Respiratory Flashcards
What is FEV1?
Forced expiratory volume in 1 second
What is FVC?
Forced vital capacity, the total amount of air forcibly expired.
What are the values for FVC in airways restriction?
Lower than 80% with a normal FEV1:FVC ratio
What are the values for Airway obstruction?
FEV1:FVC ratio is below 0.7
What are the 2 types of COPD?
Chronic bronchitis and emphysema
What is chronic bronchitis?
Increased mucus production due to irritants.
Pathophysiology of chronic bronchitis?
Mucus narrows airways, hypertrophy and hyperplasia in the mucus glands due to increased irritants.
Not as much O2 can come in and CO2 can’t get out due to the mucus.
What do patients with chronic bronchitis present with?
Hypercapnia and hypoxemia as the mucus plugs prevent O2 from entering the lungs and CO2 from leaving.
What is emphysema?
Increased breakdown of elastin in the lungs leading to reduced recoil of the lungs.
Pathophysiology of emphysema?
Macrophages phagocytose pollutants/particles, release cytokines, attracting neutrophils to the area.
Elastase is released which breaks down elastin.
Alveoli collapse due to lack of elastin.
What is alpha-1 antitrypsin?
An inhibitor of the enzyme elastase
What does this mean for patients with alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency?
There is more elastase and therefore leads to the development of emphysema.
What are the risk factors for COPD?
Smoking, exposure to particles and pollutants.
Which patients are described as blue bloaters?
Patients with chronic bronchitis, commonly have a high BMI and cyanosis due to hypercapnia.
Which patients are described as the pink puffers?
Chronic emphysema, exhale through pursed lips to prevent alveolar collapse.
Presentations of chronic bronchitis?
Chronic productive cough, sputum, wheezing on expiration, inspiratory crackles, dyspnoea on exertion, hyper resonance to percussion.
Presentations of emphysema?
Weight loss, wheezing on expiration, hyper-resonance to percussion.
What are the gold standard tests for COPD?
Pulmonary function tests and spirometry. Do tests with and without bronchodilators if theres less than a 12% increase in FEV1 its likely to be COPD.
When should you start COPD on supplemental O2?
if O2 is less than 88%, if they have other conditions then start at 90%
What will you see on ABG in COPD?
Elevated CO2 low pH and low O2
What might a CXR show in COPD?
Can show a flat diaphragm, hyperinflation, air trapping and bullae (an air pocket due to emphysema)
Differential diagnoses for COPD?
Asthma, congestive heart failure, bronchiectasis.
Management of COPD generally?
Smoking cessation, influenza and pneumococcal vaccine.
Mild or intermittent COPD?
SAMA or SABA with a spacer
Moderate or severe COPD?
LAMA or LABA with corticosteroids.
Acute exacerbation of COPD?
IV methylprednisolone
Name a SAMA?
Ipratropium
Name a LAMA?
Tiotropium
Name a SABA?
Albutcol
Nama a LABA?
Salmeterol
How does a muscarinic receptor work?
ACH increases the amount of Ca2+ in the cell leading to bronchoconstriction.
How does a SAMA and a LAMA work?
Block ACH from being able to bind and causing less bronchoconstriction.
How do B2 receptors work?
When adrenaline or noradrenaline binds, increases the amount of cAMP leading to relaxation of smooth muscle.
How do SABA’s and LABAs work?
They are B2 receptor agonists, increasing the level of cAMP and therefore bronchodilation.
What is asthma?
A chronic inflammatory condition causing narrowing of the airways leading to difficulty breathing.
What is the age of onset for asthma?
3-5years
What are the risk factors for asthma?
Genetic predisposition, atopic triad, obesity, inner city environment, premature birth, socioeconomic deprivation.
What are asthma attacks commonly triggered by?
Air pollution, dust, dander, aspirin, beta blockers.
What happens during an asthma attack?
When a trigger enters the lungs eosinophils release their granules, this causes damage to cells lining the bronchioles leading to smooth muscle spasms and increased mucus production.
Symptoms of asthma?
Chest tightness, dyspnea, wheezing, coughing, mucus plugs in sputum. nocturnal coughing.
Signs of asthma?
Tachypnoea, audible wheeze, hyperinflated chest, decreased air entry and hyperresonant percussion note
What is the gold standard investigation for asthma?
Peak expiratory flow rate measured before and after a bronchodilator.
What questions should you ask to diagnose asthma?
Recent nocturnal waking, usual asthma symptoms in a day, interference with activities of daily living.
How to manage asthma?
Avoid contact with triggers, Immediate: O2 therapy, Nebulised salbutamol Prednisolone Daily: 1. Salbutamol when required 2. SABA plus inhaled corticosteroid 3. Add a LABA if not controlled.
What is a PE?
When an embolus becomes lodged in the pulmonary artery blocking blood flow to the lung.
What is the most common cause of a PE?
DVT - 95%
What are the risk factors for PE?
Major surgery, pregnancy, COPD, congestive heart failure, varicose veins, immobility, increasing age, malignant disease.
What are the common sources of a PE?
External iliac, femoral, deep femoral, popliteal
What are the CV affects of the PE?
An embolism lodged in a pulmonary artery causes an increase in pulmonary vascular pressure.
Increased right ventricular pressure leads to right sided HF.
What are the lung affects of PE?
V/Q mismatch due to obstruction of pulmonary artery.
Inflammation causes cytokine release and bronchoconstriction.
Hyperventilation, hypercapnia and respiratory acidosis.
What are the key presentations of a PE?
Dyspnoea, pleuritic chest pain, swollen leg and pain in the legs
What are the signs of a PE?
Tachycardia and hypotension
1st line investigations for a PE?
CXR to exclude pneumonia and pneumothorax
ECG to exclude MI and pericarditis.
Whats the gold standard investigation for a PE?
CT pulmonary angiogram
What would you do in a PE if the D-dimer was positive?
It could be a PE so CT pulmonary angiogram.
How to manage PE?
Oxygen, fluids, opiates for pain.
Anticoagulants used for a minimum of 3 months, Use heparin and Warfarin
Which is faster acting heparin or warfarin?
Heparin works immediately, warfarin takes 5 days to work.
What criteria is used to decide how likely it is a patient will have a PE?
Well’s criteria