Respiratory Flashcards
(120 cards)
Changes in airway diameter with inspiration/expiration
Upper airways narrow with inspiration, dilate with expiration
Lower airways dilate with inspiration, compressed by expiration
This is why stridor is heard in inspiration, and wheeze is heard in expiration
which spirometry measure is most sensitive in kids with small airway disease
FEF 25-75
most sensitive marker of obstruction
(but is also very variable)
what is the maximal allowable variation in flow volume loops on repeat testing
5%
what measure best approximates height if this cannot be done (ie underlying disease)
arm span approximates standing height
Simple spirometry rules
Low FEV1/FVC= obstruction present
Normal FVC= rules out restriction
Normal FEF 25-75= rules out obstruction
Positive bronchodilator response = increase by 12% in FEV1 and increase by 200ml from baseline
what parameter is used as a marker of lung function in obstructive disease
FEV1
Most useful long term measure of disease progression in obstructive lung disease
Used for monitoring of lung function in CF, corrolates well with severity of obstructive lung disease
What parameter is used to monitor lung function in restrictive disease
FVC
max air blown out after full inspiration
- this is normal or reduced in obstructive disease due to gas trapping and hyperinflation
- always reduced in restrictive disease; degree of reduction linked with degree of impairment
but should do sleep study first
eg DMD
FVC <60%= REM sleep disordered breathing
FVC <40%= NREM + REM sleep disordered breathing
FVC <20%= daytime respiratory failure
What are the hallmarks of restrictive disease
Characterised by reduced lung volumes or reduced lung compliance
Reduced total lung capacity (TLC) and FVC <80%
Reduced FEV1 (<80% of the predicted normal)
Reduced FVC (<80% of the predicted normal)
FEV1/FVC ratio normal or increased (>0.7)
Reduced FRC (due to reduced compliance)
Hallmarks of obstructive lung disease
Reduced FEV1 (<80% of the predicted normal)
Reduced FVC (but to a lesser extent than FEV1)
FEV1/FVC ratio reduced (<0.7)
Reduced FEF max and FEF 25-75 (this is earliest change in small airway obstruction)
Increased TLC, VC, FRC and RV due to incomplete expiration/gas trapping
Reduced peak expiratory flow, inspiration relatively preserved
When would you see an increased FRC?
FRC = functional residual capacity
Volume left in lungs after tidal expiration
Caused by intrathroacic obstruction ie incomplete exhalation
Causes restrictive lung disase
Intrinsic lung disease = interstitial fibrosis
Chest wall pathology = eg. Scoliosis, abnormal chest wall
Neuromuscular disease = eg. DMD
CF (mixed)
Obesity
Causes obstructive lung disease
o Asthma
o CF
o Bronchiolitis obliterans
Emphysema
Narrowest part of paediatric airway
subglottis: from underside of true vocal cords to inferior margin of cricoid cartilage
Upper airway obstruction (extrathoracic) - flow volume loop
Upper airway narrows in inspiration therefore Inspiratory curve reduced
Expiratory curve normal
eg. supraglottic leisons
laryngeal paralysis, unilateral vocal cord paralysis, laryngomalacia, croup/epiglottitis , laryngeal web
Variable intrathoracic upper airway obstruction - flow volume loop
o During inspiration the intrathoracic obstruction expands due to negative pleural pressure normal curve
o During expiration pleural pressure positive relative to airway pressure flattened curve
Flow volume loop = normal inspiratory curve, flattened/truncated expiratory curve
eg tracheomalacia, bronchomalacia, vascular rings and webs, FB in bronchus
what would you seen if there was fixed central or upper airway obstruction
Flow volume loop flattened in both inspiration and expiration (both limited equally)
As there cant be any increase in volume during expiration due to the fixed nature
**subglottis is the narrowest part of the trachea, so mild narrowing leads to huge increase in resistance.
Subglottic stenosis second most common cause of stridor (after laryngomalacia). Stridor is biphasis or primarily inspiratory. May have first symptoms with URTI as oedema and secretions narrow an already compramised airway. recurrent croup is common
eg tracheal stenosis, subglottic stenosis, bilateral VC paralysis, subglottic haemangioma, laryngea web, vascular ring
Diffusion capacity (DLCO)
The DLCO measures the ability of the lungs to transfer gas from inhaled air to the red blood cells in pulmonary capillaries.
Causes of false positive sweat test results
Adrenal insufficiency
Neohrogenic DI
Hypothyroidism
Hypoparathyroidism
Malnutrition
Metabolic syndromes -eg GSD
Atopic dermatits
Familial cholestasis syndrome
Pancreatitis
G6pd
Causes false negative sweat test
Oedema
Inadequate stimulation/collection
Minerallocorticoid use
Pathogenesis of bronchiolitis obliterates
Bronchiolitis obliterans (BO) is a rare, chronic lung disease of bronchioles and smaller airways.
It most commonly occurs in children after lung infection e.g. adenovirus, mycoplsma, measles, influenza, pertussis. Other causes include connective tissue disease, toxin fume inhalation, post lung or BM transplant. With adenovirus, it is types 7 and 21 which are the most concerning.
After the initial insult, inflammation leads to obliteration of the airway lumen causing air trapping or atelectasis. Bronchiolitis obliterans organising pneumonia (BOOP) is a fibrosing lung disease that includes histological features of BO with extension into alveoli with proliferation of fibroblasts
Clinical, there is initially cough, fever, cyanosis, and respiratory distress . Progression leads to increasing cough, SOB, wheezing, and sputum production.
CXR is relatively normal or demonstrates hyperlucency and patchy infiltrates. PFTs have variable findings, but typically an obstructive picture. VQ scan has a typical moth-eaten matched defects. CT shows patchy areas of hyperlucency and bronchiectasis
An open lung biopsy is required for definitive diagnosis. There is no definitive therapy, but corticosteroids may be beneficial. Immunomodulators are used in post-transplant patients.
Some patients rapidly deteriorate and die within weeks, and most non-transplant patients survive with chronic disability. 60-80% BOOP patientss survive but relapse can occur
DLCO results in pulmunary vascular disease
In pulmonary hypertension, the DLCO is reduced. The VA is typically normal, and the KCO (DLCO/VA) is reduced due to impairment at the alveolar-capillary interface.
DLCO results in interstitial lung disease
DLCO is decreased by diffuse alveolar capillary damage. The VA is low due to the loss of aerated alveoli. The KCO (DLCO/VA) is often reduced to a lesser extent than the DLCO
DLCO results in pneumonoectomy
If no lung disease in the remaining lung:
VA is decreased due to discrete loss of alveolar units. Blood flow is diverted to the remaining lung and the KCO (DLCO/VA) is usually increased. As a result, the DLCO is slightly decreased.