COPD Flashcards
What drugs would you give for someone having an acute exacerbation of COPD?
ISOAP Ipratropium (nebulised). Salbutamol (nebulised). Oxygen (24%% venturi mask) Antibiotics (if purulent sputum and large quantity). Prednisolone (oral).
How do you build up the treatment for someone with COPD?
Stop smoking - smoking cessation.
Pulmonary circulation.
Annual flu injection and pneumococcal.
SAMA or a SABA (Inhaled ipratropium or salbutamol).
LAMA (Tiotropium).
LABA + ICS (Salmeterol/formoterol and beclomethasone).
LAMA/LABA/ICS.
What does SAMA mean
Short acting muscarinic antagonist.
What is the most common bacteria and second most common to cause an exacerbation of COPD?
Haemophilus influenzae.
Pneumoccocus
What antibiotic(s) would be given for someone that had an infective exacerbation of COPD?
Amoxicillin (if allergic give doxycycline/clarithromycin).
What is a genetic cause of COPD, usually presents in young people?
Alpha 1 antitrypsin deficiency
What are the symptoms of COPD?
Clear sputum in cough (lots comes up in the morning, due to it settling overnight).
Chronic shortness of breath.
Wheeze.
No finger clubbing.
What are the complications of COPD?
Over long periods of time your bad lungs cause pulmonary hypertension which leads to cor pulmonale.
Recurrent respiratory infections during winter.
What would you find upon investigations of COPD?
Hyperinflated chests (barrel chests) Crackles Dull percussion Peripheral and central cyanosis. Tar staining.
What is the target O2 sat for COPD patients?
88-92% unless you know that they are not retainers (retainer means that they don’t blow off their CO2).
What are the investigations for COPD?
Chest x-ray - to look for pneumonia or other pathology.
Full blood count - looking for raised white blood cells (looking for infection).
FEV1/FVC - less than 70%
FEV1 - low.
FVC - normal or low.
Which of asthma and COPD is reversible?
Asthma is reversible, COPD is not.
