Respiratory pathology 2 Flashcards
What does COPD stand for ?
Chronic Obstructive pulmonary disease
What two conditions make up COPD ?
Chronic bronchitis and emphysema
How does the disease present ?
Chronic condition with exacerbations
What is Chronic bronchitis ?
A cough that produced sputum most days for three consecutive months for two ore more consecutive years.
What is the effect of chronic bronchitis in the large airways ?
- Hyperplasia of the goblet and mucous cells
- Short term inflammation
- Fibrosis
What is the effect of chronic bronchitis in the small airways ?
- Appearance of goblet cells
- Long term inflammation
- Fibrosis
What can happen to complicate chronic bronchitis ?
Infections
What elements of chronic bronchitis are most readily treated ?
Inflammation and infections
What is emphysema ?
Emphysema is an increase beyond the normal in the size of the airspaces distal to the terminal bronchioles (Acini) arising as a result of dilation or destruction of alveolar walls. The alveoli enlarge and loss elasticity making it hard to exhale.
How does emphysema develop?
It is caused by a lack of anti-elastase enzymes which normally remove elastase enzymes. Elastase enzymes are produced by immune cell such as macrophages and neutrophils and destroy alveolar walls if they are left to build up.
What happens after emphysema develops?
Emphysema causes vasoconstriction of capillaries in that area of lung (because they are not getting well oxygenated), this can cause pressure in the heart because there is less functioning capillaries in the lungs and therefore a greater resistance. . Greater pressure can cause Cor pulmonary (RH failure), decreases blood flow in the lung capillaries can cause fibrosis which further restricts flow through those capillaries and causes thickening of the blood which makes it even harder to pump.
What are the names of the four types of emphysema ?
Centriacinar
Scar
Panacinar
Periacinar
Describe centriacinar emphysema
Centriacinar emphysema starts with bronchial dilation and then alveolar tissue is lost, this type occurs at the top of the lobes. Often caused by smoking
Describe Panacinar emphysema
Panacinar emphysema affects whole acini in a larger area of lung. It most commonly is found at the bottom lobes and caused by genetics.
Describe Periacinar emphysema
Periacinar empyema damaged just the distal part of the acini which is often found near the periphery of the lung. These dilated alveoli can burst and leak air into the pleural cavity then it causes a pneumothorax to develop.
Describe Scar emphysema
Scar emphysema is no clinical effects and is just the formation of emphysema next to scars.
Does everyone develop emphysema ?
Yes especially as they age
What is the expected FVE1/FVC ration in a COPD patient ?
lower then 80%
For diagnosis <0.7
Is the total lung capacity of COPD patients higher of lower than normal people?
Often higher due to hyperinflation (i.e. air is stuck in the lungs because of difficulties with expiration)
Draw a diagram to represent the 4 types of emphysema
-
What are the risk factors for emphysema ?
No.1 Smoking.
Other modifiable risk factors: pollution, dust, low socioeconomics,
Non-modifiable risk factors: older age, genetics, maternal (or grandmaternal) smoking [ Causes reduced lung size which increases risk of COPD], Alpha 1 Anti-trypsin deficiency (causes early onset of COPD), Alpha 1-antiprotease deficiency (only results in emphysema)
What % of smokers will develop COPD ?
less than 50%
Why can maternal smoking cause COPD ?
Smaller lungs
What is Alpha 1 Anti-trypsin deficiency ?
Causes early onset of COPD
What is Alpha 1-antiprotease deficiency ?
Causes emphysema without chronic bronchitis
Signs of COPD
Fine tremor (Bronchodilator treatment) Flapping tremor (CO2 retention) Hyper-resonance (From hyperinflation due to trapped air) Peripheral oedema Raised JVP Cachexia Cyanosis Pursed lip breahting
Symptoms of COPD
Productive cough Dyspnoea Expiratory wheeze Chest infections Acute exacerbations Continued decline
What are the signs of symptoms or a COPD exacerbation ?
Worsening symptoms, fatigue, temperature, chest tightness
What investigations are carried out to help determine if someone has COPD?
CXR Spirometry (FVE1/FVC and reversibility test) mMRC breathlessness scale ABG GOLD History of or present heart conditions
What are you looking for on a CXR ?
Hyperinflation - Chronic
Consolidation - Acute
What investigations would you carry out in hospital if someone is having an acute exacerbation of COPD?
CXR ABG RBC and Hb U&Es Sputum culture Underlying heart conditions
How is a COPD diagnosis made ?
Combination of history, investigations and symptoms/sins
What are the differential diagnoses ?
Chronic bronchial asthma - Younger, non - smokers, wheeze, atopy family history etc
Bronchiectasis - Clubbing and course crackles
Treatment for COPD
Non-pharmlogical (Smocking cessation, vaccinations and pulmonary rehabilitation). SABA, LAMA, LABA and ICS.
Treatment for COPD exacerbations
May be treated at home or in hospital, treated with steroids, antibiotics and SABA.
What is often the end result of COPD ?
Respiratory failure
Continued worsening and pronounced decline after even exacerbation
What are the two types of respiratory failure ?
Type 1 - Low O2
Type 2 - Low O2 and High CO2
What does the mMRC breathlessness scale say ?
0 - Only gets breathless on strenuous exercise
1 - Gets breathless when hurrying on level ground or walking up a slight hill
2 - Walks slower than people of the same ability and age because of breathlessness and may have to stop to catch breath
3 - Stops for breath after walking 100 yds or after a few minuets on level ground
4 - Too breathless to leave the house or breathless while dressing
Treatment pathway for a COPD patient who has breathlessness
SABA (Taking every day) SABA + LAMA (Still breathless) SABA + LAMA / LABA (Still breathless) No use of further treatment
Treatment pathway for a COPD patient who are having exacerbations
SABA + LAMA (Continued exacerbations) SABA + LAMA/LABA (Continued exacerbations and FEV1/FVC < 50%) SABA + LAMA / LABA / ICS No further treatment
What does SABA stand for ?
Short Acting Beta2 Agonist
What does LAMA stand for ?
Long Acting Muscarinic antagonist
What does LABA stand for ?
Long acting beta2 agonist
What are the differences between asthma and COPD ?
Smokers Age Productive cough Breathless Woken during night Variability of symptoms
When would you bring a COPD patient into hospital ?
If they are not coping If they are very breathless If there are in a poor or deteriorating condition s If there level of activity is poor or they are confined to bed If they have cyanosis If they have worsening peripheral oedema If they have impaired consciousness if they have LTOT If they are confused If they have a rapid onset If they have significant comorbidity If there SaO2 < 90% If there have changes of CXR
What is the GOLD classification of severity
GOLD 1 FEV1 > 80% GOLD 2 FEV1 50-79% (No hospital admission) GOLD 3 FEV1 30-49% GOLD 4 FEV1 < 30 % (Hospital admission)
What is Asthma ?
An obstructive pulmonary disease that results from type 1 hypersensitivity.
What are the risk factors for Asthma?
Genetics (Atopic gene which predisposes to Hay fever, eczema and asthma important to ask about in family history), Occupations (Exposure to chemicals or particles i.e. Painter, baker), Smoking (Maternal smoking leads to small lungs and an increased chance of Asthma)
What are the signs and symptoms of asthma ?
Variability of symptoms, Wheeze (in children ‘No Wheeze no asthma’), cough, shortness of breath, chest tightness, sleep disturbances, exacerbations.
What are investigations done to help diagnose asthma ?
Spirometry (FEV1/FVC, Bronchodilator Reversibility test),
Skin allergy panel,
CXR (To check for other causes),
PEFR (Used on one off or given to patient to record results at regular intervals, variability in results suggests asthma).
Exposure to certain triggers which brings on attacks (i.e. pets, smoke, exercise, perfume etc).
You can also measure exhaled FeNO (Nitric oxide) levels as FeNO is produced in inflammation and therefore high FeNO would suggest asthma.
How is a diagnosis of asthma made ?
Combination of history, investigations (Importantly reversibility – Often treatment is started before the diagnosis) and signs/symptoms. In children as a rule of thumb to diagnosis treat with ICS if quality of life is affected, then take an inhaler break over easter (When infections are least prevalent) and see if the symptoms return. If they don’t stop medication it is not asthma. If they do then diagnose Asthma and continue treatment.
How is a asthma attack diagnosed?
Patients presents with an acute worsening of symptoms. Can be classified based on severity.
What is a mild asthma attack ?
Use of inhalers and oral steroids. Follow up is arranged.
What is a moderate asthma attack ?
Able to speak and complete sentences HR < 110 RR < 25 PEF 50-75% (Of what is predicted for this person) Sa02 > 92% PaO2 > 8kPa (80mmHg)
What is a severe asthma attack ?
Inability to complete sentences in one breath
HR > 110
RR > 25
PEF 33-50% (Of what is predicted for this person)
SaO2 > 92%
PaO2 > 8kPa
What is a life threatening asthma attack ?
Grunting Impaired consciousness, confusion and exhaustion Bradycardia (Slow HR Less than 60 bpm) Arrhythmia Hypotension (low BP > 90/60) PEF < 33% (Of what is predicted for this person) Cyanosis (Blue lips) Silent chest (Air is not moving) Poor respiratory effort SaO2 < 92% PaO2 < 8kPa PaCo2 (Normal - this is worrying because they should be low if someone is trying to breath as hard as you are in an asthma attack)
What is near fatal asthma attack ?
Raised PaCo2
Need for mechanical ventilation
What are the differential diagnosis for Asthma ?
COPD (in older smoking patients whose symptoms decline – See table for differences),
Bronchiectasis (Clubbing, course crackles),
Lung cancer (Clubbing, mass of CXR, cervical lymphadenopathy [metastasis to lymph nodes in the neck]),
Foreign body (Stridor).
Upper respiratory tract infection especially in <18 months old (See flow chart),
Cystic fibrosis,
Cardiac cause,
A collapsed lung (asymmetrical expansion, dull percussion).
What is the aim of Asthma treatment ?
Aim of treatment is that patients wont need to take the ‘rescue’ inhalers (Will be using there inhaler less than 2 times a week), wont wake up in the night and wont be limited in there actions in any way. Medication aims to reverse inflammation and relax smooth muscles.
What is used to treat asthma ?
Actions plans are used to help control asthma (Individualised sheet to show what steps to take if asthma gets worse).
Main stay of treatment in inhalers.
Also oral therapies
And specialist treatments.
What are the two types of inhaler ?
They can be metered dose inhalers (pMDI Used with spacers) or dry powder inhalers (DPI Relies on sucking).
What is the step up, step down approach to treating asthma in kids ?
SABA and very low dose ICS (Relieves symptoms) BREAK (Symptoms return) SABA + very low dose ICS (Or LATA in < 5) (Use of SABA > 2 times a week) Add in a LABA (or LATA in < 5) (Use of SABA > 2 times a week) Stop LABA + start low dose ICS or Continue LABA + start low dose ICS or LABA + very low dose ICS and oral therapy i.e. LTRA