Respiratory Pharmacology

Question 1

List the structures of the upper and lower respiratory system:

Answer 1

Upper resp
- everything above the larynx

Lower resp
- conducting system (trachea/bronchi) - mucociliary apparatus
- transitional system (bronchioles) - smooth muscle walls that can constrict and dialate
- exchange system (alveoli) -pneumocytes and capillary network

Question 2

List 5 categories of respiratory disease

Answer 2

allergy/inflammation

pulmonary edema

exercise induced pulmonary hemorrhage

cough

pneumonia

Question 3

What are the therapeutic goals of treating allergy or inflammatory respiratory disease? What treatments are used to reach these goals?

Answer 3

Goals
- reduce inflammation
- increase mucociliary clearance
- increase gas exchange

How
- steroid/cromolyn sodium
- expectorant/mucolytic
- bronchodilators

Question 4

What are the therapeutic goals of treating coughing in respiratory disease? What treatments are used to reach these goals?

Answer 4

Goals
- reduce cough
- reduce inflammation

How
- anti-tussive
- steroid

Question 5

What are the therapeutic goals of treating pulmonary edema in respiratory disease? What treatments are used to reach these goals?

Answer 5

Goals
- reduce fluid
- increase gas exchange
- reduce mucus

How
- expectorant/mucolytic
- diuretic

Question 6

What are the therapeutic goals of treating exercise induce pulmonary hemorrhage respiratory disease? What treatments are used to reach these goals?

Answer 6

Goals
- reduce trans-capillary pressure

How
- diuretic

Question 7

What are the therapeutic goals of treating pneumonia in respiratory disease? What treatments are used to reach these goals?

Answer 7

Goal
- reduce infection
- reduce inflammation
- increase gas exchange

How
- antimicrobials
- steroid/NSAID
- expectorant/mucolytic
- bronchodilator

Question 8

What are 2 mechanisms that can cause pulmonary edema in horses?

Answer 8

cardiogenic

secondary to equine anesthesia
- nares become obstructed (flaccid) and cause increased negative pressure and edema

Question 9

How is the cough reflex stimulated

Answer 9

stimuli from upper and/or lower respiratory tract via chemo and/or mechanoreceptors

signal the cough center in the medulla

Question 10

What are the 3 phases of the cough reflex

Answer 10

1. inspiratory
2. contraction (diaphragm muscles/intercostal muscles/abdominal muscles)
3. expiratory (open glottis - causes sound)

Question 11

What is fluticasone used for in relation to respiratory disease?

Answer 11

It is an inhaled steroid

To treat allergy or inflammatory respiratory disease

Question 12

How does Pousielles law impact the action of bronchodilators

Answer 12

Pouiselles law
- 4x impact of radius on the resistance

this means that bronchodilator effect is very impactful in reducing resistance

Question 13

What is the mechanism of action of bronchodilators

Answer 13

It functions by stimulating PSNS receptors in the bronchioles specifically M3 receptor with also beta 2 effects

Question 14

List 3 types of bronchodilators commonly used

Answer 14

anticholinergics

methylxanthine

alpha 2 agonists