Pulmonology Flashcards
(123 cards)
Which ribs will appear larger on a lateral cxray?
the right ones because these are getting the exposure first
If you order a PA cxray what should you also always order?
lateral to get depth
what are the 5 things to determine if a chest X-ray is adequate?
penetration (spine should be visible through heart), rotation (spinous processes should be equidistant between clavicles), inspiratory effort (8-10 ribs), magnificantion (of heart in AP view), angulation (clavicle should have an S appearance)
what are the ABCDEFs of reading a chest X-ray after determining that its adequate?
airways, bones and soft tissues, cardiac silhouette, diaphragm, effusion (pleural), fields (lung fields)
what are the 4 things to look for in an abdominal radiograph?
bones, stones, gas, masses
what will a healthy small bowel look like on an abdominal X-ray?
centrally located, diameter
what will a healthy small bowel look like on an abdominal X-ray?
frames the image, transverse colon should be
asthma: pathophys, triggers/etiology, sx, signs
pathopys: bronchospasm
triggers: triggers: infection, tobacco smoke, allergens, stress, exercise
sx: wheezing, cough, dyspnea, chest tightness
signs :wheezing, prolonged expiration, hypoxia
pneumonia: pathophys, triggers/etiology, sx, signs
pathophys: starts with infection. Alevoli fill with fluid leading to impaired gas exchange.
eti: s. pneumnoia, m. pneumonia, c. pneumnoia
sx/signs: sx: cough, +/- sputum, fevers, chest pain, dyspnea; signs: hypoxia, rales, bronchial breath sounds, dullness to percussion
what is COPD? pathophys, RFs, sign/sx, complication
emphysema/alveolar wall destruction and reduced surface for gas exchnange, decreased lung elasticity. Assoc w/ chronic bronchitis=inflammation/obstruction of larger airways. Irreversible.
pahtophys: alveolar wall destruction and reduced surface for gas exchnange, decreased lung elasticity leads to small airway collapse and obstructed flow.
RF: smoking
signs/sx: SOB, wheezing, coughing with sputum signs: wheeze, rhonchi, prolonged expiration, hypoxia
complication: complication of chronic bronchitis/infection=ectasia/thickening of bronchi and mucus pooling/plugging
what is PE? what are signs and sx? RFS
embolus blocking pulmonary artery branch; area of lung no longer perfused by blood resultng in reduced oxygenation
signs/sx: sharp and pleuritic pain, acute onset, associated with dyspnea, may be preceded by calf pain, well localized, may have accompanying couhg or bright red hemoptysis. Signs of tachypnea, hypoxia, possible pleural rub (less common)
RF: immobilization, recent lower extremity vascular trauma, cancer, obesity,smoking, pregnancy, OCP
lung cancer RFs, signs/sx
RFs: smoking, radon, asbestos
signs/sxdyspnea, chronic cough, hemoptysis, CP, weigh loss; signs: nonspecific
pneumothorax RFs, sx and signs
RFs: tall, skinny male, trauma, iatrogenic
signs/sx: dyspnea, hypoxia, chest pain; signs: >HR/RR, hypoxia,
what can a CT scan dx?
to dx PE, lung ca, pneumonia, aortic dissection
which test has a continuous rotating X-ray beam and a quicker high resolution than conventional CT?
spiral CT
what test is used for those suspected of PE who can’t tolerate the contrast in a CT scan?
V/Q scan
how is a V/Q scan performed? what is normal?
pt inhales a radionuclide to assess airways into lungs and they are also given an IV radonuclide injection to assess blood circulation through pulmonary arteries. Results are categorized as normal, low probability, intermediate probability and high probability, although low and intermediate don’t rule out pE. normal test if all areas of air/blood match up. discrepancies should be investigated
what shows a PE on a V/Q scan?
Need to look in the periphery away from the hilum because the hilum doesn’t get much blood. if there is an area of filling defects in the periphery, then that shows that blood is not gettng there.
what’s an advantage of CT over a V/Q?
V/Q only assesses for pE, while CT can screen for alternate diagnoses. Similar cost.
what test is the gold standard for PE? how is it done?
pulmonary angiography; catheter instered under flouroscopy into the pulmonary arteries followed by dye injection and x rays
when is a d dimer done? in what cases do you need further follow up? why?
test for DVT, PE: a fibrin-degradation product released by clots during fibrinolysis. need to f/u if elevated because its vey sensitive but not very specific. False positives with inflammation, cancer pregnancy, advanced age, trauma.
what are some of the indicaitons for a bronchoscopy?
to look for tumors, sources of hemoptysis can also bx. ,low risks of bleeding, vocal cord trauma, pneuothorax, can also wash “lavage” and culture the fluid
what positions are used for very sick pts and pleural effusions for CXR?
PA best. AP for very sick pts that can’t stand up, but heart shadow will be larger. Supine fi really sick but diaphragms are higher and lung volume is decreased. Lateral decubitus to show pleural effusions because these will level out when sideways.
what does the silhouette sign signify? where is it often seen?
silhouette sign: if a pulmonary opacity is in contact with the heart border, then the heart border will be obscured which is often seen in rml and left lingular infiltrates.