Respiratory Flashcards
(123 cards)
Obstructive Spirometry
FEV1:FVC <70% indicates and obstructive airway defect. Reduced FEV1 vital capacity is preserved to an extent. Often pt have prolonged expiration
Causes of obstructive spirometry
COPD, Asthma (reversible), Bronchiestasis
Severity of Obstructive lung disease
Assessed by FEv1 usually applies to COPD Mild >80% Moderate 50-79% Severe 30-49% Very Severe <30%
Bronchodilator challenge
Reversibility >15% or increase in peak flow 200ml = asthma. Alternative = diurnal variation in serial peak flows
Restrictive Spirometry
FEV1:FVC maintained. FVC approx 50%, FEV1 usually maintained
Causes of restrictive spirometry
Obesity, neuromuscular, thoracic cage abnormality, pul fibrosis
Flow volume loops
Airflow (L/s) against volume (L) in contrast to spirometry which is airflow over time. Appropriate to lung volume. i.e. slower airflow due to reduced elastic recoil
Diffuse small airway disease
Highest flow rate achieved via forced expiration, due to loos of elastic recoil air fails to be expelled. Leading to ski slope shaped curve. Inspiratory curve normal/increases
FEV1:FIV1 is always <1 unless
Extra thoracic obstruction increasing tracheal resistance which makes inspiration harder than inspiration. At inspiration the trachea is compressed leading to proportionally greater reduction
Large airway obstruction
Leads to squashing of the flow volume loop
Lung volumes
Measured in an oxygen tank.
i) Obstructive = Increased RV and TVC
ii) Restrictive = reduced TVC due to restriction of lung expansion
V/Q
Better perfusion @ bases better ventilation @ apices
V/Q < 1 normal perfusion with reduced ventilation due to COPD, fibrosis, emphysema, consolidation = shunt
V/Q > 1 normal ventilation poor perfusion due to PE, pulmonary arteritis = physiological dead space leads to increased work of breathing
Transfer factor
Functionality of the alveolar capillary membrane. Breathe in fixed vol carbon monoxide and calculating how much diffuses into the blood
KCO
Assess functionality per unit volume of lung
COPD transfer factor
Reduced TCLO and KCO widespread destruction
Factors affecting TCLO
V/Q mismatch, pulmonary HTN, haemoglobin conc, increased alveolar membrane thickness, reduced alveolar area
Extrapulmoary restrictive defect
reduced TLCO, increased KCO - compensation of healthy tissue
Spiral CT
Done in continuum won’t miss any lesions good if suscpet cancer but unable to find source
HRCT
High resolution used for diffuse conditions such as IPF, EAA, bronchiestasis
CXR
minimal radiation, 1st line, can pick up large abnormalities
Pneumoconiosis
Restrictive lung disease caused by inhalation of fine particles of mineral dust
Caplans
Pneumoconiosis + RA nodules
Silicosis PC
slowly progressive from exposure usually 10-30 yrs ago
exposure - sand blasting, mining, stone mason
SOB, exertional cough
fatigue, wt loss can progress to cor pulmonate
Diagnosis of silicosis
Biopsy = gold standard onion skinned arrangement of collagen fibres, central hyalinisation, birefringent particles under polarised light