Respiratory Qs Flashcards
What are the clinical signs that indicate suspected cancer, meaning that an urgent chest xray within 2 weeks is required?
(Name 7- starting with the 2 main ones)
For patients over 40:
1.Clubbing
2.Lymphadenopathy (supraclavicular or persistent abnormal cervical nodes)
3.Recurrent or persistent chest infections
4.Raised platelet count (thrombocytosis)
5.Chest signs of lung cancer
6. 2 or more unexplained symptoms in patients that have never smoked
7.One or more unexplained symptoms in patients that have never smoked AND never had asbestos exposure
Thrombocytosis vs phillia = when another disease or condition causes you to have a high platelet count
What are the ‘unexplained symptoms’ in patients that would recommend an urgent chest xray to investigate suspected cancer?
(Name 6)
1.Cough
2.Shortness of breath
3.Chest pain
4.Fatigue
5.Weight loss
6.Loss of appetite
A 50 year old ex-smoker presents feeling “tired all the time” with no other symptoms. What is the red flag diagnosis and first steps?
i)Cancer
ii)Urgent Chest Xray
-qualifies as fatigue is an unexplained symptom and the patient is over 40 years old
A woman aged 42 presents with weight loss and general fatigue. She has never smoked. What is the red flag diagnosis and first step?
i)Cancer
ii)Urgent Chest Xray
-qualifies as fatigue and weight loss is an unexplained symptom and the patient is over 40 years old
What is the first-line investigation in suspected lung cancer?
Chest Xray
List the findings of a Chest Xray that would suggest lung cancer.
1.Hilar Enlargement
2.Peripheral Opacity
3.Pleural effusion (usually unilateral in cancer)
4.Collapse
What is Peripheral opacity on a Chest Xray?
A visible lesion in the lung field.
What investigation must be used to assess the stage of lung cancer?
CT scan : Contrast-enhanced, of the chest, abdomen and pelvis
What investigation is required to assess metastasis of cancer?
PET-CT (Positron Emission Tomography)
List all of the investigations required in a patient with suspected lung caner?
Initial diagnosis:
Chest Xray
Staging:
CT Scan
Metastasis:
PET-CT
Tumour analysis (histological diagnosis):
Bronchoscopy or Percutaneous Biopsy
What is the most significant lifestyle cause of lung cancer?
Smoking
What are the two general types of histological classifications of lung cancer?
-Small-Cell lung cancer (20%)
-Non-small cell lung caner (80%)
What are the types of Non-small-cell lung cancer?
-Adenocarcinoma (Most common)
-Squamous cell carcinoma
-Large-cell carcinoma
-Other
What type of lung cancer is strongly linked to Asbestos inhalation?
Mesothelioma
(of pleura incasing the lung)
What is the prognosis for Meothelioma?
Poor prognosis:(
Chemotherapy can improve survival but is mainly palliative
List the general paraneoplastic syndromes syndromes?
(Name 9)
=group of rare disorders that occur when the immune system has a reaction to a cancerous tumor known as a “neoplasm.”
-Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Palsy
-Phrenic Nerve Palsy
-Superior Vena Cava Obstruction
-Horner’s Syndrome
-Syndrome of inappropriate ADH (SIADH)
-Cushing’s syndrome
-Hypercalcaemia
-Limbic Encephalitis
-Lambert Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome
What is Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Palsy?
Presents with hoarse voice caused by a tumour pressing on or affecting the recurrent laryngeal nerve as it passes through the mediastinum.
What is Phrenic Laryngeal Nerve Palsy?
Presents with shortness of breath due to diaphragm weakness caused by nerve compression.
What is Superior Vena Cava Obstruction?
MEDICAL EMERGENCY!
It is a complication of lung cancer caused by compression of the tumour on the SVC.
What is Pemberton’s sign?
Raising the hands over the head causes facial congestion and cyanosis.
Describe a typical presentation of a patient with Superior Vena Cava obstruction.
Facial swelling, difficulty breathing and distended neck and upper chest veins. Also note Pemberton’s sign.
What is Horner’s Syndrome?
Triad: Partial Ptosis (eyelid drooping), Anhirdosis (inability to sweat) and Miosis (constricted pupils), that is caused by a Pancoast tumour pressing on the sympathetic ganglion.
What is a Pancoast tumour?
Tumour in the pulmonary apex (lung)
What is Ptosis?
When the upper eyelid droops over the eye which can limit or even completely block normal vision.
What is the meaning of Paraneoplastic syndromes?
Group of rare disorders that occur when the immune system has a reaction to a cancerous tumour known as a neoplasm.
What is Anhidrosis?
A rare condition in which the sweat glands make little or no sweat and may cause severe burns, infection or inflammation.
What is Miosis?
Excessive constriction (shrinking) of pupil.
How would a Pancoast tumour cause Horner’s Syndrome?
By pressing on the Sympathetic Ganglion.
What is Syndrome of inappropriate ADH (SIADH)?
It presents with hyponatraemia which is caused by ectopic ADH secreted by a small-cell lung cancer.
How can lung cancer cause Cushing’s Syndrome?
Ectopic ACTH secretion by a small-cell lung cancer.
How can Hypercalcaemia be caused by lung cancer?
Ectopic parathyroid hormone secreted by squamous cell carcinoma.
What type of lung cancer can cause Hypercalcaemia?
Squamous Cell Carcinoma
What is the pathophysiology of Limbic Encephalitis?
Caused by small-cell lung cancer causing the immune system to make antibodies to tissues in the brain (esp. the limbic system) which caused inflammation in those areas.
How does Limbic Encephalitis present?
Short term memory impairment, hallucination, confusion, seizures.
What antibodies is Limbic Encephalitis associated with?
Anti-Hu
What is pathophysiology of Lambert Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome?
Caused by antibodies against small-cell lung cancer cells. These antibodies also target and damage voltage-gated calcium channels sited on the presynaptic terminals in motor neurones.
How does Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome present?
-Weakness of proximal muscles
-Diplopia
-Ptosis
-Slurred speech
-Dysphagia
Additional Symptoms:
-Dry mouth
-Blurred vision
-Impotence
-Dizziness
Lambert EYES and MOUTH
What muscle weakness causes Ptosis?
Levator muscles
What muscle weakness causes Diplopia?
Intraocular muscles
What muscle weakness causes slurred speech?
Pharyngeal muscles
What muscle weakness causes dysphagia?
Pharyngeal muscles
What is dysphagia?
Difficulty swallowing
A patient has been diagnosed with non-small-cell lung cancer with no metastasis. What is the first line treatment to be offered?
Surgery - to remove entire tumour
1.Segmentectomy / Wedge resection = remove segment of lung
2. Lobectomy =remove lobe of lung
3.Pneumonectomy =remove entire lung
What type of surgery technique is preferred for treating lung cancer?
Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) or Robotic Surgery as they are minimally invasive.
What is the pathophysiology of pneumonia?
Infection of the lung tissue, causing inflammation in the alveolar space.
How does Pneumonia present on a Chest Xray?
Consolidation
Are upper respiratory tract infections associated with viral or bacterial infections?
Viral
Are lower respiratory tract infections associated with viral or bacterial infections?
Bacterial
What is the pathophysiology of Acute Bronchitis?
Lower respiratory tract infection and inflammation in the bronchi and bronchioles.
What are the 3 types of Pneumonia?
1.Community-Acquired Pneumonia
2.Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia
3.Ventilator-Acquired Pneumonia
Define Hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP).
Develops after more than 48hrs in a hospital
Define Ventilator-acquired pneumonia (VAP).
Develops in intubated patients in the intensive care unit.
Define Aspiration Pneumonia.
When the infection develops due to the aspiration of food or fluids, usually in patients with impaired swallowing (e.g., following a stroke or advanced dementia). Aspiration pneumonia is associated with anaerobic bacteria.
What are the 3 main characteristic chest signs of Pneumonia?
1.Bronchial Breath Sounds
2.Focal Coarse Crackles
3.Dullness to percussion
What signs can indicate sepsis secondary to pneumonia?
(Name 6)
1.Tachypnoea
2.Tachycardia
3.Hypoxia
4.Hypotension
5.Fever
6.Confusion
What are the presenting symptoms of Pneumonia?
(Name 8)
1.Cough
2.Sputum production
3.Shortness of breath
4.Fever
5.Haemoptysis (coughing up blood)
6.Pleuritic chest pain (sharp chest pain, worse on inspiration)
7.Delirium (acute confusion)
Describe a typical presentation of a patient with Acute Bronchitis.
Predominant complaint:
-Productive Cough (clear or yellow sputum)
Other Symptoms:
-Malaise
-Difficulty breathing
-Wheezing
What Respiratory rate reading would suggest a respiratory illness?
Above or equal to 30 breaths per minute
What are the two top bacteria that cause Pneumonia?
-Streptococcus Pneumoniae
-Haemophilius Influenzae
What type of bacteria is Streptococcus pneumoniae?
(Gram positive or negative, shape, Anaerobic or Anarobic)?
-Gram positive
-Lancet-Shaped
-Anaerobic
What type of bacteria is Haemophilus influenzae?
(Gram positive or negative, shape, Anaerobic or Anarobic)?
-Gram Negative
-Coccobacillus
-Anaerobic
What is general treatment for a patient with Atypical Pneumonia?
-Clarithromycin
-Levofloxacin
-Doxycycline
What treatment does Atypical pneumonia NOT respond to?
Penicillin
A patient presents with pneumonia symptoms and Hyponatraemia (low sodium), after returning hope from a cheap hotel holiday. What is the most likely diagnosis and initial investigation?
i) Legionella Pneumophila infection
=caused by inhaling infected waters (e.g infected aircon unit)
ii) Urine Antigen test
Describe a typical presentation of Mycoplasma Pneumoniae.
-Milder form of Pneumonia:
-Erythema Multiforme rash characterised by ‘target’ lesions
-Neurological symptoms in younger patients
A patient has come in presenting with Pneumonia symptoms but there is no result from the Gram staining. He is a Parrot owner. What type of Atypical Pneumonia would this most likely be?
Chalmydia Psittaci
=contracted from infected bird
A patient presents with pneumonia symptoms but no bacteria was detected on the Gram Staining. He is a farmer. What type of Atypical Pneumonia is this most likely to be?
Coxiella Burnetii / Q fever
=caused by exposure to animal bodily fluids
What type of infection is a patient with poorly controlled HIV and a low CD4 count most at risk of?
Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP)
=Fungal Pneumonia
Describe a usual presentation of a patient with Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP).
-Affects Immunocompromised patients
-Dry Cough
-Shortness of breath on exertion
-Night sweats
Describe a usual presentation of a patient with Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP).
-Affects Immunocompromised patients
-Dry Cough
-Shortness of breath on exertion
-Night sweats
A patient with HIV has been experiencing shortness of breath when walking, a dry cough and night sweats. What is most likely to be prescribed?
Co-Tramoxazole (Septrin)
A patient has a low CD4 count. What medication should be prescribed to protect against Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP)?
Prophylactic Co-Timoxazole
A patient in primary care is presenting with Pneumonia symtpoms. What investigation will most likely be done here?
CRP level check
What investigations will be done for patients presenting with Pneumonia symptoms?
-Chest Xray
-Full blood count (look for raised WBCs)
-Renal profile (urea level)
-C-reactive protein - raised in inflammation
What will patients with moderate or severe pneumonia infection also present?
-Sputum cultures
-Blood cultures
-Pneumococcal and Legionella Urinary Antigen tests
A patient has been diagnosed with community-acquired pneumonia. What is the treatment?
-Amoxicillin
-Doxycycline
-Clarithromycin
A patient has been diagnosed with severe pneumonia. What is initial treatment?
-IV Antibiotics
(Step down to oral antibiotics when discharged)
-Respiratory support
Name 6 complications of Pneumonia.
-Sepsis
-Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
-Pleural effusion
-Empyema
-Lung Abscess
-Death
What is the normal range of PaO2?
10.7-13.3 kPa
What is the normal range of PaCO2?
4.7 – 6.0 kPa
What is the normal range of HCO3?
22 – 26 mmol/L
A patient has a PaCO2 of 9mmol/L. What does this indicate?
Hypoxia and Respiratory failure as it is lower than the normal range (10.7-13.3)
A patient has a PaCO2 of 5kPa and a PO2 of 8.3kPa. What does this indicate?
Type 1 Respiratory failure
(CO2 is normal while O2 is low)
A patient has a PaCO2 of 7kPa and a PO2 of 7.3kPa. What does this indicate?
Type 2 Respiratory Failure
(Raised CO2 and Low O2)
What is the pH value definition for Acidosis?
Under 7.35
What is the pH value definition for Alkalosis?
Above 7.45
A patient has a pH of 7.2, a PaO2 of 10.8kPA and a PaCO2 of 8kPA. What does this indicate?
Respiratory Acidosis
(Patient’s PaCO2 is raised and they have a low pH. This indicates that they are acutely retaining CO2 making the blood acidotic).
What values would you expect to be raised in Respiratory Acidosis?
-PaCO2
-Bicarbonate
(Kidneys are producing more to neutralise the raised CO2)
A patient has Respiratory Acidosis. What condition more than like caused this?
COPD
A patients presents with a respiratory rate of 40 breaths/ minute, PaCO2 of 3kPa and a pH of 8. What does this indicate?
-High resp rate
-Low PaCO2
-High pH (alkalosis)
=Respiratory Alkalosis
What are the two main conditions that cause Respiratory Alkalosis?
1.Pulmonary Embolism
2.Hyperventilation (due to anxiety)
A patient presents with a high pH, raised respiratory rate and a low PaO2. What is the most likely underlying cause?
Pulmonary Embolism
A patient presents with a high pH, raised respiratory rate and a high PaO2. What is the most likely underlying cause?
Hyperventilation (due to anxiety)
A patient presents with a high pH, raised respiratory rate and a high PaO2. What is the most likely underlying cause?
Hyperventilation (due to anxiety)
A patient with Type 1 diabetes has the following values:
-Raised Ketones
-Low pH
-Low Bicarbonate
What does this indicate?
Metabolic Acidosis due to Diabetic Ketoacidosis
What does a low pH and low bicarbonate indicate?
Metabolic acidosis
What are the causes of metabolic acidosis?
(Name 4)
1.Tissue Hypoxia =Raised lactate
2. Diabetic ketoacidosis =Raised ketones
3. Renal failure, type 1 renal tubular acidosis or rhabdomyolysis =Increased hydrogen ions
4.Diarrhoea (stools contain bicarbonate), renal failure or type 2 renal tubular acidosis =Reduced bicarbonate
What values would you expect from Metabolic Alkalosis
-Raised pH
-Raised Bicarbonate
Metabolic alkalosis results from loss of Hydrogen ions. What are the 2 main causes of this?
-GI tract : Vomitting
-Kidney: Increased activity of aldosterone
What can cause an increase of activity of aldosterone?
-Conn’s syndrome (primary hyperaldosteronism)
-Liver cirrhosis
-Heart failure
-Loop diuretics
-Thiazide diuretics
Describe the typical presentation of a patient with suspected Asthma.
Episodic Symptoms:
-Shortness of breath
-Chest tightness
-Dry Cough
-Wheeze
-If they respond to Bronchodilators (if they don’t then it is unlikely to be Asthma)
Describe the type of wheeze presented for a patient with Asthma.
Widespread ‘polyphonic’ expiratory wheeze
After clinical examination, what is the next investigation for suspected Asthma?
Chest Xray
What drugs can worsen asthma?
Beta blockers, NSAIDs (e.g Ibeprofen and Naproxen)
What results would you expect from a Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide test for a patient with Asthma?
Positive result = Asthma, Above 40ppb
What lifestyle choice can interfere with the Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide test results?
Smoking
-it lowers the value
What results would you expect from a Reversibility Test for a patient with Asthma?
Greater than 12% increase in FEV1
What results would you expect from a Peak Flow Variability test for a patient with Asthma?
Variability of more than 20%
What results would you expect from a Spirometry test for a patient with Asthma?
FEV1:FVC ratio less than 70%
Give examples of SABAs.
Salbutamol
List the drugs used for Asthma management in order according to the NICE asthma management ladder.
- SABA: Salbutamol
2.Corticosteroids : Glucacorticosteroids, Prednisone, Methylpredisolone
3.LTRA:Montelukast
4.LABA: Salmeterol /Formoterol
GIve e
Give examples of Corticosteroids.
Glucacorticosteroids, Prednisone, Methylprednisolone
Give examples of LTRAs.
Montelukast
Give examples of LABAs.
Salmeterol and Formoterol
When would you add Prednisone to a patients Asthma management?
After the first drug: Salbutamol
A patient is taking Salbutamol. What underlying conditions would mean they would need to be carefully monitored and what would they be monitored for?
1.Severe Asthma
-Monitor for Hypokalaemia
2.Diabetes
-Monitor for Hyperglycaemia
What are the two common side effects of Salbutamol?
1.Muscle cramps
2.Arrythmias
What are the corticosteroids prescribed for in asthma?
Prophylactic and Anti-inflammatory
What would you prescribe if a patient on a SABA and Corticosteroid isn’t having their Asthma adequately controlled?
Montelukast
(LTRA)
What drug would swap which drug if Asthma isn’t being adequately controlled?
Swap out the Salbutamol (SABA) for Salmeterol (LABA)
List the drugs used for Asthma management in order according to the NICE asthma management ladder.
- SABA: Salbutamol
2.Corticosteroids : Glucacorticosteroids, Prednisone, Methylpredisolone
3.LTRA:Montelukast
4.LABA: Salmeterol /Formoterol
After swapping out the SABA for a LABA, what next management change will be implemented for Asthma that isn’t being adequately controlled?
Increase inhaled corticosteroid dose to moderate dose.
After increasing a patient’s inhaled corticosteroids to a moderate dose, what is the next step for asthma that is not adequately controlled?
Increase moderate dose to high dose or add additional drug such as LAMA or Theophylline
Describe a typical clinical presentation of a patient with an Acute Exacerbation of their Asthma (incl auscultation)
-Progressively shortness of breath
-Use of accessory muscles
-Raised respiratory rate (tachypnoea)
-Auscultation:
-The chest can sound “tight” with reduced air entry throughout
-Symmetrical expiratory wheeze on auscultation
Describe the arterial blood gas analysis findings expected from a patient with Acute Exacerbation of their Asthma.
-Respiratory Alkalosis
-Raised Resp. Rate (Tachypnoea)
-Decreased CO2
A patient is in Hospital with an Acute Exacerbation of their Asthma. Their PCO2 is normal. What does this indicate?
Life-threatening Asthma
A patient is in Hospital with an Acute Exacerbation of their Asthma. Their PO2 is low. What does this indicate?
Life threatening asthma