Respiratory Flashcards
(106 cards)
What are some indication for VATS procedure?
wedge resection/segmentectomy
lobectomy
decortication
bullectomy
tx of recurrent pneumothorax
What are the benefits of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery over open
thoracotomy?
Smaller incision so less:
pain
wound complications
healing time
length of stay
What are the possible indications for a lobectomy?
Lung ca
Aspergilloma
Tuberculosis
Lung abcess
How would you Ix ?lung ca, after CXR?
staging CT TAP
Tissue diagnosis - bronch/EBUS/CT guided biopsy
If curative - PET
How would you work up a patient for lung surgery?
hx and exam
PFTs inc transfer factor
cardiopulmonary exercise testing
When performing a lobectomy, what FEV1 would you want the patient to have?
FEV1 at least 1.5
When performing a pneumonectomy, what FEV1 would you want the patient to have?
FEV1 2
Do you know of a VO2 max threshold which offers a better post- operative
prognosis for the patient?
at least 15mg/kg/min
Tell me about the different histological cell types of lung cancer
- SCLC 20%
- NSCLC (adenocarcinoma, SCC, broncheolar carcinoma, large cell carcinoma, neuro endocrine)
most common: SCC, then adenocarcinoma
What’s the treatment for SCLC?
rarely operable
limited disease - chemo/radio
late disease - palliative chemo
What’s the treatment for Non SCLC?
curative surgery/radical radiotherapy for early disease
chemo/molecular therapies if more advanced
If VATS had been done recently what would you expect?
Tracheal deviation towards side
Reduced air entry
Reasons for bilateral lung surgery
Bilateral apical pleurectomies for recurrent pneumothoraces
Lung volume reduction eg bullectomy
TB
What inhalers can you use for COPD?
short acting beta - salbutamol
short acting mucs - ipratropium
long acting beta - salmeterol
long acting musc - tioptropium
Clinical findings for pneumonectomy vs lobectomy?
Pneumo
- trache deviated
- absent breath sounds
- dull percussion
Lobe
- trache might/not be deviated
- breath sounds normal/reduced
- percussion normal
What are the respiratory causes of clubbing?
ILD
CF
Lung abscess
Bronchiectasis
Lung ca
Whats the difference between primary and secondary pneumothorax?
Primary - spontaenous in otherwise healthy person
Seconday - some form of ILD
What the initial management of breathless primary spontaneous pneumothorax?
ABCDE, rapid escalation, senior help
Try to aspirate up to 2.5l litres
If stops being breathless or residual <2.5cm - home w OP FU
If not drain
<2cm and asx - conservative with early FU
Is there any role for suction in the management of a pneumothorax?
Rarely used due to risk of re-expansion pulmonary edema
High volume, low pressure recommended
Management of patients with on-going air leak or recurrent pneumothoraces
Talc pleuradhesis/pleurectomy
Bullectomy
Surgery/VATS
VATS has 5% chance of recurring pneumothorax vs 1% for open surgery
Differentials for normal chest exam apart from scars
- *Wedge resection** - pulmonary nodule
- *Lung biopsy**
- *Pneumothorax** -Surgical tx/non resolving/recurrent
- *Lobectomy** - long time ago
How would you investigate a patient with asthma?
Baseline obs inc sats
Bloods inc CRP
ABG
Skin prick/RAST
CXR
PF
Spirometry
What would you look for in FBC for asthma?
WCC - infection/steroids
Eosinophilia
IgE also important
Relevance of PF in asthma
Diurnal variation shows not well controlled
Reduction early morning








