Pathology Flashcards
(218 cards)
What air obstructive airway diseases?
- Asthma
- COPD (chronic bronchitis, emphysema)
- Bronchiectasis (obstructive or mixed)
- Cystic fibrosis (obstructive or mixed)
What is the definition of asthma?
- chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways resulting in episodes of reversible bronchospasm causing airflow obstruction
- associated with reversible airflow limitation and airway hyper-responsiveness to endogenous or exogenous stimuli
At what oxygen saturation can you detect central cyanosis?
Central cyanosis is not detectable until SaO2 is <85%. It is more easily detected in polycythemia and less readily detectable in anemia
What is the pathophysiology of how someone becomes acidotic in asthma?
• airway obstruction → V/Q mismatch → hypoxemia → increased ventilation → decreased PaCO2 → increased pH and muscle fatigue → decreased ventilation, increased PaCO2/decreased pH
Asthma triggers
- URTIs
- Allergens (pet dander, house dust, moulds, cockroach)
- Irritants (cigarette smoke, air pollution)
- Drugs (NSAIDs, β-blockers)
- Preservatives (sulphites, MSG)
- Other (emotion/anxiety, cold air, exercise, GERD)
Asthma signs and symptoms
- dyspnea, wheezing, chest tightness, cough, sputum
- symptoms usually occur or worsen at night
- symptoms can be paroxysmal or persistent
- signs of respiratory distress
- pulsus paradoxus
Criteria for determining if asthma is well controlled
Daytime symptoms <4 d/wk No asthma-related absence from work/school Night-time symptoms <1 night/wk β2-agonist use <4 times/wk Physical activity unimpared by symptoms FEV1 or PEF >90% of personal best Exacerbations mild, infrequent PEF diurnal variation <10-15%
PFT criteria for asthma diagnosis
FEV1/FVC <0.75-0.8 in adults and <0.8-0.9 in children
AND
Increase FEV1 ≥12% and, 200 mL in adults after bronchodilator or controller therapy
What are challenge tests that can be used to diagnose asthma?
- Methacholine - PCO2 <4 mg/ml (4-16 is borderline, >16 is negative)
- Post exercise decrease in FEV1 10-15%+
Asthma treatment
- environment: avoid triggers
- patient education: features of the disease, goals of treatment, self-monitoring
• pharmacological
■ symptomatic relief in acute episodes: short-acting β2-agonist, anticholinergic bronchodilators, inhaled corticosteroids, addition of a long acting β2-agonist
■ long-term maintenance: inhaled/oral corticosteroids, anti-allergic agents, long-acting β2-agonists (do not use LABA alone), long-acting anticholinergics, methylxanthine, LTRA, anti-IgE antibodies (e.g. omalizumab), anti-IL5 drugs (e.g. mepolizumab)
Emergency management of asthma
- inhaled β2-agonist first line (MDI route and spacer device recommended)
- systemic steroids (PO or IV if severe)
- if severe add anticholinergic therapy ± magnesium sulfate
- rapid sequence intubation in life-threatening cases (plus 100% O2, monitors, IV access)
- SC/IV adrenaline if caused by anaphylaxis, IV salbutamol if unresponsive
- corticosteroid therapy at discharge
What asthma medication is good to try if the patient is having night time symptoms
LABA
Use of LTRA in acute asthma
Currently, there is no evidence to support routine use of LTRAs in acute asthma.
Asthma pyramid guidelines
Confirm diagnosis
Environmental control, education, written action plan
SABA or ICS/LABA on demand
ICS
2nd line: LTRA
12+ years: add LABA
6-11 years: increase ICS
12+ years: add LTRA (apparently LTRA doesn’t actually work, should use LAMA/LAAC before this to achieve triple therapy with ICS, LABA, LAAC (same as COPD triple therapy))
6-11 years: increase LABA or LTRA
Anti IgE
Prednisone
What is the natural progression of COPD
40s - Chronic productive cough, wheezing occasionally
50s - 1st acute chest illness
60s - Dyspnea on exertion, increasing sputum, more frequent exacerbations
Late Stage- Hypoxemia with cyanosis, polycythemia, hypercapnia (morning headache), cor pulmonale, weight loss
COPD definition
- progressive and irreversible condition of the lung characterized by chronic obstruction to airflow with many patients having periodic exacerbations, gas trapping, lung hyperinflation, and weight loss
- 2 subtypes: chronic bronchitis and emphysema (usually coexist to variable degrees)
- gradual decrease in FEV1 over time with episodes of acute exacerbations
What are some potential complications of COPD
- Polycythemia 2° to hypoxemia
- Chronic hypoxemia
- Pulmonary HTN from vasoconstriction
- Cor pulmonale
- Pneumothorax due to rupture of emphysematous bullae
- Depression
- Bacterial infections
What are the clinical features of chronic bronchitis
Defined clinically
Productive cough on most days for at least 3 consecutive months in 2 successive years
Obstruction is due to narrowing of the airway lumen by mucosal thickening and excess mucous
What are the pathological features of emphysema
Defined pathologically
Dilation and destruction of air spaces distal to the terminal bronchiole without obvious fibrosis
Decreased elastic recoil of lung parenchyma causes decreased expiratory driving pressure, airway collapse and air trapping
What are 2 types of emphysema
1) Centriacinar (respiratory bronchiole) - typical form seen in smokers, primarily affects upper lung zones
2) Panacinar (all parts of acinus) - accounts for about 1% of emphysema cases, alpha 1 - antitrypsin deficiency, primarily affects lower lobes
What should be a target O2 sat for CO2 retainers
On ABG, retainers have chronically elevated CO2 levels with a normal pH. Maintain O2 Sat between 88-92% to prevent Haldane effect, worsening V/Q mismatch, and decreased respiratory drive
What is first line therapy for COPD
SMOKING CESSATION
What is alpha 1 Antitrypsin deficiency
Inherited disorder of defective production of α1antitrypsin, a protein produced by hepatocytes.
Acts in the alveolar tissue by inhibiting the action of proteases from destroying alveolar tissue. When deficient, proteases can destroy lung alveoli resulting in emphysema
COPD risk factors
• smoking is #1 risk factor
• others
■ environmental: air pollution, occupational exposure, exposure to wood smoke or other biomass fuel for cooking
■ treatable factors: α1-antitrypsin deficiency, bronchial hyperactivity
■ demographic factors: age, family history of atopy, male sex, history of childhood respiratory infections, low socioeconomic status