammatory condition secondary to hypersensitvity which causes reversible airway obstruction
What are symptoms of asthma?
Dyspnoea, cough, wheeze, diurnal variation
What are signs of asthma?
Audible wheeze, hyperinflated chest, hyperresonance
What are risk factors for developing asthma?
History of atopy, maternal smoking, low birthweight, bottle fed, exposure to high concentrations of allergens, air pollution, hygiene hypothesis
What are some precipitants of asthma?
Cold air, exercise, emotions, smoking, pollution, NSAIDs, beta-blockers
What is the FEV1 like in asthma?
Significantly reduced
What is the FVC like in asthma?
Normal
What is the FEV1/FVC ratio?
<70% (positive test for asthma)
A 12%+ improvement of spirometry after administration of what drug is indicative of asthma?
Bronchodilators
What other tests can be done for asthma?
Peak flow - (>20% variability)
Increased FeNO levels
Skin prick tests to check atopy
What is the first line management of asthma?
SABA
What is added to SABA inhaler first?
Low dose inhaled steroid
What is the next treatment line after a SABA and an inhaler steroid?
LABA
What is the next treatment line after SABA, inhaled steroid & LABA?
Increase steroid dose
Addition of theophylline/LTRA/LAMA
What is the next treatment line after SABA, inhaled steroid, LABA, LTRA?
Addition of 4th agent - theophylline, LAMA, beta-agonist tablet
What is the last line treatment for asthma?
Oral steroids
Peak flow 50-75%, speech normal, RR <25, pulse <110 - severity of asthma attack?
Moderate
Peak flow 33-50%, cant complete sentences, RR >25, pulse >110 - severity of asthma attack?
Severe
Peak flow <33%, silent chest, cyanosis, bradycardia, hypotension, coma - severity of asthma attack?
Life threatening
How is an acute asthma attack treated?
Oxygen
Salbutamol nebulised 5mg 6L/min
Ipratropium bromide nebulised
Steroids - 40-50mg predniolone orally or 100mg hydrocortisone IV
What treatment should be given in acute asthma attack if it is life threatening?
IV Magnesium sulphate 2g over 20 minutes
What is COPD?
Common progressive disorder characterised by airway obstruction consisting of chronic bronchitis and emphysema
What are symptoms of COPD?
Cough, sputum, breathlessness
What are signs of COPD?
Tachypnoea, use of accessory muscles, hyperinflation, wheeze, cyanosis, cor pulmonale
What are causes of COPD?
Smoking, alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency
What is the FEV1 like in COPD?
Reduced
What is the FVC like in COPD?
Normal
What is the FEV1:FVC ratio like in COPD?
Reduced (<70%)
What may be seen on CXR in COPD?
Flattened hemidiaphragm
Hyperinflation
What would an ABG show in COPD?
Compensated respiratory acidosis
What type of respiratory failure do you get in COPD?
Type 2 respiratory failure (Hypoxia with hypercapnia)
What conservative management would you recommend for COPD?
Stop smoking
Increase exercise
What vaccines are important for people with diagnosed COPD?
Once off pneumococcal vaccination
Annual flu vaccine
What is the first line treatment for COPD?
Either a SABA or a SAMA
What is the second line treatment for COPD dependent on?
FEV1
If FEV1 is over 50% of predicted, what is the second line treatment for COPD?
LABA or a LAMA
If the FEV1 is less than 50% of predicted, what is the second line treatment for COPD?
LABA + ICS or
LAMA
What is the 3rd line treatment for COPD?
SABA + LABA + ICS + LAMA
Which two inhalers can you NOT give together?
SAMA and LAMA
What organism is the commonest cause of exacerbations of COPD?
Haemophilus influenzae
also get strep pneumoniae and moraxella
When should antibiotics be given for an exacerbation of COPD?
Only if purulent sputum or signs of pneumonia
How should an infective exacerbation of COPD be managed?
Increase the frequency of bronchodilator or consider using nebulised
Prednisolone 30mg 7-14 days
If a patient has a severe exacerbation of COPD what can be done?
IV Aminophylline
If pH <7.26 - intubate
What is pneumonia?
Acute lower respiratory tract infection
What are symptoms of pneumonia?
SOB, productive cough, chest pain, fevers, confusion, myalgia
What are signs of pneumonia?
Fever, cyanosis, confusion, tachycardia, hypotension, consolidation, dull percussion note
What is the commonest organism causing pneumonia?
Strep pneumoniae
What pneumonia is associated with water?
Legionella
What pneumonia is associated with alcoholics/diabetics?
Klebsiella - ‘Red jelly sputum’
What pneumonia is associated with parrots?
Chlamydia pscittici
What pneumonia is associated with AIDS?
Pneumocystis jirovecii
How do you investigate pneumonia?
Blood CXR
How is legionella tested for?
Urinary antigen
How is pneumocystis jirovecii investigated?
Bronchoalveolar lavage
What are the components of CURB65 score?
Confusion Urea >7 Respiratory rate >30 BP <90 systolic or <60 diastolic 65 years or older
1 point for each
What does a CURB65 score of 0-2 indicate?
Mild to moderate pneumonia
What does a CURB65 score of 3-5 indicate?
Severe pneumonia
How is community acquired mild/moderate pneumonia treated?
Amoxicillin 1g TDS (5 days)
How is severe community acquired pneumonia treated?
IV Co-amoxiclav + Doxycycline
Step down to doxycycline 100mg BD
How is mild/moderate hospital acquired pneumonia treated?
PO Amoxicillin + Metronidazole (5 days)
How is severe hospital acquired pneumonia treated?
IV Amoxicillin + metronidazole + gentamicin. Step down to co-trimoxazole + metronidazole PO