Respiratory Flashcards
(181 cards)
Give 4 symptoms of a PE
- SOB
- Cough
- Haemoptysis
- Pleuritic chest pain
Give 4 signs of a PE
- Hypoxia
- Tachycardia
- Tachypnea (MOST COMMON FINDING)
- Low-grade fever
What is seen on an ABG in a PE?
- Respiratory alkalosis
What are the RF for a PE?
- Immobility
- Recent surgery
- Long-haul travel
- Pregnancy
- COCP or HRT
- Malignancy
- Polycythaemia
- SLE
- Thrombophilia
How is a PE treated?
- Anticoagulation :
- 1st line = Apixaban : 10 mg twice daily for 7 days, then maintenance 5 mg twice daily.
- LMWH if eGFR <15
what is defined as a massive PE and how is it treated?
- > 50% obstruction of pulmonary artery.
- Continuous infusion of unfractionated heparin and thrombolysis
What long term anticoagulation is used following a PE?
- DOAC : avoid in severe renal impairment (creatinine clearance less than 15 ml/min)
- LMWH : 1st line in pregnancy
- Warfarin : 1st line in antiphospholipid syndrome
How can differentiate between a respiratory alkalosis caused by hyperventilation sydrome and that caused by a PE ?
- In a PE low will be a low PaO2 as well as a low PaCO2.
- In panic /anxiety, there is no element of hypoxia, PaO2 is in fact high.
what is the approach to investigation a PE
- PERC
- Well’s
- PE unlikely based on wells (<4) = d dimer if result within 4 hrs or interim anticoag
- PE likely based on wells (>4)= CTPA or interim anticoag
If D dimer -ve
consider alternative diagnosis
If d dimer +ve
CTPA or interim anticoag
If CTPA +ve
PE diagnosed
If CTPA -ve
consider proximal leg USS if DVT suspected
what is the PERC
- Used in people with a low pre test probability of a PE
- All criteria have to be absent to rule our PE
what are the components of the well’s criteria ?
- Clinical signs and symptoms of DVT (minimum of leg swelling and pain with palpation of the deep veins) = 3
- An alternative diagnosis is less likely than PE =3
- Heart rate > 100 bpm =1.5
- Immobilisation for more than 3 days or surgery in the previous 4 weeks = 1.5
- Previous DVT/PE = 1.5
- Haemoptysis = 1
- Malignancy (on treatment, treated in the last 6 months, or palliative)
what are the ECG findings in a PE ?
- Large S wave in lead I, a large Q wave in lead III and an inverted T wave in lead III - ‘S1Q3T
- Sinus tachy
- RBBB with right axis deviation
what is the length of anticoagulant following VTE ?
- Provoked = 3 mnths (3-6 if active cancer)
- unprovoked = 6 months
what kind of hypersensitivity reaction is asthma ?
Type 1 hypersensitivity
IgE mediated
what factors lead to the symptoms of asthma ?
- Chronic inflammation
- Bronchoconstriction
- Airway obstruction
what are the symptoms of asthma ?
They are episodic with diurnal variation and worse at night
- SOB
- Chest tightness
- Dry cough, worse at night
- Wheeze
what are the signs if asthma ?
- Widespread polyphonic wheeze on auscultation
- Reduced peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR)
what can exaccerbate the symptoms of asthma. ?
- Infection
- Nighttime or early morning
- Exercise
- Animals
- Cold, damp or dusty air
- Strong emotions
what are the two measurements used in spirometry ?
- FEV1: forced expiratory volume - volume that has been exhaled at the end of the first second of forced expiration
- FVC: forced vital capacity - volume that has been exhaled after a maximal expiration following a full inspiration
what is seen on spirometry in asthma ?
- FEV1 - significantly reduced
- FVC - normal
- FEV1 (FEV1/FVC) < 70% = obstructive picture