9/8- Respiratory H&P Flashcards
(53 cards)
What is dyspnea? What causes it (broadly)?
Def: subjective experience of breathing discomfort; the sensation is holistic
- Results from interaction (mismatch) of various efferent and afferent signals
- May be respiratory, cardiovascular, or non-cardiac non-respiratory
What are some specific causes of dyspnea?
(Recall: interaction/mismatch of various efferent and afferent signals)
- Mechanical interference with ventilation
- Weakness of respiratory pump
- Increased respiratory drive
- Wasted ventilation
- Physiologic
In what situations may dyspnea due to mechanical interference with ventilation arise?
- Airflow obstruction (COPD)
- Increased resistance of lung
- Resistance of chest wall
In what situations may dyspnea due to weakness of respiratory pump arise?
- Neuromuscular disorders
- Hyperinflation
- Pleural disorders
In what situations may dyspnea due to increased respiratory drive arise?
- Hypoxemia
- Metabolic acidosis
- Stimulation of receptors
In what situations may dyspnea due to wasted ventilation arise?
- Capillary destruction (COPD)
- Large vessel obstruction (PE)
In what situations may dyspnea due to physiologic arise?
- Anxiety
- Somatization
- Litigation
What is platypnea?
Shortness of breath worse when sitting up (as opposed to lying down)
What is orthopnea?
Shortness of breath when laying down
T/F: A pt can have RR = 30 without being dyspneic
True
Hyperventilation does NOT = dyspnea
How can dyspnea be quantified?
Modified Borg Scale:
0- Nothing at all
0.5- Very, very slight, just noticeable
1- Very slight ……
5- Severe
10- Maximal
Visual Analog Scale (0-10)
Important things to follow up with dyspnea?
- Onset (gradual, acute/sudden)
- Positional
- Associated qualitative descriptors
- Quantify
What is a “chronic” cough? Most common causes?
Lasts > 8 weeks
1. Postnasal drip syndrome (upper airway cough syndrome)- typ worse in morning
2. GERD- typ worse after lying down/eating
3. Asthma/other obstructive lung diseases- typ worse at night
Important things to follow up with cough?
- Dry vs. productive
- Timing/when is it worse (early morning vs. night)
- Precipitating/relieving factors
Important things to follow up with sputum production?
- Quantity
- Consistency
- Color
What is bronchorrhea?
In what condition is it commonly found?
Production of copious amounts of sputum
- Classic for broncho-alveolar carcinoma
- Bronchiectasis: obstructive disease; destruction of airways
“Tenacious” mucoid (hard to get out of cup) is found in what condition(s)?
Asthma
Purulent (watery) sputum is found in what conditions?
- Bronchitis
- Bronchiectasis
What should you think of with green sputum?
Pseudomonas
Important things to follow up with hemoptysis?
- Streaks or clots
- Quantity
- Which side it’s coming from
- Past history of TB, histoplasma
What qualifies as “massive” hemoptysis? What is the problem?
Massive = 500 mL in 24 hours (or 250 in 6 hrs)
- 1 foam cup = 125 mL
Problem is not the blood loss, but rather the volume in the lung
What is wheezing?
Musical respiratory sounds that may be audible to patient or others
Important things to follow up with wheezing?
- When it occurs (day, night, exercise, foods)
- Relieving factors
- Positional
How does substernal thyroid goiter present?
Wheezing that is worse when supine