Respiratory Flashcards
Define pneumonia
Inflammation of the lung parenchyma
Acute low respiratory tract infection
How can pneumonia be anatomically classified?
- Bronchopneumonia = diffuse, patchy infection of different lobes
- Lobar pneumonia = localised consolidation of a single lobe
How can pneumonia be aetiologically classified?
- Community acquired pneumonia = person with no underlying immunosuppression or malignancy
- Hospital acquired pneumonia = >48 hours after hospital admission
- Aspiration pneumonia = acute aspiration of gastric contents into lungs
Briefly describe the pathophysiology of pneumonia
Pathogen colonises pharynx –> translocated to distal airways –> alveolar macrophage response is overwhelmed
Inflammatory response + pathogenic features –> airway exudate and parenchyma damage
What can cause pneumonia to be severe?
- Excessive inflammation
- Lung injury
- Resolution failure
What protective features does the respiratory tract have against pathogens?
Teeth, commensal bacteria, swallowing reflex, mucociliary escalator, coughing, sneezing etc.
Name 3 groups of people who might be at risk of pneumonia
- Elderly
- Children
- COPD patients
- Immunocompromised people
- Nursing home residents
Name 3 pathogens that can cause community acquired pneumonia (CAP)
- Streptococcus pneumoniae
- Haemophilus influenzae
- Mycoplasma pneumoniae
- Staphylococcus aureus
Name 3 pathogens that can cause hospital acquired pneumonia (HAP)
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa
- E.coli
- Klebsiella penumoniae
- Staphylococcus aureus
Name 3 pathogens that can cause pneumonia in immunocompromised patients
- Bacterial pathogens (CAP)
- Fungal - pneumocystis jirovecii (PCP), Aspergillus
- Viral - CMV, adenovirus
What symptoms might you see in someone with pneumonia?
- Fever, sweats and rigors
- Cough +/- rusty sputum
- SOB
- Pleuritic chest pain
- Fatigue and malaise
What signs might you see in someone with pneumonia?
- Raised HR and RR
- Lung consolidation - dull percussion, crackles and wheezes
- Pleural effusion
- Hypoxia
What investigations might you do on someone you suspect has pneumonia?
CXR = consolidation
FBC (WCC )
Biochemistry - LFTs, renal function, U+Es
CRP and ESR = severity
Microbiology - sputum culture, blood culture, serology
How can you assess the severity of community acquired pneumonia?
CURB65 score (1 point for each) - Confusion - Urea >7 mmol/L - RR > 30/min - BP <90/60 mmHg - Age >65 Scores 0-1 = mild 2 = admit to hospital 3-4 = severe, admit and monitor closely 5 = ITU transfer
How can pneumonia be prevented?
Children have pneumococcal vaccine
At risk groups have pneumococcal and influenza vaccination
Smoking cessation
What is the treatment for someone with mild CAP (CRUB65 score 0-1)?
Amoxicillin OR clarithromycin
What is the treatment for someone with moderate CAP (CRUB65 score 2)?
Amoxicillin AND clarithromycin
What is the treatment for someone with severe CAP (CRUB65 score 3-5)?
IV co-amoxiclav AND clarithromycin
What is the treatment for someone with Legionella pneumoniae?
Fluoroquinolone + clarithromycin
What is the treatment for someone with Pseudomnoas aeruginosa pneumonia?
IV ceftazidime + gentamicin
What is the treatment for early onset HAP?
Metronidazole OR beta lactam + beta lactase inhibitor
What is the treatment for late onset HAP?
Linezolid/vancomycin OR IV colistin
A 66 y/o patient presents to you with fever and a productive cough. On examination you notice they are their confused. Their vital signs are: RR - 35; BP - 80/55 and HR: 130. You measure their urea and it comes back at 8mmol/L
a) What is this patients CURB65 score?
b) Where should they be treated?
c) Describe the treatment for this patient
a) Their CURB65 score is 5
b) This patient should be treated in hospital and admitted to critical care
c) The patient should be given IV co-amoxiclav and clarithromyocin
Give 3 potential complications of pneumonia
- Respiratory failure
- Hypotension
- Empyema
- Lung abscess
What is empyema?
Pus filled cavities
Give 3 signs of empyema
- WBC/CRP don’t settle with Abx
- Pain on deep inspiration
- Pleural collection
What is the treatment for empyema?
Drainage
Give 3 risk factors for lung abscess
- Aspiration
- Alcoholics
- Poor dental hygiene
- Bronchial obstruction
How is a lung abscess treated?
Surgical drainage and antibiotics
Define bronchiectasis
Chronic infection of the bronchi/bronchioles leading to permanent dilation and thinning of the airways
Describe the pathophysiology of bronchiectasis
Failed mucociliary clearance and impaired immune function –> microbes easily invade and cause infection –> inflammation –> progressive lung damage
Bronchitis –> bronchiectasis –> fibrosis
What can cause bronchiectasis?
- Congenital = CF
- Idiopathic (50%)
- Post infection - pneumonia, TB, whopping cough
- Bronchial obstruction
- RA
- Hypogammaglobulinaemia
Which bacteria might cause bronchiectasis?
- Haemophilus influenza (children)
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa (adults)
- Staphylococcus aureus (neonates often)
Give 3 symptoms of bronchiectasis
- Chronic productive cough
- Purulent sputum
- Intermittent haemoptysis
- Dyspnoea
- Fever, weight loss
Give 3 signs of bronchiectasis
- Finger clubbing
- Coarse inspiratory crepitate (crackles)
- Wheeze
What investigations might you do on someone to determine whether they have bronchiectasis?
CXR = dilated bronchi with thickened walls
High resolution CT = bronchial wall dilation
Spirometry = obstructive lung disease
Sputum culture
Describe the treatment for bronchiectasis
- Antibiotics
- Anti-inflammatories
- Bronchodilators
- Chest physio
- Surgery = lung resection or transplant
Give 3 possible complications of Bronchiectasis
- Pneumonia
- Pleural effusion
- Pneumothorax
A lady who has recently had pneumonia presents to you with SOB and chronic cough. She is producing copious amounts of purulent sputum. What is the likely diagnosis?
Bronchiectasis
Describe the pathogenesis of Cystic fibrosis
AR defect in chromosome 7 coding (commonly F508) CFTR protein
Cl- transport affect
Decrease Cl secretion and increase Na reabsorption –> increase H2O reabsorption –> thickened mucus secretion
What are the main systemic consequences of CF?
Pancreatic insufficiency = dehydrated secretion –> enzymes stagnation
GI = intraluminal water deficiency –> concentrated bile
Resp = thick mucus can’t be cleared –> infection risk and inflammatory damage
How is CF passed on?
Autosomal recessive condition
How does neonate present with CF?
- Failure to thrive
- Meconium ileus (sticky intestine)
- Rectal prolapse
How do children/young adults present with CF?
- Cough and wheeze
- Recurrent infections
- Haemoptysis
- Pancreatic insufficiency
- Malabsorption
- Male infertility
What are 3 possible respiratory complications of CF?
- Pneumothorax
- Respiratory failure
- Cor pulmonale
- Bronchiectasis
Give 3 signs of CF
- Clubbing
- Cyanosis
- Bilateral coarse crepitations
Name 3 associated conditions with CF
- Osteoporosis
- Arthritis
- Vasculitis
What investigations might you do to diagnose cystic fibrosis?
Sweat test = Na and Cl < 60 mmol/L
Genetic screening for common mutations
Faecal elastase - tests pancreatic enzyme function
Absent vas deferent and epididymis (males)
Microbiology
Spirometry
What is the management of CF?
- Physical therapies (airway clearance) and surveillance
- Antibiotics for infections and prophylaxis
- Bronchodilators
- Pancreatic enzymes replacement (creon)
- ADEK vitamin supplements
- Screening for consequent conditions - osteoporosis
- Bilateral lung transplant
- Vaccinations - flu and pneumococcal
Infection with a gram negative bacteria is a particular concern in patients with CF. What is this organism and how can infection be prevented?
- Pseudomonas Aeruginosa
- Nebulised anti-pseudomonal antibiotic therapy and regular sputum cultures
Malignant bronchial tumour can be divided into 2 groups, what are they?
- Non small cell lung carcinoma (80%)
2. Small cell lung carcinoma (20%)
What type of malignant bronchial tumour tends to have a worse prognosis?
Small cell lung carcinomas - often metastasise
From what cells are small cell carcinomas derived from and what is the significance of this?
Neuroendocrine cells
Can secrete peptide hormones - ACTH, PTHrP, ADH, HCG
Give 3 main cell types the make up non-small cell lung cancers
- Squamous cell (20%) - arise from epithelial cells + associated with keratin production
- Adenocarcinoma (40%) - originate from mucus-secreting glandular cells
- Large cell
Name 3 types of benign lung cancer
- Hamartoma
- Lipoma
- Chondroma
- Leiomyoma
Give 4 causes of lung cancer
- Smoking = main cause
- Asbestos
- Radon
- Coal products
- Chromium
- Arsenic
Which type of NSCC is most common in smokers?
Squamous cell carcinoma
Which type of malignant bronchial tumour fits into TNM staging?
Non small cell carcinoma
What does TNM stand for in lung cancer?
T = size/invasion = T1 (<3cm) --> T2 (>3cm) --> T3 (chest wall/diaphragm) --> T4 (heart + vessels) N = nodal involvement = N1 (hilar) --> N2 (ipsilateral mediastinal) --> N3 (contralateral mediastinal) M = metastases = M0 (no metastases) --> M1 (metastases)
Name 4 places lung cancer can metastasise to
- Bone
- Brain
- Lymph nodes
- Liver
- Adrenal
Name 4 cancers that can metastasise to the lungs
- Breast
- Prostate
- Colorectal
- Melanoma
- Thyroid
- Lymphoma
- Kidney
Give 4 symptoms of local disease lung cancer
- Chest pain
- SOB
- Haemoptysis
- Cough
Give 4 symptoms of lung cancer that has metastasised
- Bone pain
- Headaches
- Abdominal pain
- Seizures
- Confusion
- Weight loss
What are paraneoplastic syndromes?
Disorders triggered by immune response to a neoplasm
Give 3 examples of paraneoplastic syndromes due to lung cancer
- Anorexia
- Weight loss
- Finger clubbing (hypertrophy pulmonary OA)
- Hypercalcaemia
Name 3 differential diagnosis’s of lung cancer
- Oesophageal varices
- COPD
- Asthma
- Pneumonia
- Bronchiectasis
What investigations might you done on someone to determine whether they have lung cancer?
CXR = consolidation or collapse CT scan = tumour staging Bronchoscopy = biopsy PET scan Bloods
How does PET scanning work?
FDG is taken up by rapidly dividing cells
Tumour therefore appear ‘hot’ on the scan
What can cause:
a) false positive
b) false negative
on a PET scan?
a) Infection and inflammation
b) Small lesions
What tests might you do on a patient with lung cancer to determine whether they’re fit for an operation?
- ECG
- Lung function tests
- Determine performance status
What is the treatment for NSCLC?
Prevention = smoking cessation and avoid enivronemtnal carcinogens
Stage 1-2 = resection –> radio + chemo
Stage 3-4 = chemo + radio –> palliative care
What is the treatment for SCLC?
Limited disease = chemo + radio
Extensive = palliative chemo + care
Why is the 5 year lung cancer survival rate so low?
Only 8-10%
Often present very late, so treatment is much harder
Give 4 possible complications of lung cancer
- SVC obstruction
- ADH secretion –> SIADH
- ACTH secretion –> Cushing’s
- Serotonin secretion –> carcinoid
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Pathological fractures
- Hepatic failure
What does the medullas detect?
The pH (H+ conc) of the CSF
What do carotid and aortic bodies detect?
Chemoreceptors respond to increased CO2 and decreased O2 levels
What is type 1 respiratory failure?
Hypoxia = low PaO2
PaCO2 is normal or low due hyperventilation
What is type 2 respiratory failure?
Hypoxia and hypercapnoea = Low PaO2 and increase PaCO2
There is alveolar hypoventilation (CO2 enters alveoli, but not removed)
Give 3 signs of hypercapnoea
- Bounding pulse
- Flapping tremor
- Confusion
- Drowsiness
- Reduced consciousness
What can cause type 1 respiratory failure?
- Airway obstruction
- Failure of O2 to diffuse into the blood
- V/Q mismatch
- Alveolar hypoventilation
What can cause type 2 respiratory failure?
Alveolar hypoventilation
Give examples of diseases that can obstruct the airway (could lead to type 1 respiratory failure)
- COPD
- Asthma
- Obstructive sleep apnoea
Name 3 things that lead to alveolar hypoventilation (could lead to type 1 and type 2 respiratory failure)
- Emphysema
- Obesity
- Neuromuscular weakness - MND
- Chest wall deformity
- Opiates
Give examples of diseases that lead to a failure of O2 to diffuse into the blood (could cause type 1 respiratory failure)
- Interstitial lung disorders - pulmonary fibrosis, sarcoidosis
- Emphysema
Give examples of diseases that lead to V/Q mismatch (could cause type 1 respiratory failure)
- Cardiac failure
- Pulmonary embolism
- Shunts
- Pulmonary hypertension
Give 4 signs and symptoms of type 1 respiratory failure
= Hypoxia
- Cyanosis
- Tachypnoea
- Tachycardia
- Hypotension
- Confusion
- Dyspnoea
Give 4 signs and symptoms of type 2 respiratory failure
- Dyspnoea
- Anxiety
- Orthopnoea
- Disturbed sleep
- Frequent chest infections
- Confusion
- Flapping temor
- Bounding pulses
What treatments might be given for V/Q mismatch?
Ventilation support - CPAP, BIPAP
What is continuous airway pressure (CPAP)?
Ventilation support given to people with obstructive sleep apnoea
Improves gaseous exchange
What is bilevel positive airway pressure (BIPAP)?
Ventilation support given to those who have had acute exacerbation of COPD
Improves ventilation to perfused alveoli - pressure decreases when breathing out, and increases when breathing in
What happens to the FEV1, FVC and FEV1/FVC ratio in an obstructive lung disease?
FEV1 < 80% predicted
FVC = normal
FEV1/FVC ratio <0.7
What happens to the FVC and FEV1/FVC ratio in a restrictive lung disease?
FVC = reduced
FEV1/FVC ratio = normal
If the trachea, bronchi and bronchioles are involved in a disease process, is this likely to be an obstructive or a restrictive disease?
Obstructive
If the lung parenchyma are involved in a disease process, is this likely to be an obstructive or a restrictive disease?
Restrictive
If the chest wall is involved in a disease process, is this likely to be an obstructive or a restrictive disease?
Restrictive
Give an example of a reversible obstructive lung disease
Asthma
Give an example of a irreversible obstructive lung disease
COPD
What is the effect of COPD on residual volume and total lung capacity?
RV and TLC are increased
Give an example of a restrictive lung disease
Pulmonary fibrosis
Is total lung capacity increased or decreased in restrictive lung diseases?
Decreased
Is total lung capacity increased or decreased in obstructive lung diseases?
Increased
Define inspiratory reserve volume (IRV)
The additional volume of air that can be forcibly inhaled after a tidal volume inspiration
Define expiratory reserve volume (ERV)
The additional volume of air that can be forcibly exhaled after a tidal volume expiration
Define forced vital capacity (FVC)
The maximum volume of air that can be forcibly exhaled after maximal inhalation
Define total lung capacity (TLC)
The vital capacity plus the residual volume. It is the maximum amount the lungs can hold
TLC = VC + RV
TLC = TV + FRC + IRV
Define residual volume (RV)
The volume of air remaining in the lungs after a maximal exhalation
Define functional residual capacity (FRC)
The volume of air remaining in the lungs after a tidal volume exhalation
FRC = ERV + RV
Define tidal volume (TV)
The volume of air moved in and out of the lungs during a normal breath
Normal = 500ml
Define FEV1
The volume of air that can be forcibly exhaled in 1 second
Define peak expiratory flow (PEF)
The greatest rate of airflow that can be obtained during forced expiration. Age, sex and height can all affect PEF
What is the transfer coefficient?
The ability of O2 to diffuse across the alveolar membrane
How can you find the transfer coefficient?
Inspired small amount of CO then hold breath for 10 seconds at total lung capacity then gas transferred is measured
Name 3 disease that might have a low transfer coefficient
- Emphysema
- Anaemia
- Fibrosis alveolitis
- Pulmonary hypertension
- Pulmonary fibrosis
- COPD
Name a disease that might have a high transfer coefficient
Pulmonary haemorrhage
What is consolidation on a CXR?
Regions of lung filled with liquid
Area appear white - dense
What might be released on mast cell degranulation?
- Pre-formed histamine
- Newly synthesised eicosanoids - cysteine leukotrienes and prostaglandin D2
- Cytokines - IL-3,4,5
What is IL-5 responsible for?
Pro-inflammatory and eosinophil survival
What is IL-3 responsible for?
Increases the number of mast cells
What is IL-4 responsible for?
IgE synthesis
What is the eicosanoid pathway?
Phospholipid –> arachidonic acid (by phospholipase A2) –> leukotrienes (by 5-lipooxygenase) or prostaglandins (by Cyclooxygenase)
What are the lung mast cell mediators that are responsible for bronchoconstriction?
Cysteine leukotrienes and histamine
What are the lung mast cell mediators that are responsible for inflammation?
Cysteine leukotrienes, cytokines and histamine
What are the lung mast cell mediators that are responsible for airway remodelling?
Cysteine leukotrienes, cytokines and enzymes
Describe asthma
Episodic, reversibile airway obstruction due to bronchial hyperactivity to a variety of stimuli
What are the 3 characteristic features of asthma?
- Airflow obstruction
- Hyper-responsive airways to a range of stimuli
- Bronchial inflammation
Give 3 reasons why the airways are hyperactive in asthmatics
- Inflammatory infiltrate
- Eosinophils
- Epithelium destruction gives easier access to bronchoconstrictors
What is the mechanism behind hyper-reactivity?
Neurogenic inflammation
Describe neurogenic infalmmation
Sensory nerve activation initiates impulses –> stimulates CGRP (pro-inflammatory) –> activated mast cells and innervates goblet cells
Describe the process of airway remodelling in asthma
- Hypertrophy and hyperplasia of smooth muscle cells narrow the airway lumen
- Deposition of collagen below the BM thickens the airway wall
- Eosinophils play a role
What type of T cell is involved in asthma?
CD4+
What 2 categories can asthma be divided into?
- Allergic asthma (extrinsic), atopic, IgE and mast cell involvement
- Non allergic asthma (intrinsic)
Define atopy
The tendency to develop IgE mediated response to common aeroallergens
What is allergic asthma?
When an innocuous allergen triggers an IgE mediated response
Immune recognition processes are faulty –> increase IgE, IL3,4,5, production
What is non-allergic asthma?
Airway obstruction induced by exercise, cold air and stress
Extrinsic asthma: what happens when IgE binds to mast cells?
Vasoconstrictive substances are released causing bronchoconstriction, oedema, bronchial inflammation and mucus hyper-secretion
Name 4 factors that can exacerbate asthma
- Allergens
- Viral infection
- Cold air
- Exercise
- Stress
- Cigarette smoke
- Drugs - NSAIDs/BB
What occupations can be associated with an increase risk of developing asthma?
- Paint sprayers
- Animal breeders
- Bakers
- Launder workers
What other atopic conditions are associated with asthma?
Eczema
Hayfever
What are the symptoms of asthma?
- Episodic cough
- Expiratory wheeze
- SOB
- Diurnal variation - often worse in morning
- Chest tightness
What are the signs of asthma?
- Tachypnoea
- Audible wheeze
- Widespread polyphonic wheeze
- Cough
What are the signs of an acute asthma attack?
- Can’t complete sentences
- HR > 110 bpm
- RR > 35/min
- PEF < 50% predicted
What are the signs of a life threatening asthma attack?
- Hypoxia = PaO2 <8 kPa, SaO2 <92%
- Silent chest
- Bradycardia
- Confusion
- PEF < 33% predicted
- Cyanosis
Give 3 differential diagnosis’s of asthma
- COPD
- Bronchial obstruction
- Pulmonary oedema
- Pulmonary embolism
- Bronchiectasis
What investigations might you do someone to determine whether they have asthma?
- PEFR
- Spirometry = obstructive
- CXR
- Atopy = skin prick, RAST
- Bloods = high IgE, Eosinophils
How can reversibility be tested in asthma?
When given a beta agonist there will be a 400ml increase in FEV1 OR a 20% improvement in PEFR
What are the 2 principles of asthma treatment
- Alleviate symptoms
2. Target inflammation
Describe the management of asthma
Improve control and avoid trigger Smoking cessation Beta agonist = symptomatic relief Inhaled corticosteroid = anti-inflammatory Steroids
What is the guideline mediation regime for asthma?
- SABA
- SABA + inhaled corticosteroid
- LABA
- Oral corticosteroid
- Anticholinergics + theophylline
What broad class of drugs are commonly used to alleviate asthmatic symptoms?
Bronchodilators
What broad class of drugs are commonly used to reduce inflammation in asthmatics?
Steroids