Respiratory Flashcards
(113 cards)
Indications for VATS
Wedge resection / segmentectomy
Lobectomy
Decortication (removal of abnormal fibrous tissue)
Bullectomy
Tx recurrent pneumothoraces
Benefits of VATS over open thoractomy
Small incision, therefore:
1) Reduced pain
2) Reduced wound complications
3) Reduced healing time
4) Reduced length of stay
Indications for lobectomy
1) Lung Ca
2) Aspergilloma
3) TB
4) Lung abscess
Investigation for Lung Ca
1) Hx & Clincal examination
2) CXR
3) Staging CT CAP
4) Tissue diagnosis via bronchoscopy / EBUS / CT-guided biopsy
5) Consider CT PET if curative Tx considered
6) Surgical work up
Assessing fitness for surgery
1) Full Hx & Examinations
2) LFTs, inc. transfer factor
3) Cardiopulmonary exercise testing
FEV1 for lobectomy
> 1.5L
FEV1 for pneumonectomy
> 2L
VO2max for good prognosis following pneumonectomy
> 15ml/kg/min
Histological subtypes of Lung Ca
Small Cell (20%)
Non-small Cell
- Adenocarcinoma
- Squamous cell
- Large cell carcinoma
- Neuroendocrine
Worst prognosis Lung Ca
Small cell
Rapid progressive & presents late
Rarely ammenable to surgery
Early disease - chemoradiotherapy
Late disease - palliative radiotherapy
Chest signs following lobectomy
Recent - tracheal deviation with reduced air entry in affected area
Old - expansion of other lobes, resulting in normal examination findings
Scars following VATS
3 scar (triangular)
Largest lateral chest wall - 3-6cm
Clinical signs lobectomy vs. pneumonectomy
Tracheal deviation towards penumonectomy (only deviated if recent lobectomy as lung will hyperexpand with time)
Absent breath sounds with pneumonectomy
Dull percussion with pneumonectomy
Respiratory causes of clubbing
1) Interstitial lung disease
2) Chronic suppurative disease
- CF
- Bronchiectasis
- Lung absecess
3) Lung Ca
Lung Ca associated with smoking
Squamous cell carcinoma
Inhaled therapy in COPD
Short acting drugs
- B2 agonist - salbutamol
- Muscarinic antagonists - ipratropium
Long acting agents
- B2 agonist - salmeterol
- Muscarinic - Tiotropium
- Inhaled corticosteroids
Primary vs. Secondary pneumothorax
Primary - spontaneous in otherwise healthy
Secondary - associated to underlying lung disease
Initial Mx Primary pneumothorax - breahtless patient
A->E
Escalte early
As per British Thoracic Society guidelines
Aspirate if <2cm - if symptoms resolve can discharge
If no resolution, consider chest drain
Chest drain suction in pneumothorax?
Rarely used, due to risk of re-expansion pulmonary oedema
Surgical indications in pneumothorax
Persistent air leak
Recurrent pneumothorax
Surgery for pneumothorax
Talc pleuodesis
Pleurectomy
Bullectomy, if bullae are present
Risk of recurrent pneumothorax after VATS vs. open thoractomy
VATS = 5%
Open = 1%
Ix Asthma
Baseline Obs - RR / Sats
Bloods - FBC, CRP, Renal, U&Es, RAST
ABG (in acute setting)
CXR
Peak flow
Spirometry
Bedside Fractional exhaled Nitric Oxide
Asthma - FBC findings
Check WBC - infection / recent course of steroids
Check eosinophils