pulmonary circulation disorders Flashcards
(131 cards)
what is a PE
An obstruction of the pulmonary artery or one of its branches by an embolus
what is the 3rd leading cause of mortality in hospitalized pts
PE
also the 3rd MC CV cause of death
what are types of PEs
- thrombus - arising from any area of venous circulation (MC DVT)
- air - during neurosurgery, central venous catheters
- amniotic fluid - during active labor
- fat - long bone fractures
- foreign bodies - talc in injection drug users, cement emboli (joint replacement)
- parasite eggs (schostosomioasis)
- septic emboli - acute infective endocarditis
- tumor cells - RCC
what is the pathophysiological response from pulmonary vascularobstruction
- infarction (MC when small emboli lodge distally)
- impaired gas exchange leading to hypoxia
- cardiovascular compromise
how does impaired gas exchange lead to hypoxia
- altered ventilation perfusion ratio
- Inflammation → Surfactant dysfunction → Atelectasis → Functional intrapulmonary shunting
- Stimulation of the respiratory drive → hypocapnia and respiratory alkalosis
how does cardiovascular compromise occur from pulmonary vascular obstruction
- Obstruction of the vascular bed → Increased pulmonary vascular resistance → Right heart and intraventricular septal strain
- Less blood returning to the left ventricle → Reduced cardiac output → Hypotension
what is virchows triad
MC pulmonary embolism risk factors
what is considered in venous stasis
- immobility (acute loss of ability to walk)
- hyperviscosity (polycythemia)
- inceased central venous pressures (low CO states, pregnancy)
what is considered in the risk of injury to vessel walls
- prior thrombosis
- orthopedic surgery
- trauma
what are factors that affect hypercoagulability
- medications (OCP, hormonal replacement)
- Disease (malignancy, surgery)
- inherited gene defects
what are the inherited gene defects that could lead to hypercoagulability
- Most common is Factor V Leiden ¹
- Deficiency of dysfunction of protein C, protein S, and antithrombin
- Prothrombin gene mutation
- Hyperhomocysteinemia²
- Antiphospholipid antibodies
what are the MC signs and sympotms of PE
- sudden onset dyspnea
- pleuritic chest pain
- cough
- (sudden onset pain is related to small PEs that cause infarctions)
- tachypnea!!!!!! Most reliable exam finding
what is meant by “pleuritic” chest pain
Chest pain worse with breathing ( i know most people may know this but i didnt lol)
what may precede s/s of PE
s/s of DVT such as lower leg pain or “charley horse” in calf. also swelling/warmth/erythema of the lower leg.
why are PEs known as the “great masquerader”
because symptoms are often non specific. they can range from asymptomatic to shock and sudden death.
vary based on size of emboliand baseline of cardiopulm status
what is the MC sign and the MC symptom in PE
symptom - dyspnea
sign - tachypnea
what are the wells criteria for PE
idk if we need this
what is the “pre-test” probabilities determined by wells criteria
> 6 points = high risk (78.4%)
2–6 points = moderate risk (27.8%)
<2 points = low risk (3.4%)
when is PERC rules used
only when wells is LOW risk!
what are the PERC rules ?
yes, we need this
what testing should be done when a patient has low wells risk and no PERC rules criteria
none
what testing should be done when a patient has low wells risk and 1 positive PERC rule OR if they just have intermediate wells risk
high sensitivity plasma D-dimer
normal -> no imaginge
high –> imaging
what testing should be done in a patient with a high risk wells score
imaging (skip D diemr)
how reliable is D-dimer testing
high sensitivity (95-97%) and low-moderate specificity (45%)