Session 6 Flashcards
What are some of the symptoms of COPD?
Dyspnoea
Cough
What is COPD?
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease - a chronic and slow progressing disorder that is characterised by airflow obstruction.
Has a reduced FEV1/FVC ratio and airflow limitation that is not fully reversible.
What can cause COPD?
Cigarette smoking
Coal mining
Anti-protease deficiency (genetic inheritance)
What are some of the sites of COPD?
Large airways
Small airways
Lung parenchyma
Pulmonary arteries
What are some of the mechanisms of COPD?
Airway & systemic inflammation Alveolar destruction Hyperinflation Respiratory muscle inefficiency Skeletal muscle dysfunction
What are some of the consequences of COPD?
Airway obstruction Dyspnoe Exercise limitation Nutrition depletion Respiratory failure
What can be the impact of COPD?
Mobility (disability) Health status Mood Exacerbations Hospitalisation Death
How would emphysema look on an X-ray?
There would be increased lung dilation
What investigations could you do if you thought a patient had COPD?
History MRC dyspnoea Chest x ray FEV1 Lung function tests CT scan
What does the MRC dyspnoea scale do?
Shows what activities the patient can do
What drugs would you use to treat COPD?
Bronchodilator drugs for when symptoms bad
Corticosteroid drugs for preventative
What is exacerbation in COPD?
Worsening of the previous stable condition
Declining health status
Increased wheezing
Dyspnoea
Chest tightness & fluid retention if going into respjratory failure
What are some of the causes of respiratory failure?
Hypoventilation
Ventilation/perfusion imbalance
Alveolar/capillary diffusion block
A VSD causing a true shunt
What is respiratory failure classed as?
A PaO2 of <7.3 kPa at sea level
What are some of the defences of the Upper Respiratory Tract?
Muco-Ciliary clearance mechanisms Nasal hair Ciliated columnar epithelium Flora Cough & Sneezing reflex Respiratory mucosal immune system
What are some examples of Upper Respiratory Tract infections?
Rhinitis (Common cold caused by viruses)
Pharyngitis & Laryngitis
Sinusitis
Otitis media (Can spread to the brain and cause meningitis)