Respiratory Flashcards
(361 cards)
What antibiotic would be given to a patient with a CURB score of 2?
oral/IV amoxicillin and claritromycin
or just clarithromycin if pen allergic
What are the classical findings on respiratory examination of a patient with COPD?
Reduced circo-sternal distance <3cm
Hyper-resonant percussion note
Use of accessory muscles for respiration
What lung cancer has the strongest relationship to smoking?
Small cell lung cancer
What is the gold standard treatment for SCLC?
Radiotherapy and chemotherapy
Chemotherapy sensitive
What is the criteria for long term oxygen therapy in COPD patients?
PaO2 < 7.3
or PaO2 7.3-7 AND peripheral odema, pulmonary HTN, hypoxaemia, secondary polcythaemia
What is the criteria for long term oxygen therapy in COPD patients?
PaO2 < 7.3
or PaO2 7.3-7 AND peripheral odema, pulmonary HTN, hypoxaemia, secondary polcythaemia
What is the most common lung cancer in non smokers?
Adenocarcinoma
What peripheral stigmata indicate lung adenocarcinoma?
clubbing and
hypertrophic pulmonary osteoarthropathy (painful wrist)
How should a secondary pneumothorax in a patient >50 years with a rim of >2cm on CXR be managed?
Insert a chest drain 5th intercostal space anterior to the mid-axillary line
Signs consistent with a tension pneumothorax?
Hyper-resonant percussion note
Tracheal deviation
Reduced chest expansion
How should a haemodynamically unstable patient with a tension pneumothorax be managed?
Insert and IV cannula for emergency needle thoracentesis in the 2nd intercostal space mid-clavicular line.
What is the most common cause of diagnosis of superior vena cava obstruction?
Lung cancer
What is the best initial step in the management of SVCO?
Dexamethasone after to reduce swelling (after ensuring the airway is secure)
How is curb 65 calculated?
C - confusion, ABM <8
U - urea>7 mmol/L
R - RR>/ 30
B - Blood pressure <90 systolic and / or <60mmHg diastolic
65 - ages over 65
Why does a pancoast tumour sometimes cause Horner’s syndrome?
IN the apex of the lung, the tumour can invade the sympathetic chain which includes a pre-ganglionic neurones supplying the muscles in the eye and face
What is the most common cause of an exudative pleural effusion?
Mallignancy
Infection
Lung injury
(blocked blood vessels and lymph nodes)
What is the most common cause of an transudative pleural effusion?
Heart failure.
Pulmonary embolism
Cirrhosis
Post open heart surgery
Pathophysiology of exudative pleural effusion?
Caused by fluid leaking out of capillaries with increased permeability, a process which happens when inflammation is present. Due to the increased permeability of the capaillaries, larger molecules like proteins are able to follow out fluid into the pleural space
What causes a transudative pleural effusion?
Associated with low protein levels. Fluid filters out through intact capillary walls which do not leave space for larger molecules such as proteins to pass through. Pleural fluid production is not balanced with re-absorption, resulting in its accumulation. This is due to altered hydrostatic and osmotic forces acting across the capillary membrane.
What pleural aspirate is exudative?
If the pleural fluid protein is between 25 and 35 g/L
Fissures of the right lung?
Horizontal fissure (upper lobe to middle lobe)
Oblique fissure (middle lobe to lower lobe)
Fissures of the left lung?
Oblique fissure only (two lobes, upper and lower)
How does pneumothorax affect V/Q ratio?
Decreases
What is the first line treatment for COPD?
SABA or SAMA