Respiratory conditions, signs, causes and differentials Flashcards
Signs of hypercapnia? (8)
- start from head downwards
- coma
- confusion
- drowsiness
- dilated pupils
- bounding pulse
- myoclonus
- hand flap
- tachypnea
Signs of hypoxia?
1) Anxiety
2) Bradycardia
3) Confusion
4) Dyspnea
5) Cyanosis
6) Tachycardia
7) Tachypnea
8) Sweating
Why does cor pulmonale happen? What is it?
Cor pulmonale AKA pulmonary heart disease, is abnormal enlargement of the right side of the heart.
It occurs because of diseases that causes retrograde pressure to be transmitted to the right heart. So it is a heart (cor) hypertension+insufficiency caused by a pulmonary cause (pulmonale)
Signs of cor pulmonale?
Right sided heart enlargement
Raised RR - tachypnoea
Raised JVP
Bilateral lower limb oedema
Hepatomegaly
Cor pulmonale is the result of lung disease.
COPD often results in cor pulmonale.
Treatment is oxygen therapy and use of diuretics.
Signs of an severe acute asthma attack?
Severe SOB - can’t complete a full sentence
Tachypnoea
Tachycardia
Silent chest (not enough air movement to produce wheezing)
Cyanosis
Collapse
General signs of asthma?
Wheeze (polyphonic) Dyspnoea Hyperinflation Chest tightness Tachypnoea
These signs will be:
Diurnal
Prompted by use of aspirin/beta blocker
(If condition is well handled there shouldn’t be any signs)
What are possible differentials for a wheeze?
Asthma COPD Pulmonary disease Cardiac failure Foreign body aspiration Eosinophilic lung disease
Differentials for fine crackles heard by auscultation?
Broncholitis
Pulmonary oedema
Pulmonary fibrosis
Differentials for coarse crackles heard by auscultation?
COPD
Pulmonary oedema
Pulmonary fibrosis
Lung abscess
TB: Tuberculosis lung cavities
Pneumonia (resolving)
Differentials for a pleural rub heard on auscultation?
Consolidation
Pulmonary infarction
Signs of a life-threatening asthma attack?
Cyanosis Poor respiratory effort Silent chest Arrhythmia Hypotension Altered consciousness level Exhaustion - Normal CO2 on ABG (no longer able to hyperventilate)
Possible triggers of acute asthma exacerbation?
Stress
Exercise
Cold air
Allergens: dust mites, pollen, fur
Infection
Smoking/passive smoking
Pollution
NSAIDs
Beta-blockers
What is the definition of asthma?
“Chronic recurrent episodes of dyspnoea, cough, wheeze caused by reversible airways obstruction”
Caused by:
- Bronchial muscle contraction
- Mucosal inflammation
- Increased mucus production
Signs of an acute asthma exacerbation on respiratory examination?
Increased RR
Tracheal tug (possibly) - “abnormal downwards motion of trachea during systole”
Intercostal recession
Signs of pulmonary oedema in a respiratory examination?
Raised JVP
Crepitations/crackles on auscultation
Dullness to percussion
Decreased vocal fremitis
Peripheral oedema: ankles/lower limb and sacrum
Signs of tension pneumothorax in a respiratory examination?
Signs of haemodynamic instability: pulses weak, hypotensive
Tracheal deviation
Hyperresonant to percussion
Absent breath sounds on auscultation
What is the most likely cause of a unilateral silent lung field with a wheeze?
Foreign body aspiration
- totally occludes some airways stopping noise
- partially occludes some airways causing the wheeze
What are the causes of pleural effusion?
Malignancy
Empyema
TB
Pleuritis
Fungal infection
Lupus pleuritis
Chylothorax
Urinothorax
Oesophageal rupture
Haemothorax
Peritoneal dialysis
Upon sampling a pleural effusion via thoracentesis, you notice that the fluid is bloody:
What are your differentials?
Malignancy
Asbestosis
Pulmonary infarction
Post cardiac injury syndrome
Upon sampling a pleural effusion via thoracentesis, you notice that the fluid is milky white:
What are your differentials?
This is a lipid effusion:
Chylothorax (- lymph from the digestive tract is called chyle, this is caused by disruption of drainage by the thoracic duct)
Cholesterol effusion (- due to TB or rheumatoid pleurisy)
Upon sampling a pleural effusion via thoracentesis, you notice that the fluid is black:
What are your differentials?
Aspergillus
Upon sampling a pleural effusion via thoracentesis, you notice that the fluid is yellow/green:
What are your differentials?
Rheumatoid pleurisy (uncommon)
Upon sampling a pleural effusion via thoracentesis, you notice that the fluid is dark green:
What are your differentials?
Bilothorax (- presence of bile fluid in the pleural space, most often due to biliary surgery or trauma)
Upon sampling a pleural effusion via thoracentesis, you notice that the fluid is like fish paste:
What are your differentials?
Amebic liver abscess (- most common extraintestinal manifestation of entamoeba infection)