Pulmonary Pathophysiology Flashcards
What is Asthma characterized by?
- Restrictive vs Obstructive?
Characterized by chronic airway inflammation
- Can develop at any age
- Obstructive patho, restricts airflow not volume
What are symptoms of Asthma?
- Wheeze
- SOB
- Chest tightness
- Cough
How is asthma diagnosed?
PFT reversibility (12% and 200ml) or history of more than 1 symptom of asthma i.e cough and wheeze, or SOB w/chest tigntess
What are asthma triggers?
- Upper respiratory tract infection
- GERD
- Exercise
- Allergen exposure
- Stress
- beta blocker/ace inhibitors
- food allergies
What are 6 phenotypes of asthma?
- Allergic
- Non Allergic
- Late Onset
- Fixed flow limitation
- Obesity
- Infant asthma
Describe the characteristics of allergic asthma
Commences in childhood
- Family hx of atopy or increased immune response (eczema, food allergies)
- Induced sputum
What treatment is very responsive for allergic asthma?
Treat w/ICS
- phenotype is associated with induced sputum and increased ige response
What is non allergic asthma?
Neutrophil response
- less responsive to ICS, higher dose required
What is late onset asthma?
- which population is most affected
Adults (usually women) that present with asthma (no eczema)
- Less atopy present
- Asthma remains refractory
- High levels of ICS needed
What is fixed flow limitation asthma?
Long term asthma reshapes airway (airway remodeling)
- Bronchodilators are no longer helpful
- Decreased flows
What is obesity related asthma?
Little eosinophil action
- obesity causes inflammatory markers to worsen both asthma and COPD
What is infant asthma?
RSV is the cause
- Increased with second hand smoking
- Presents as cough, usually nocturnal
Why are Transesophageal echo’s effective for diagnosing/identifying valv disorders?
Allows for viewing of the internal structures of of the herat and blood flow patterns
- helps visualize blood flow, and assesses visually if there is a clot
- Used to confirm lack of blood clot in the atria in patients w/prolonged afib before performing cardioversion
Why are valve disorders easily identified by auscultations?
valve dysfunction results in turbulent flows
- Depends affected valve, there may be extra heart sounds heard
What are level 1 treatments for GINA Asthma procedure?
Low dose ICS to reduce SABA use
What are level 2 treatments for GINA Asthma procedure?
Low dose ICS/LABA + SABA
What are level 3 treatments for GINA Asthma procedure?
- Low dose ICS/LABA + LTRA
- LTRA + SABA
What are level 4 treatments for GINA Asthma procedure?
Med-high dose ICS/LABA + LAMA
What are level 5 treatments for GINA Asthma procedure?
Severe
- Anti IgE
- LTRA
- ICS+LABA
- SABA
What is COPD generally characterized by?
Persistent airway obstruction and decreased expiratory flow rates
- Smoking/alpha 1 antitrypsin/CF
- Greater prevalence in men compared to women
- Hypoxic resp drive (Since CO2 is always elevated, O2 becomes the primary stimulus for breathing -> SpO2 88-92%)
Clinical Manifestations of COPD?
- Barrel chest
- Hyperresonsant chest
- purse lip breathing
- Flat diaphragms on CxR
- Decreased VC
- Increased RV, FRC, TLC
How can COPDers compensate/cope with lower pHs?
The kidneys compensate for low pH due to high CO2
- The body than normalizes a new high normal for CO2
What is the definition of a acute COPD exacerbation?
An acute event characterized by worsening of resp symptoms that is beyond normal and leads to changes in current management plan and meds
What are acute COPD exacerbations generally caused by?
- Treatment options (step ups?)
Usually caused by resp infection
- Use LABA/LAAC over SABA/SAAC
- If LABA isn’t enough, combine w/ICS