Respiratory Flashcards
1 kPa=
7.5 mmHg
Dalton’s Law
gases in a mixture exert pressures that are independent of each other
Therefore: atmospheric pressure is the sum of the partial pressures of all of the gases in the atmosphere
Pat = PN2 + PO2 + PCO2 + PH2O + Pothers
Henry’s Law
the concentration of the gas dissolved in a liquid is directly proportional to its partial pressure
what is gas exchange in the lungs driven by?
differences in partial pressure across the alveolar membrane: inspired air has higher PO2 and a lower PCO2 than the plasma
1 mol=
22400 ml of gas
equilibrium in gas exchange in alveoli
- Gas exchange in the alveoli is so rapid that equilibrium is usually attained
- If equilibrium is not reached, usually due to V/Q ratio
V/Q ratio
amount of air that reaches your alveoli divided by the amount of blood flow in the capillaries in your lungs
passive diffusion through biological membranes
- Gases go through membranes by diffusion
- The rate of permeation is proportional to the concentration difference
- If concentrations are the same of each side of the membrane, there is no net movement (diffusion occurs at equal rates on each side)
what is P (permeation constant) dependant on?
membrane thickness, membrane area, diffusion constant and the partition coefficient
solubility of oxygen=
= 1.5% in free solution and rest is bound to haemoglobin
- Oxygen carrying capacity depends on the amount of haemoglobin
haemoglobin: structure, cooperativity and conformational states
- Tetrameric protein
- 2 types of subunits adult = alpha2beta2 (and foetal= alpha2gamma2)
- Every molecule of Hb binds 4 O molecules
- As one oxygen molecule binds, each subunit undergoes a conformational change by non-covalent inter-subunit bonds which makes it easier for other oxygen molecules to bind
- 2 conformational states: oxy and deoxy- binding and release of O2 occurs over a relatively small range of oxygen concentrations
why can foetuses take oxygen from maternal blood?
foetal haemoglobin has higher oxygen affinity than adult haemoglobin so it can take oxygen from maternal blood to the foetus
factors which affect O2 affinity for haemoglobin:
- conc. hydrogen ions
- conc. carbon dioxide
- temperature
- carbon monoxide
- 2,3 diphosphoglycerate
- oxidation of iron in haemoglobin
H+ conc. effect on O2 affinity for haemoglobin:
The Bohr effect: as [H+] increases, affinity for oxygen decreases which favours oxygen release in metabolising tissue
CO2 conc. effect on O2 affinity for haemoglobin:
The Haldane effect- as [CO2] increases, the affinity for oxygen decreases as CO2 reacts with amino groups
temperature effect on O2 affinity for haemoglobin:
as temperature increases, affinity for O2 decreases (eg. O2 is released when temperature rises ie. In muscle)
2,3 diphosphoglycerate effect on O2 affinity for haemoglobin:
lowers O2 affinity
carbon monoxide effect on O2 affinity for haemoglobin:
binds to Hb with an affinity 200 times greater than oxygen- also affects affinity of remaining sites as affinity for oxygen is increases so oxygen is released poorly in metabolising tissue
Oxidation of iron in haemoglobin effect on O2 affinity for haemoglobin:
- Oxidation of iron in haemoglobin to Fe3+ converts it to methemoglobin which does not bind oxygen- methemoglobin reductase reduces this back to Fe2+
carbon dioxide carriage in blood
Co2 is far more soluble than oxygen in blood but only a small proportion of CO2 is directly dissolved. Three mechanisms contribute to bulk of transport: bicarbonate- mediated transport, carbamino-mediated transport and dissolution.
60% of carbon dioxide transport is mediated by:
HCO3 through an equilibrium between plasma Co2 and carbonic acid (H2CO3), which is important in pH regulation.
carbonic anhydrase within the red blood cells quickly converts the carbon dioxide and water into carbonic acid, which immediately dissociates into bicarb ions and H+ ions. this reaction allows for the continued uptake of carbon dioxide into the blood down its concentration gradient.
30% of carbon dioxide transport is carried out by:
carbamino groups
The N-terminus of proteins contains a free NH2 group which can combine with CO+2 to produce a carbamino group. This reaction is readily reversible releasing CO2¬ if the pCO2 falls. Most carbamino groups are found on the peptide chains haemoglobin.
does deoxyhaemoglobin or oxyhaemoglobin have higher capacity for forming carbamino groups?
Deoxygenated haemoglobin has a higher capacity for forming carbamino groups than oxygenated haemoglobin.
10% of carbon dioxide transport
is transported dissolved in blood. The dissolved amount proportional as always to the partial pressure of the solution.
why is chorine important in bicarbonate mediated carbon dioxide transport?
Bicarbonate can diffuse out of cells but H+ cannot cross the erythrocyte membrane so Cl- transport into the cell is necessary to maintain charge neutrality across the membrane
In venous blood, more CO2 is present and therefore more intracellular Cl- is found.
elasticity of lungs and chest wall
- The lungs and chest wall are elastic: lungs tend to recoil inwards and the chest wall resists being distorted inwards from its natural resting shape resulting in an outward force
inspiration process
- Inspiratory muscles (diaphragm, external intercostals) contract and thoracic cage expands
- Pleural pressure becomes more negative relative to atmospheric: this negative pressure is transmitted to the alveoli
- Air flows into the lungs down the pressure gradient from mouth to alveoli and the lungs inflate
- The incoming air holds the small intrathoracic airways wide open
resting breathing expiration process
- Inspiratory muscle activity ceases and elastic recoil causes lungs to shrink- expiration is passive
- Elastic recoil produces positive pressure in the alveoli
- Air moves down pressure gradient from alveoli to mouth
- Small intrathoracic airways tend to be compressed and narrowed by surrounding alveoli during expiration
Vt:
tidal volume, volume of gas breathed in or out of the lungs with each normal breath (litres)- normal resting value 0.4-0.8 litres
fR:
respiratory frequency, number of breaths per minute- normal resting values 12-15 breathes/ min
Ve:
minute ventilation; the amount of gas breathed in or out of the lungs per minute (litres/min)- normal resting value 5-8 l/min
large/ forced expirations process
- Expiratory muscles (internal intercostals, abdominal muscles) contract depressing rubs, pushing diaphragm up, reducing thoracic volume and so increasing alveolar pressure and airflow
- Maximum airflow limited by compression of small intrapulmonary airways by surrounding alveoli
what does the CNS control in breathing?
the rhythmical contraction and relaxation of the respiratory muscles (diaphragm, intercostals)
basic breathing rhythm is generated in the
medulla
removal of the upper part of the pons in animals results in
slow, gasping breathing, suggesting neurones in this area help to control breathing
Main areas of respiratory neurones in the medulla and pons:
- Ventral Respiratory Groups (VRG)
ventrolateral side of the medulla, contains inspiratory and expiratory neurones - Dorsal Respiratory Groups (DRG)
In the floor of the 4th ventricle- predominantly inspiratory neurones, pacemaker of controlled breathing - Pontine Respiratory Group (PRG)
Bilateral areas in the upper pons, contains neurones that are active in both inspiratory and expiratory phases
functional model of generation of breathing rhythm
- Discharge from the inspiratory neurones activates the respiratory muscles via spinal motor nerves, resulting in inspiration
- Expiratory neurones fire and inhibit the inspiratory neurones. Nerve impulses to the inspiratory muscles stop and passive expiration occurs.
- If forceful expiration is required, expiratory neurone activity also activates expiratory muscles to enhance expiration
reflux sensory information affecting breathing
- sensory information originates in lungs
- afferent fibres carried in vagus nerves (cranial X)
- activation initiates expiration
- sectioning the vagus nerves causes prolongation of inspiration (i.e. expiration is not commenced)
Rapidly Adapting (irritant) Receptors:
- sub epithelial mechanoreceptors in the trachea and bronchi, stimulated by inhaled irritants or mechanical factors, such as smoke, dust and chemicals such as histamine
- cause coughing, mucus production and bronchoconstriction
- their afferent fibres are myelinated
Slowly Adapting (stretch) Receptors:
- mechanoreceptors located close to airway smooth muscle, which are stimulated by stretching of airway walls during inspiration
- help prevent over-inflation by initiating expiratory rhythms.
- important role in the Hering-Bruer reflex (prolonged inspiration causes prolonged expiration). Afferent fibres are also myelinated
C fibres:
- unmyelinated nerve endings stimulated by oedema and various inflammatory mediators such as histamine and bradykinin
- cause rapid, shallow breathing and dyspnoea
Normoxia
- O2 in normal range
Hypoxia
- fall in O2 below normal (strictly speaking relates to O2 in a gas)
Hypoxaemia
- fall in O2 below normal in blood
Hyperoxia
- rise in O2 above normal
Normocapnia
- CO2 in normal range
Hypercapnia
- increase in CO2 above normal level
Hypocapnia
- fall in CO2 below normal
sites of peripheral and central chemoreceptors
Central chemoreceptors on ventrolateral surface of medulla
Peripheral chemoreceptors in carotid bodies
peripheral chemoreceptors have a fast response to
arterial pO2, pCo2 and arterial [H+]
central chemoreceptors have a slow response to
respond indirectly and slowly to changes in arterial pCO2; CO2 crosses blood-brain barrier, produces [H+] ions which stimulate receptor cells
hypercapnia leads to
Linear increase in minute ventilation (Ve); this happens almost instantaneously when pCO2 rises above normal levels.
30% of the response caused by the peripheral chemoreceptors; fast response (2-4 sec)
70% caused by central chemoreceptors; slow response (4 min to reach maximum response)
minute ventilatory responses to hypercapnia
- Increased by hypoxia: decreased by hyperoxia
- Interaction mediated at the peripheral chemoreceptors
hypocapnia leads to
little change in ventilation- dog leg of curve
hypoxia leads to
Curvilinear increase in ventilation.
There is little change in ventilation until pO2 has fallento about 8 kPa (60 mmHg), then a sharp increase. - mediated by peripheral chemoreceptors
hyperoxia leads to
small decrease in ventilation as tonic activity of chemoreceptors is switched off.
response to hypoxia
- increased by hypercapnia
* interaction mediated at the peripheral chemoreceptors
Severe chronic airflow obstruction causing failure of normal chemoreceptor control of breathing
- Lungs unable to excrete metabolic CO2 load
- Chronic hypercapnia - desensitises central chemoreceptors
- Patient becomes dependent on hypoxic drive to breathe
- In this situation ONLY, giving high flow oxygen can dangerously suppress breathing- can lead to CO2 narcosis and death
- Avoid by using controlled low-flow oxygen therapy in emergency situations in these patients only
altered control of breathing during sleep
- Respiratory drive decreases (loss of wakefulness drive)
- Partly related to reduction in metabolic rate partly due to reduced input form higher centres such as pons and cortex
- Also- loss of tonic activity (state of continuous activity that exists in both the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions) to upper airways
Consequence of loss of wakefulness drive:
patients with diminished capacity to ventilate (eg. muscle weakness, severe lung disease, neuropathy or spinal deformity) first develop respiratory failure (raised arterial CO2) during sleep
obstructive sleep apnea
- some patients have narrowed upper airway due to structural difference (shape of jaw) or excess fat around the neck
- during sleep, loss of upper airway tone allows upper airways to collapse
- can cause cessation of breathing in excess of 1 minute
- occurs in approx. 2% of population
drugs that depress breathing
almost all anaesthetics, opioids, benzodiazepines
drugs that stimulate breathing
doc-ram (now rarely used), beta 2 agonists
mechanical and immunological defences of the body
Mechanical: ciliated epithelium, mucus, cough
Immunological: IgA and antimicrobials in mucus, resident alveolar macrophages & dendritic cells, innate/ adaptive immune responses
parenchyma
the parts of the lungs involved in gas transfer including alveoli, interstitium, blood vessels, bronchi and bronchioles
microorganisms involved in community acquired pneumonia
- Streptococcal pneumoniae
- Haemophilus influenzae
- Moraxella catarrhalis
- Klebsiella pneumoniae/ Pseudomonas aeruginosa
- Mycoplasma pneumoniae
microorganisms involved in hospital acquired pneumonia
- Gram negative rods, Enterobacteriaceae, pseudomonas
* MRSA
microorganisms involved in aspiration acquired (oral/gastric contents in bronchial tree) pneumonia
• Anaerobic oral flora mixed with aerobic bacteria
microorganisms involved in immunocompromised host pneumonia
- Cyclomegalovirus
- Pneumocystis jiveroci (PCP)
- Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare
- Invasive aspergillosis
- Invasive candidiasis
microorganisms involved in necrotising/ abscess formation pneumonia
• Anaerobes, S. aureus, Klebsiella, S. pyogenes
clinical presentation of pneumonia
- Cough
- Sputum
- Pyrexia
- Pleuritic chest pain
- Haemoptysis
- Dyspnoea
- Hypoxia
appearances of pneumonia
- Bronchopneumonia
- Most common pattern
- Patchy consolidated areas of acute supprative (pus) inflammation
- Often elderly with risk factors- cancer, heart failure, renal failure, stroke, COPD - Lobar pneumonia
- Rust coloured sputum
- S.pneumoniae
- Consolidation of a large portion of a lobe or an entire lobe
local factors of pneumonia
Local Factors:
- Loss or suppression of the cough reflex- drugs
- Injury to the mucocilliary apparatus- viruses, gases
- Accumulation of secretions- CF, obstruction (tumour)
- Impaired alveolar macrophages function- alcohol, tobacco
- Pulmonary congestion and oedema
complications of pneumonia
Local: abscess formation, parapneumonic effusion, empyema
Systemic: sepsis, ARDS, multi-organ failure
If not resolving, could be cancer?
acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS): definition, clinical diagnosis, causes
- Respiratory failure characterised by rapid onset of widespread inflammation in the lungs
- Clinical Diagnosis: Hypoxia (PaO2/FiO2 ≤ 300mmHg), Non-cardiogenic pulmonary oedema
- Causes
Direct- pneumonia, aspiration, hyperoxia, ventilation
Indirect- sepsis, trauma, pancreatitis, acute hepatic failure
Bronchiectasis: definition and causes
- Permanent dilation of one or more large bronchi
- Typically affects the 2nd to 8th order of segmental bronchi- large central airways more robust
Causes:
- Infection: mycobacterial
- Hereditary: cystic fibrosis
- Immunodeficiency
- Chemical injury/aspiration
- Idiopathic
cystic fibrosis
- Autosomal recessive genetic disease
- CFTR encodes its protein, a chloride and bicarbonate ion channel present on cell membranes
- Difficult for patients to clear mucus
- Multi-system disease affecting the GI tract, liver, reproductive system
- death is principally related to airways inflammation and infection leading to respiratory failure, which occurs from childhood
tuberculosis risk factors
- TB contact
- Very young/elderly
- Immunosuppression
- Malnutrition/ alcoholism
- Live or visit TB endemic countries
- Health care worker
Primary TB: 3-4 weeks
- Mycobacterium tuberculosis multiplies within alveolar macrophages (naïve, unable to kill)
- Bacterium resides in phagosomes carried to regional lymph nodes from there to circulation
Primary TB: 3-8 weeks
3-8 weeks
- Onset of cellular immunity & delayed hypersensitivity
- Activated lymphocytes further activate macrophages to kill
- Primary infection arrested in most immunocompetent people
- Few bacilli may survive dormant
progressive primary TB
- Infection may not be arrested in minority- infants, children, immunocompromised
tuberculous bronchopneumonia
- Infection spreads via bronchi
- Results in diffuse bronchopneumonia
- Well-developed granulomas do not form
military TB
- Infection spreads via bloodstream
- Organisms scanty (small or insufficient in quantity)
- Multiple organs- lungs, liver, spleen, kidneys, meninges, brain
Secondary TB (also called ‘post primary’ TB)
- Reactivation of old, often subclinical infection
- More damage due to hypersensitivity
• Apical region of lung
• Tubercles develop locally, enlarge and merge
• Erode into bronchus and cavities develop
• May progress into tuberculous bronchopneumonia
asbestos fibrosing lung disease
occupational lung disease, exposure in shipyards, building trade. Pleural plaques can lead to mesothelioma and adenocarcinoma.
- Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (fibrosing lung disease)
Type 3 hypersensitivity reaction eg. pigeon fancier’s lung, mushroom lung, hot tub lung- normally resolve when agent is resolved but can be chronic
Usual interstitial pneumonitis-
fibrotic foci, mixed inflammatory infiltrate, excess alveolar macrophages
progressive scarring of both lungs
symptoms fo restrictive chronic lung disease
dyspnoea, tachypnoea, late stage cyanosis and inspiratory crepitation
causes of lung cancer
- Smoking (>95%)
- Occupational hazards- uranium mining, asbestos exposure
- Environmental exposure- radon gas
- Genetic- Li- Fraumeni Syndrome (mutated p53 gene)
- ? viral infection- retroviral infection in sheep leads to lung adenocarcinomas
types of lung cancer
- Squamous carcinoma
- Adenocarcinoma
- Small cell carcinoma
- Other- carcinoid tumours
mechanisms of carcinogenesis
- Oncogenes are mutated genes encoding growth- promoting proteins – these are overexpressed in neoplasia eg k-Ras, cylinD1
- Oncosuppressor genes are mutated genes encoding growth-inhibitory proteins – decreased expression can result in neoplasia eg retinoblastoma gene (Rb)
- Genes regulating apoptosis may also be mutated eg p53
- Genes regulating DNA repair may be mutated
Classification & Clinical Significance of Carcinoid/ Neuroendocrine Tumours in the Lung
- Typical (classical) carcinoid • <2 mitoses per 2mm2 • No necrosis • 10-15% have hilar nodal involvement • Feq eventually develop in distant sites
- Atypical carcinoid
• >2 but <10 per 2mm2
• Focal necrosis (may be focal commedo like)
• >10 mitoses per 2mm2 with usually extensive necrosis then classified with LCNEC
• 40-50% have nodal metastases
Squamous metaplasia
- Common finding in smokers
- Airways become lined with squamous epithelium rather than normal respiratory epithelium
- Reversible
Adenocarcinoma: arises, commonly invades & metastasises
associated with and diagnosis
- Arise peripherally from mucous glands and the cells retain some of differentiation and mucus production
- Commonly invade pleura and mediastinal lymph nodes
- Commonly metastasise to brain and bones
Associated with: smoking, asbestos exposure, arises around scar tissue
- Distinguished using CT scans and other investigations to check for the primary as they are similar to secondary tumours
symptoms and signs of adenocarcinoma
Symptoms of Lung Cancer
- Cough
- Dyspnoea
- Haemoptysis
- Chest/shouder pain
- Hoarseness
- Fatigue
Signs of Lung Cancer
- Slow to clear pneumonia
- Finger clubbing
- Cervical lymphadenopathy
- Liver, bone, brain metastases
- Pleural effusion
diagnosis of lung cancer
Biopsies - Bronchial biopsies - CT guided lung biopsies - Biopsies of distant metastases eg. pleura, liver, lymph node Cytology - Bronchial brushings and washings - Sputum - Pleural fluid aspiration - Fine needle aspirates of metastases
behaviour of lung cancer
Intrapulmonary growth
- Obstructive pneumonia
- Lymphangitis carcinomatosis
Invasion of adjacent structures: pleura, chest wall, mediastinum, diaphragm
Distant metastases via lymphatics and blood: hilar and mediastinal nodes, liver, bones, brain
lymphoid infiltration in lung carcinomas may be associated with
better outcomes
screening for lung cancer
- Screening with LDCT (low dose CT) can detect early stage lung cancer
- CXR/sputum cytology as screening has no effect on mortality
Process by which squamous cell carcinomas develop into necrotic masses
- Secretes tumour angiogenesis factors which causes blood vessels to grow into the mass of tumour cells- allows rapid growth and size increase
- If the tumour grows too large for its blood supply then the central area can become deprived of oxygen and nutrient leading to necrotic areas
options for lung cancer treatment
- Resection- only 7-10% suitable, 5 year survival, 70%
- Concurrent chemo-radiotherapy- 5 year survival, 30%
- Palliative chemotherapy- overall survival benefit, few months
- Palliative radiotherapy- symptom control
- Best supporting care- symptom control
lung function after operations in lung cancer
- Lobectomy- early deficit with later recovery, no decrease in exercise capacity & little permanent loss in PFT
- Pneumonectomy- early permanent deficit, decrease in exercise capacity & PFT
groups of patients respond well to EGFR blocking therapy-
East Asian, adenocarcinoma, females, non-smokers
small cell lung cancer: characteristics, staging, prognosis
- Very aggressive tumour
- Early dissemination
- Virtually all patients have metastatic spread at presentation
Staging
Limited Disease: restricted to one hemithorax ± ipsilateral nodes
Extensive disease: spread beyond one hemithorax
Prognosis
- Sensitive to chemotherapy and radiotherapy
- Long term survivors <5% of patients
Bacteriostatic-
stops bacteria from reproducing, while not necessarily killing them otherwise
Bactericidal-
kills bacteria, particularly preferred in serious infection
cell wall inhibitors function
- Selectively toxic to bacteria because there is no cell wall in mammalian cells
- Removal of cell wall destroys bacterial maintenance of osmotic pressure
- Usually bactericidal in action
- Bacitracin acts at Gram positive cell membrane
cell wall synthesis inhibitors examples
- Beta- lactams
- Glycopeptides eg. vancomycin
- Fosfomycin
- Bacitracin