Respiratory Flashcards
The Symbicort inhaler consists of which two drugs?
Budesonide (steroid)
Formeterol (long-acting beta agonist)
Name an anti-muscarinic drug that is used to treat COPD.
Tiotropium
List causes of raised JVP
Tricuspid regurgitation
Right heart failure (and congestive heart failure)
Constrictive pericarditis
What is an important complication of COPD?
Pulmonary hypertension
How is COPD a risk factor for pneumothorax?
COPD leads to the formation of bullae (an air pocket that replaces lung tissue)
List causes of sudden-onset breathlessness (within seconds).
PE
Pneumothorax
Foreign body
NOTE: anxiety can also cause sudden-onset breathlessness
List causes of breathlessness that develops over minutes/hours.
Problems with the airways (inflammation/obstruction)
Pus in the interstitium (due to chest infection (e.g. pneumonia)
Fluid in the interstitium (due to acute heart failure)
Blood in the lungs (pulmonary haemorrhage)
List causes of breathlessness that develops over days/weeks.
Interstitial lung disease Malignancy Large pleural effusion Neuromuscular Anaemia/thyrotoxicosis
What is CPAP and what is it used for?
Continuous positive airway pressure
It provides positive airway pressure that keeps the airways open
It IMPROVES OXYGENATION
It is used in people with type 1 respiratory failure
E.g. if someone has pulmonary oedema and is not getting better, you may give them CPAP
Describe the management of a primary pneumothorax that is <2cm and >2cm
< 2 cm
Discharge and repeat CXR
> 2 cm
Aspiration
If that fails, insert a chest drain
Describe the management of a secondary pneumothorax that is <2cm and >2cm
< 2cm
Aspiration
> 2 cm
Chest drain
What important feature of the chest drains must the patient be made aware of when they have on put in?
There is an underwater seal and it should be bubbling as the air comes out
It should be kept below waist height
State a cause of homogenous white shadowing in the lung field on CXR
Pleural effusion
State a cause of reticulo-nodular shadowing on CXR.
Interstitial lung disease (e.g. pulmonary fibrosis)
State causes of fluffy white shadowing on CXR.
Pus – e.g. pneumonia
Fluid – e.g. pulmonary oedema
What is the first step in the acute management of a patient with PE?
High flow oxygen