RESP Flashcards
Aspergillus Lung Disease Def.
Lung disease associated with Aspergillus lung infection
Aspergillus Lung Disease Types & Presentations
Aspergilloma
- Fumigatus mycetoma ball in pre-existing lung cavity (post-TB, old infarct)
- Presents: Asymptomatic, haemoptysis
ABPA
- Colonisation of airways, common in asthmatics
-IgE & IgG immune response (proteolytic enzymes, mycotoxins, antibodies) leads to airway damage
- Presents: uncontrollable asthma, recurrent pneumonia with wheeze, cough, fever, malaise
Invase Aspergillosis
- Invasion into lung tissue & fungal dissemination, common in immunocompromised (neutropenia, steroid use, AIDS)
- Presents: Dyspnoea, Rapid Deterioration, Septic Picture
Aspergillus Lung Disease Epidemiology
- Elderly & Immunocompromised
- Uncommon
Aspergillus Lung Disease SIGNS
- Tracheal Deviation (if large)
- Dullness in lung
- Reduced breath sounds
- Wheeze in ABPA
- Cyanosis
Aspergillus Lung Disease Investigations
ASPERGILLOMA
- CXR shows round mass with crescent of air around it
- CT/MRI if unclear
- Sputum cultures negative if there is no communication between cavity colonised by Aspergillus & Bronchial Tree
ABPA
- Skin test reactivity to Asp. antigens
- Bloods: Eosinophilia, increased IgE & IgE/IgG specific to A.fumigatus
- CXR shows transient patchy shadows, collapse, distended mucous-filled bronchi. If complicated then there will also be fibrosis in upper lobes & bronchiectasis
- Lung function tests show reversible airflow limitation (reduced lung vol/ gas transfer)
INVASIVE ASPERGILLOSIS
- Dx via cultures & histological examination
- Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid/ sputum used diagnostically
- Chest CT shows nodules surrounded by ground-glass appearance. (haemorrhage into tissue surrounding area of fungal invasion)
Asthma Definition
Chronic inflammatory airway disease characterised by reversible airway obstruction, airway hyper-responsiveness and bronchial inflammation
Asthma Risk Factors
Genetic: Family History, Atopy (T lymph. drive production of IgE on exposure to antibodies)
Environmental: House mites, pollen, pets, cigarette smoke, viral RTI, Aspergillus spores, occupational allergens
Asthma Epidemiology
10% children, 5% adults with increasing prevalence
Asthma presenting symptoms
- Episodic Hx
- Wheeze
- Breathlessness
- Cough (worse morning & night)
- important to ask about previous hospitalisations to gauge severity
- Precipitated by cold, virus, drugs (Beta-blockers, NSAIDs, exercise, emotions)
Asthma Signs
-Tachypnoea
- use of accessory muscles
-prolong expiratory phase
-polyphonic wheeze
-hyper inflated chest
If severe: PEFR<50% predicted, pulse >110, RR >25, incomplete sentences
Life threatening: PEFR <33% predicted, silent chest, cyanosis, bradycardia, hypotension, confusion, coma
Asthma Investigations (Acute & Chronic)
ACUTE
- Peak flow, pulse ox, ABG, CXR, FBC (increase WCC for infection), CRP, U&Es, Blood & Sputum
CHRONIC
- Peak flow monitor to se diurnal variation, pulmonary function test, bloods (eosinophilia, IgE, A.fumigatus), skin prick, spirometry
Management of Acute Asthma
- ABCDE
- Resuscitate
- Monitor oxygen sats, ABG & PEFR
- High air flow Oxygen
- Salbutamol nebuliser (5mg 2-4hourly)
- Ipratropium Bromide (0.5mg QDS)
- Steroid therapy (100-200mg Iv hydrocortisone, followed by 40mg oral prednisone for 5-7 days
- If no improvement (PEFR<50% predicted) : IV Mg Sulphate infusion , IV salbutamol, IV aminophylline infusion
- Anaesthetic help if pt is getting exhausted (can tell this because PCO2 will be high as the patient is unable to hyperventilate and blow off CO2)
- Treat underlying cause e.g ABs if infective exacerbation
- Monitor electrolytes (bronchodilsators & aminophylline cause a drop in K+)
- Invasive ventilation may be needed in severe attacks
- Discharge when:
PEFR >75% predicted, diurnal variation <25%, inhaler technique checked, stable on discharge meds for 24h, pt. has own PEF meter, steroid & bronchodilator therapy - Arrange a follow up
Management of chronic Asthma (5 Steps)
Step 1: inhaled SABA
Step 2: (if SABA used >1/day) add regular low-dose steroids (400mcg/day)
Step 3: Add LABA (Salmeterol). If inadequate, increase steroid dose to 800mcg/day. If no response to LABA, stop it and just use steroids
Step 4: Increase steroid dose (2000mcg/day). Add 4th drug (leyukotrine antagonist, slow-release theophylline/ B2 agonist tablet)
Step 5: Add regular oral steroids and maintain at high-dose, refer to specialist
Advice: teach technique, explain importance of PEFR monitoring, avoid provoking factors
Complications of Asthma
- Growth retardation,
- Chest wall deformity (pigeon chest)
- Recurrent infections
- Pneumothorax
- Respiratory failure
- Death
Asthma prognosis
Many children improve with age, but adult-onset asthma is usually chronic
Define Bronchiecstasis
Lung airway disease characterised by chronic bronchial dilation, impaired mucociliary clearance and frequent bacterial infections
Aetiology/ Risk Factors of bronchiectasis
Chronic lung inflammation leads to fibrosis & permanent dilation of the bronchi. Leads to pooling of mucus, predisposing to further infection, damage & fibrosis of bronchial walls
Causes:
- 50% idiopathic
- Post-infectious (pneumonia, whooping cough, TB)
- Host-defence defects (Kartagener’s syndrome, CF)
- Obstruction of bronchi (e.g. foreign body, enlarged lymph nodes)
- GORD
- Inflammatory disorders (Rheumatoid arthritis)
Epidemiology of Bronchiecstasis
- mostly arises in childhood
- incidence has decreased with the use of antibiotics
- 1/1000 per year
Presenting symptoms of bronchiecstasis
- Productive cough with purulent sputum or haemoptysis
- Breathlessness
- Chest pain
- Malaise
- Fever
- Weight loss
- Symptoms usually begin after an acute respiratory illness
Signs of Bronchiecstasis on physical examination
- Clubbing
- Coarse crepitations at lung bases which shift with coughing
- Wheeze
Investigations for Bronchiecstasis
- High-resolution CT is the GOLD STANDARD . Shows dilated bronchi with thickened walls
- Sputum ( culture & sensitivity. Pseudomonas aeruginosa = most common organism)
- CXR shows dilated bronchi (tramline shadows), fibrosis, atelectasis, pneumonic consolidations, may be normal though
- Bronchography is rarely used
Management for Bronchiecstasis
- Treat acute exacerbations with 2 IV antibiotics, which cover Pseudonomas aeruginosa
- Prophylactic ABs in patients with frequent exacerbations (>3/year)
- Inhaled corticosteroids (e.g. flucticasone) - reduces inflammation and vol of sputum but doesn’t affect the frequency of exacerbations or lung function
- Maintain hydration
- Flu vaccination
- Phsyiotherapy (mucus clearance to reduce acute exacerbations & aid recovery)
- Bronchial artery embolisation (if life-threatening haemoptysis due to bronchiectasis)
- Surgical (localised resection, lung or heart-lung transplantation)
Complications of Bronchiecstasis
- Life threatening haemoptysis
- Persistent infections
- Empyema
- Respiratory failure
- Cor pumonale
- Multi-organ abscesses
Prognosis of patients with Bronchiecstasis
Most patients continue to have symptoms after 10 years