Respiratory Medicine

Question 1

What is peak flow?

Answer 1

An easy and cheap measurement for disease progression e.g. for asthma

Question 2

How are peak flow measurements interpretted?

Answer 2

Via table depending on pts height, age, and sex

Question 3

What does spirometry measure?

Answer 3

Volume of air the patient is able to expel from the lungs after maximal inspiration

Question 4

What is FEV1?

Answer 4

Forced expiratory volume - volume of the air expelled in the first second of forced expiration

Question 5

What is FVC?

Answer 5

Forced vital capacity - total volume of air the patient can forcibly exhale in one breath

Question 6

What are the RCP 3 questions used for?

Answer 6

Identifying patients with poor asthma control in general practice and to monitor the effect of changes of treatment

Question 7

What are the 3 RCP questions for asthma?

Answer 7

1. Have you had any difficulty sleeping because of asthma symptoms?
2. Have you had your usual asthma symptoms during the day?
3. Have your asthma symptoms interfered with your usual activities?

Question 8

How does spirometry change for a patient with COPD compared to a patient with normal airways/lungs?

Answer 8

Obstructive picture gives reduced FEV1, however FVC can be normal or slightly reduced, so FEV1/FVC is reduced to below 70%

Question 9

How does spirometry change for a patient with ILD compared to a patient with normal airways/lungs?

Answer 9

Restrictive picture gives reduced FEV1 and FVC, for FEV1/FVC is normal