Respiratory Flashcards
What is asthma?
Chronic inflammatory airway disorder
Characterised by recurrent episodes of SOB, cough, wheeze and chest tightness
Due to reversible airway obstruction
What are the 3 factors that contribute to airway obstruction in asthma?
- Bronchial muscle contraction
- Increased mucous secretion
- Mucosal swelling/ inflammation
What are the possible SYMPTOMS of asthma?
- SOB/ dyspnoea
- Cough
- Wheeze
- Chest tightness
Give 3 or more possible SIGNS of asthma on examination.
- Tachycardia
- Tachypnoea
- Reduced air entry
- Widespread polyphonic wheeze
- Chest hyperinflation
- Hyper-resonant percussion
- Accessory muscle use
Which drug is used initially to treat newly diagnosed asthma?
SAMA
SABA
ICS
SABA eg. Salbutamol/ Terbutaline
Which drug is used 2nd after SABAs in the treatment of chronic asthma?
LTRA
ICS
SAMA
ICS eg. Beclametosone/ Budesonide/ Fluticasone
Which drug is used 3rd after using SABAs and ICS in the treatment of chronic asthma?
LTRA
MART (LABA and ICS)
SAMA
LRTA eg. oral Monteleukast
Which drugs are given initially in the treatment of acute severe or life threatening asthma?
- Oxygen- aim sats 94-98%
- Salbutamol nebuliser (5mg with oxygen)
- Ipratropium nebuliser (0.5mg QDS)
- Steroids- either Prednisolone oral 40-50mg OR Hydrocortisone 100mg IV
Give 3 or more potential complications of COPD.
- Pulmonary hypertension
- Cor pulmonale
- Respiratory failure
- Lung cancer
- Acute exacerbations/ infectious exacerbations
- Polycythaemia (increased RBCs)
- Pneumothorax (due to ruptured bullae)
What 4 tests/ investigations should be done as recommended by NICE in diagnosing COPD?
- Spirometry with bronchodilator reversibility
- CXR- Exclude other pathologies
- FBC- Identify any secondary polycythaemia
- Calculate BMI
Give 2 or more side effects of B2 agonists used in asthma/COPD management.
- Tremor
- Anxiety
- Tachycardia
- Arrythmias
- Hypokalaemia
- Bronchospasm
What treatments options can be used in the management of Acute Exacerbations of COPD?
- Oxygen- aim sats 88-92%
- Nebulisers- Salbutamol 5mg 4hr,
Ipratropium 500mg QDS - Steroids- oral Prednisolone or IV hydrocortisone
- Antibiotics- if evidence of infection
- Oral Theophylline- if no response to nebulisers and steroids
- NIV- Non invasive ventilation- if pH <7.35 or PaCO2 >6kPa
- Intubation and ventilation- if pH <7.26 or PaCO2 rising despite trial of NIV.
Which antibiotic is given for low severity CAP?
Co-Amoxiclav
Amoxicillin
Metronidazole
Amoxicillin 500mg TDS 5 days
or Doxycyline/ Clarithromycin/ Erythromycin
Which 2 antibiotics are given for medium severity CAP?
Amoxicillin + Metronidazole
Amoxicillin + Doxycycline/ Clarithromycin
Doxycycline + Co-Amoxiclav
Amoxicillin + Doxycycline/ Clarithromycin
Which 2 antibiotics are given for high severity CAP?
Co-Amoxiclav and clarithromycin/erythromycin
Amoxicillin and Co-Amoxiclav
Metronidazole and Amoxicillin
- CoAmoxiclav
Plus - Clarithromycin/ Erythromycin
Which antibiotic is given 1st line for non-severe HAP?
- Co-Amoxiclav
Suggest 2 or more antibiotics which may be used 1st line for severe HAP?
- Tazocin
- Meropenem
- Ceftriaxone
- Levofloxacin
Suggest 3 or more potential complications of pneumonia.
- Para-pneumonic effusion
- Empyema
- Respiratory failure (Type 1)
- Lung abscess
- Atrial fibrillation
- Hypotension- due to sepsis
- ARDS
- Sepsis
- Pneumothorax
Pneumonia, pulmonary oedema, asthma and emphysema can cause which type of respiratory failure?
Type 1- PaO2 below 8kPa, Co2 levels normal or low.
COPD, GBS, Myasthenia gravis and opiods can cause which type of respiratory failure?
Type 2- PaO2 below 8kPa, CO2 levels above 6kPa.