Respiratory Flashcards
What is the difference between Stridor and Stertor?
- Stridor= harsh. Indicates partial obstruction of laryngeal/ tracheal airways
- Stertor= snoring-like breathing. Obstruction of nasopharynx/ oropharynx
Management of airways obstruction
- Airway manoevers/suction/ adjuncts
- Intubation
- Cricothyroidotomy/ tracheostomy
Anaphylaxis presentation
- Oedema- larynx, eyelids, lips, tongue
- Wheeze/stridor
- Itching
- Capillary leak
- Urticaria
- D+V
- Sweating
- Erythema
- Cyanosis
- Shock- SBP<90 and evidence of end organ hypoperfusion
Acute management of anaphylaxis
- ABCDE!
- Secure airway. Raise feet
- Remove cause
- Adrenaline 0.5mg 1:1000 IM
- Secure IV access
- Chlorphenamin 10mg IV + hydrocortisone 200mg IV
- IVT stat
- ?wheeze –> salbutamol NEBS
- Still hypotensive –> ICU. ?IV adrenaline/aminophylline
Presentation of PE
- Acute SOB
- Pleuritic chest pain
- Haemoptysis
- Sudden collapse
- Signs of DVT
- High RR, HR. Low BP
- Cyanosis
- RV Heave
Well’s score for PE
- Signs/ Sx of DVT (3)
- PE most likely Dx (3)
- HR >100 (1.5)
- >3 days immobilisation/ surgery <4w (1.5)
- Prev. DVT/ PE (1.5)
- Haemoptysis (1)
- Malignancy- current/ Tx <6m ago (1)
- ==> 4 or less= low risk –> d-dimer –> ?CTPA
- >4= High risk –> CTPA
PE Ix
- Bedside- O2 sats, ECG (tachy, RBBB, inverted T waves, S1Q3T3)
- Bloods- d-dimer, ABG
- Imaging- CTPA, USS of leg, ?V/Q scan
PE Tx
- ABCDE + o2 + IVT
- Morphine + metoclopramide
- LMWH (tinzaparin)/ fondaparinux
- ?Alteplase/ embolectomy
- (Vena cava filter)
Presentation of Pneumothorax
- Chest pain (unilat)
- Worsening SOB
- Tracheal deviation AWAY
- Resp. distress
- Cyanosis
- O/E Reduced expansion, hyper-resonance, reduced breath sounds
- Tension: Shocked, mediastinal shift, raised JVP
Investigations and management of pneumothorax
- Ix: ABG, CXR (lung markings not to edges)
- ABCDE + o2
- Primary pneumothorax:
- <2cm- discharge. r/v 2-4w
- >2cm- 2x aspiration attempts –> chest drain
- Secondary pneumothorax:
- Always treat
- 1-2cm: aspirate
- >2cm/ SOB/ >50y: chest drain
Pleural effusion: Difference between transudate and exudate and causes
- Transudate= Protein <25, LDH <0.6. FAILURE
- Increased venous return- CHF, cirrhosis
- Decreased proteins- Nephrotic syndrome, hypoalbuminaemia
- Exudate= Protein >35, LDH >0.5. INFECTION/ INFLAMMATION/ MALIGNANCY
- Malignancy
- Pneumonia
- TB
- PE
- Pancreatitis
- Oesophageal rupture
- AI
Presentation of Pleural Effusion
- Sx: ASx, SOB, chest pain
- Stony dull percussion
- Reduced expansion
- Reduced breath sounds
- Reduced vocal resonance
- Tracheal deviation (large)
Pleural effusion: Ix and Tx
- Ix:
- CXR- blunted costophrenic angle, dense shadowing with fluid level
- USS- Diagnosis and guiding drain
- Pleural fluid aspirate
- Pleural biopsy
- Tx:
- Pleural fluid drainage (?repeated)
- Pleuradhesis- tetracycline, bleomycin, talc
- Surgical
Features of acute severe asthma attack
- PEFR 33-50%
- RR >25
- HR >110
- Unable to speak in full sentences
Features of acute life-threatening asthma attack
- PEFR <33%
- Silent chest
- Cyanosis
- Hypotension
- Arrhythmia
- Exhaustion/ confusion/ coma
- ABG: CO2 >4.6, pO2 <8kpa/92%
Investigations of chronic and acute asthma
- Chronic: PEFR, spirometry, bloods, CXR, IgE skin prick, sputum culture
- Acute: NEWS, PEFR, bloods, ABG, CXR
BTS guidlines of chronic asthma management
INH SABA PRN. ?Step up >3 times/w
- INH SABA PRN- salbutamol
- Low dose ICS- beclometasone
- INH LABA eg salmeterol. If ineffective, stop and increase dose of ICS
- High dose ICS (upto 2000 micrograms/d). Consider addition of B2 agonist PO, motelukast, SR theophylline
- Prednisolone PO/ continue high dose ICS. Specialist care
Management of acute asthma attack
- ABCDE + 02
- Salbutamol 5mg NEB. Repeat every 15-30 mins
- Ipratropium bromide 0.5mg/6h NEBS
- Magnesium sulfate 1.2-2g IV over 20 mins
- Not improving –> ICU ?ventilation ?aminophylline ?IV salbutamol
- Improving 15-30 mins –> Continue salbutamol NEBS 4-6h, PO prednisolone 5-7d
Presentation of COPD
- SOB (++ exercise)
- Wheeze
- Nocturnal cough
- Sputum (white)
- Fatigue
- Plethora
- Cyanosis
- Raised JVP
- Tremor
- Hyperresonance
- ??Smoker
Spirometry: Obstructive vs Restrictive
- Obstructive- Reduced FEV1 and FEV1:FVC
- Restrictive- Reduced FVC (?raised FV1:FVC)
Staging of COPD
Gold Classification
- Mild- FEV1 80-100%
- Moderate- FEV1 50-80%
- Severe- FEV1 30-50%
- V severe- FEV1 <30%
Management of chronic COPD
Conservative- smoking cessation, good diet, pulmonary rehab, vaccinations
- SABA (salbutamol) or SAMA (ipratropium) PRN
- FEV >50%: LABA (salmeterol) or LAMA (tiotropium) + stop SAMA. FEV<50%: LABA + ICS or LAMA
- LAMA + LABA/ICS combined (symbicort/ seretide)
Acute management of COPD
ABCDE
- NEBS- salbutamol, ipratropium bromide
- Controlled o2 (88-92%)
- Steroids- prednisolone/ hydrocortisone
- ABx- amoxicillin/ clarithromicin/doxycycline
- Chest physio
- No response to NEBS –> IV aminophylline
- NIV
- Doxapram
- ??Intubation
Indications for NIV in acute COPD
- RR >30
- pH <7.35
- PaCO2 >6.5 and rising despite Tx
Contraindications of NIV
- Unable to maintain airway- impaired swallow/cough, low GCS
- Facial trauma/ burns
- Pneumothorax
- Cardio/pulmonary arrest
- Relative- extreme anxiety, dementia, morbid obesity, multiple organ failure
COPD CXR
- Hyperinflation: >6 ribs visible above diaphragm
- Flattened hemidiaphragms
- Large central pulmonary arteries
- Reduced vascular markings
- Bullae
Presentation of Pneumonia
- Productive cough
- SOB
- Pleuritic chest pain
- Haemoptysis
- Fever +/- rigors
- Confusion (esp elderly)
- Reduced chest expansion
- Dull percussion
- Crackles
- Bronchial breathing
- ??SEPSIS
Severity scoring of CAP
CURB-65
- Confusion
- Urea >7mmol/L
- RR >30
- BP <90/60
- Age >65 years
1-2= Mild. 2= Moderate, hospital. 3= Severe ?ICU