Respiratory Flashcards
What does rhinovirus cause?
Common cold
Bronchitis
Sinusitis
What does influenza A virus cause ?
Flu
List some common respiratory viruses
Rhinovirus
Influenza A virus
Coronavirus
Adenovirus
Pulmonary hypertension is defined as a pressure over how many mmHg?
25mmHg
Give 2 signs of Pulmonary Hypertension on chest X-ray?
- Enlargement of the pulmonary arteries,
- Lucent lung fields,
- Enlarged right atrium,
- Elevated cardiac apex due to right ventricular hypertrophy
Chemotherapy is a management option for patients with extensive lung cancer, what are the side effects of chemotherapy?
Alopecia, Nausea and Vomiting, Peripheral neuropathy, Constipation or Diarrhoea, Mucositis, Rash, Bone Marrow Suppression Anaemia, Fatigue, Anaphylaxis
Name 3 causes of a pleural effusion consisting of exudate
- Malignancy (lung, breast, mesothelioma),
- Infection (lung, pleural, abdominal),
- Inflammatory (RA, SLE),
- Pulmonary embolism,
- Benign asbestos related,
- Traumatic (haemothorax/chylothorax),
- Drug reaction
What is the most common histological type of a non-small cell lung cancer?
Adenocarcinoma (40%)
Name the 2 conditions that constitute COPD?
- Emphysema
- Chronic Bronchitis
Which specific blood marker supports the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism i.e. a negative test excludes a diagnosis of PE
Plasma D-Dimer
A 60 year old male presents to his GP with a four month history of a productive cough with bloodstained sputum. He reports feeling fatigued, has night sweats and thinks his clothes are loose on him, He’s a charity worker and recently visited Nigeria 6 months ago. On examination of his neck you palpate enlarged lymph nodes. Sputum sample reveals a growth of acid-fast bacilli.
What is the causative organism and what stain would you use to determine the causative organism obtained from a sputum sample?
Organism= Mycobacterium - tuberculosis, (1)
- Stain= Ziehl-Neelsen stain.
Giving values where appropriate state what the components of CURB 65
- Confusion
- Urea > 7mmol/L
- Respiratory Rate > 30/min
- Low BP (Systolic < 90 / Diastolic 60)
- Age <65
What CURB65 score constitutes a hospital admission?
2
What is CURB65?
A measure of the severity of pneumonia
How should a CURB65 score of 2 be treated?
IV Amoxicillin and clarithromycin for 7-10 days
Name 3 clinical features of bronchiectasis
- Persistent cough,
- Purulent sputum
- Clubbing,
- Dyspnoea .
- No history of smoking + young age of onset = raises suspicion of BE,
- Haemoptysis,
- Recurrent pulmonary infections
What is the management of severe acute extrinsic allergic alveolitis?
- Remove/avoid exposure to allergen
- Oxygen to treat hypoxaemia
- Corticosteroids/ prednisolone
Asthma symptoms are caused by a narrowing of the airways, give 3 factors that contribute to the narrowing of the airways?
- Inflammation of mucosa
- Smooth muscle contraction leading to bronchoconstriction
- Increased mucus production
Short-acting beta agonists (SABA) are prescribed from the management of asthma, give an example of a SABA and describe the method of action of this drug
- SABA= Salbutamol
- Action= Binds to beta-2 adrenoceptors present in the lungs leading to smooth muscle relaxation and therefore bronchodilation
Describe the blood gasses of type 1 and type 2 respiratory failure
- Type 1 has hypoxaemia/Low O2 without hypercapnia/normal CO2
- Type 2 has both hypoxaemia /Low O2 and hypercapnia/raised CO2
Name 2 tests you would use to diagnose cystic fibrosis?
- Sweat test
- Genetics F
- Faecal elastase
What is an antigenic drift?
When there is a minor antigenic variation causing a seasonal epidemic
Give an example of an obstructive lung disease
COPD
Asthma
Give an example of a restrictive lung disease
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
Sarcoidosis
A patient’s x Ray shows unusual interstitial pneumonia. What is it likely to be?
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
What are the two main drugs for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis?
Nintedanib
Pirfenidone
What type of hypersensitvity reaction is hypersensitivity pneumonitis?
III
If there is high lymphocytes on bronchoalveolar lavage, what does the patient likely have?
Hypersensitivity pneumonitis
What is the acronym CREST used for?
Systemic sclerosis
What does CREST stand for?
Calcinosis Raynauds pnenomenon Oesophageal dysmotilitiy sclerodactily telangiectasia
What are common culprits for drug induced interstitial lung disease?
Nitrofurantoin
Methotrexate
Amiodarone
Bleomycin
What is type 1 resp failure?
Low PaO2 with normal or low PaCO2
What is type 2 resp failure?
Low PaO2 with a high PaCO2
Which of the following causes a raised alveolar-arterial gradient? Hypoventilation V/Q mismatch Anaemia Diffusion impairment Shunt (right to left)
V/Q Mismatch
Diffusion impairment
Shunt
Which of these is a well-recognised response to hypoxia? A) Bradycardia B) Atrial fibrilation C) Systemic vasoconstriction D) Pulmonary Vasoconstriction E) Syncope
D
What are the functions of the lung?
Gas exchange Acid-base balance Defense Hormones Heart exchange
What gene is affected in cystic fibrosis?
CFTR
How common is cystic fibrosis?
1 in 2500 live births in Northern Europe
What indicates airways obstruction?
A FEV1/FVC ratio (less than 0.7)
What indicates airways restriction?
A FVC below 80% of predicted
What does a low TLCO indicate?
Thickening of the alveolar-capillary membrane or reduced lung volume
What does a high TLCO indicate?
Increased capillary blood volume or pulmonary haemorrhage
Give 5 causes of respiratory failure
- Low oxygen delivery
- Airways obstruction
- Gas exchange limitation
- Ventilation mismatch
- Alveolar hypoventilation
What is an example of something that causes low oxygen delivery?
Altitude
Hypobaric chamber
What is an example of something that causes gas exchange limitation?
Lung fibrosis
Asbestosis
What is an example of something that causes ventilation mismatch?
Pneumonia
Pulmonary embolism
Pulmonary hypertension
What is an example of something that causes alveolar hypoventilation?
Emphysema
Muscular weakness
Reduced respiratory drive
Obesity
How is obstructive sleep apnoea usually treated?
Continuous positive airway pressure machine
How would neuromuscular disease leading to type 2 resp failure be treated?
BiPAP
Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure machine
A pregnant lady presents with hypocapnia and breathlessness, but no other gas abnormalities. She is hyperventilating, but her Aa shows low alveolar diffusion. What is it likely to be?
Pregnancy
Hypercapnia is associated with what symptom?
Headache
Are features of respiratory failure aggravated in the day time or at night?
Night
What are the 2 major types of asthma?
Eosinophillic asthma
Non eosinophillic asthma
What are the two types of eosinophilic asthma?
Atopic
Non atopic
What is the typical presenting complaint of asthma?
Episodic wheeze
Cough, breathlessness; typically worse in the morning
What is the difference between presentation in asthma and COPD?
Asthma typically is episodic with recovery periods in between, whereas COPD typically
gets worse gradually
What are the RCP3 questions?
Asthma severity
- Recent nocturnal waking?
- Usual asthma symptoms in a day?
- Interference with ADLs?
What is Samter’s triad?
Asthma, sinus inflammation with recurring nasal polyps, and sensitivity to aspirin
What is Cushing’s triad indicative of?
Increased ICP
What is Cushing’s triad?
Bradycardia
Irregular respirations
Widened pulse pressure
Is a unilateral wheeze present in asthma?
No
Are crackles present in asthma?
No
Is asthma or COPD more reversible in testing?
Asthma
What is the first line treatment for asthma?
Mild SABA (Salbutamol)
What is the second line treatment for asthma?
Mild SABA (Salbutamol) + ICS (beclomethasone)
What is the third line treatment for asthma?
Milkd SABA (Salbutamol) + ICS (Beclomethasone) + LABA (Salmetrol)
Would biologicals be indicated in eosinophilic or non eosinophilic asthma?
Eosinophilic (only if severe and during an atopic attack)
What should be given in an acute asthma attack?
- Oxygen therapy if needed
- Nebulised 5mg salbutamol (SABA)
- Ipratropium if life threatening
- Predinisolone 30-60 mg with/without hydrocortisone IV
What would indicate a uncontrolled/ moderate asthma attack?
PEFR more than 50%
RR less than 25
Pulse less than 110
Normal speech, no other severe markers
What would indicate a severe asthma attack?
Any one of…
- PEFR between 33-50% predicted
- Resp rate over 25
- Heart rate over 110
- Inability to complete sentences
What would indicate a life-threatening asthma attack?
Any one of…
- PERF less than 33%
- SaO2 less than 92% or PaO2 less than 8kPa
- Normal PaCO2
- Altered consciousness
List the atypical pathogens that can cause community acquired pneumonia
Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Chlamydia pneumoniae, Legionella pneumophila, Coxiella burnetti
What is the most common identifiable cause of pneumonia
S. pneumoniae
What is the first line treatment for atypical community acquired pneumonia?
Clarithromycin
What is the first line treatment for pneumonia due to H. Influenzae?
Amoxicillin and doxycycline