Stridor and Sleep Apnoea Flashcards
(42 cards)
What is stridor?
Predominantly inspiratory wheeze due to large airway (larynx/trachea/major bronchi) obstruction
What areas of the airway does inspiratory stridor affect?
- Extrathoracic
* Suprglottis/larynx
What are some causes of inspiratory stridor?
- Laryngomalacia
- Supraglottic mass
- Glottic lesions
- Vocal cord paralysis (not if unilateral, as other side can usually compensate)
Name structures labelled A - C
pic of glotts, supra glottis, sub glottis
A - supraglottis
B - subglottis
C - epiglottis
What are causes of stridor in children?
- Infections
- Foreign Body
- Anaphylaxis / angioneurotic oedema
- Other (eg burns)
What is the difference between stridor and asthma?
Stridor - inspiratory wheeze
Asthma - expiratory wheeze
What infections can cause stridor?
- Croup - respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
- Epiglottitis
- Pseudomembranous croup
- Retropharyngeal abscess
- Diphtheria
- Infectious mononucleosis
What individuals are at higher risk of choking?
Children <3 years at higher risk (common cause is peanuts)
What are the effects of airway foreign bodies in children?
Acute onset of stridor accompanied by a choking spell
What are causes of stridor in adults?
- Neoplasms (larynx, trachea, major bronchi)
- Anaphylaxis
- Goitre (retrosternal)
- Trauma (eg strangulation, burns, irritant gases)
- Other (eg bilateral vocal cord palsy; Wegener’s granulomatosis; cricoarytenoid arthritis (RA); tracheopathia
What is tracheomalacia?
Any inflammatory condition which damages structure of the cartilage – causing collapse of trachea
What is the treatment for tracheomalacia?
Metal stents to maintain patency of the airway
What do investigations of stridor include?
- Laryngoscopy
- Bronchoscopy
- Flow volume loop (obstructive airway disease)
- Chest X ray
- Other imaging (CT; thyroid scan)
What is the treatment for laryngeal obstruction?
- Treat underlying cause e.g. foreign body removal, anaphylaxis
- Mask bag ventilation with high flow O2
- Cricothyroidotomy
- Tracheostomy
What are abdominal thrusts?
Rapid upward thrust in epigastrium forces upward movement of diaphragm and forced expiration
When are abdominal thrusts used?
Foreign body inhalation
café coronary syndrome
What is the treatment of a malignant airway obstruction?
- Tumour removal:
laser, photodynamic therapy, cryotherapy, diathermy, surgical resection - Tumour compression: intraluminal stent
- Radiotherapy: external beam, brachytherapy (internal beam)
- Chemotherapy
- Corticosteroids
What is acute anaphylaxis?
Type 1 (immediate) hypersensitivity reaction (IgE)
What immunoglobulin is involved in type 1 hypersensitive reaction e.g. anaphylaxis?
IgE
What are clinical features of anaphylaxis?
- Flushing, pruritus, urticaria,
- Angioneurotic oedema (lips, tongue, face, larynx, bronchi)
- Abdominal pain, vomiting
- Hypotension (vasodilatation and plasma exudation) leads to circulatory collapse (shock)
- Stridor, wheeze and respiratory failure
What causes hypotension in acute anaphylaxis? And what does this lead to?
- Hypotension is caused by vasodilation and plasma exudation
- It can lead to shock (circulatory collapse)
What are causes of anaphylaxis?
- Foods e.g. nuts, shellfish
- Insect venom (bee, wasp)
- Drugs (e.g. penicillin, aspirin, anaesthetics)
- Other e.g. latex
What is the treatment for anaphylaxis?
- IM Epinephrine (adrenaline)
- IV antihistamine
- IV corticosteroid
- High flow O2
- Nebulised bronchodilators
- Endotracheal intubation if necessary
- Allergen avoidance
- Desensitisation (immunotherapy)
- Self-adminstered epinephrine i.e. Epipen
How is an Epipen used?
- Epipen is removed from packaging
- Grey safety cap is removed
- Black tip of Epipen placed at right angles to the thigh
- Pressed hard into the thigh until the auto-injector mechanism functions (there should be a click)
- Epipen held in place for 10 seconds
- Epipen removed and area massaged for 10 seconds
