Pulmonary Flashcards
(191 cards)
Definition of hemoptysis and how much blood is needed for massive hemoptysis?
Coughing up blood from the lower resp tract (distal to larynx). Massive hemoptysis is production of ≥ 600 mL of blood (about a full kidney basin’s worth) within 24 hours.
Etiology of hemoptysis?
Airway Disease
- Inflammatory – bronchitis (most common), bronchiectasis
- Neoplasia: Primary: bronchogenic carcinoma, carcinoid. Secondary: endobronchial metastases
- Foreign Body/Trauma
Pulmonary parenchymal disease
- Infectious - CF, necrotizing pneumonia, TB, fungus, lung abscess
Cardiac/Vascular – pulmonary thromboembolism, primary and secondary pulmonary HTN, cardiac failure, AV malformation, systemic coagulopathy
Immunological: Goodpasture’s (fatigue, weight loss, often hematuria, sometimes edema), Wegener’s
Idiopathic – 10-20% of cases
Risk factors for hemoptysis?
HIV infection, use of immunosuppressants (TB, fungal infection); exposure to TB; long smoking history (cancer); and recent immobilization or surgery, known cancer, prior or family history of clotting, pregnancy, use of estrogen-containing drugs or anticoagulants, and recent long-distance travel (pulmonary embolism).
Physical exam for hemoptysis?
o Vital signs, level of patient distress
o Lung exam + LN
o Heart + legs (edema)
o Skin, mucous membranes (ecchymoses, petechiae, telangiectasia)
Investigations for hemoptysis?
- CXR (70-80% will have an abnormal CXR), CT sometimes indicated (known hx of bronchiectasis)
- Bronchoscopy – direct visualization, acquisition of specimens for diagnostic studies, therapeutically
- Labs: CBC, PT/PTT, TB skin test, urinalysis
Patients with normal results, a consistent history, and nonmassive hemoptysis can undergo empiric treatment for?
Bronchitis
Patients with abnormal results and patients without a supporting history for hemoptysis should undergo?
CT and bronchoscopy
What are the two objectives of hemoptysis?
- Prevent aspiration of blood into the uninvolved lung (which can cause asphyxiation)
- Prevent exsanguination due to ongoing bleeding
Ways to prevent aspiration of blood into the uninvolved lung (which can cause asphyxiation) in hemoptysis?
Positioning the patient with the bleeding lung in a dependent position and selectively intubating the uninvolved lung and/or obstructing the bronchus going to the bleeding lung.
Ways to prevent exsanguination due to ongoing bleeding in hemoptysis?
- Clotting deficiencies can be reversed with fresh frozen plasma and factor-specific or platelet transfusions.
- TXA
- Laser therapy, cauterization, or direct injection with epinephrine or vasopressin can be done bronchoscopically.
Should you use rigid or flexible bronchoscopy in massive hemoptysis?
Rigid
If bronchoscopy doesn’t work for control of bleeding in hemoptysis?
Bronchial Artery Embolization
Thoracotomy + Lung Resection - Today many cases can be managed with bronchoscopy + embolization + medical therapy for the underlying cause. Surgery continues to be used when there is a structural problem with the lung that is not treatable with more conservative therapy (localized, severe bronchiectasis not responding to medical therapy)
What is the definition of pleural effusion?
Excess amount of fluid in the pleural space (up to 25mL)
What is the pathophysiology of pleural effusion?
Disruption of normal equilibrium between pleural fluid formation/entry and/or pleural fluid absorption/exit
Pleural effusions can be broken into which 2 categories?
Transudate
Exudate
Are transudate pleural effusions usually bilateral or unilateral
Usually bilateral, not unilateral
Ddx for transudate pleural effusion?
CHF (most common), liver cirrhosis (causing hypoalbuminemia or hepatic hydrothorax), nephrotic syndrome, hypothyroidism, cardiac valvular disease, peritoneal dialysis, Rheumatoid arthritis (green fluid)
Are exudate pleural effusions usually bilateral or unilateral
Can be bilateral or unilateral
Ddx for exudate pleural effusion?
- Infectious: parapneumonic effusion - pneumonia (most common), TB pleuritis, viral infection, fungal, empyema
- Malignancy: lung carcinoma, lymphoma, metastases, mesothelioma, myeloma
- Inflammatory: RA, SLE, pancreatitis, pulmonary embolism, drug reaction
- Trauma: hemothorax, pneumothorax, chylothorax, iatrogenic
- Other: drug-induced, hypothyroidism
What is Light’s criteria?
Lights (exudative if);
• Pleural LDH: >2/3 ULN for serum LDH
• Pleural fluid:serum total protein ratio >0.5
• Pleural fluid:serum LDH ratio >0.6
What would be found on analysis of complicated exudative effusion
pH <7.2, LDH >1/2 serum, glucose <2.2, positive Gram stain
What should you send the fluid analysis for if pus + microorganisms
pH
What color would the fluid be if chylothorax?
White
Signs and symptoms of pleural effusion
o Often asymptomatic
o Dyspnea: varies with size of effusion and underlying lung function
o Orthopnea
o Pleuritic chest pain