302.1 ð é«åžçç
302.1.0.1 ð äžé éé»
302.1.0.1.1 Respiratory Physiology Overview
302.1.0.1.1.1 Three Main Functions
- Ventilation: bulk movement of air
- Gas exchange: O2 + CO2 across alveolar-capillary membrane
- Acid-base regulation: via CO2 elimination
302.1.0.1.2 Hypoxemia (â PaO2)
302.1.0.1.2.1 Five Mechanisms
1. V/Q mismatch (Most Common) - Areas with low V/Q (perfused but not ventilated) â blood doesnât oxygenate well - Areas with high V/Q (ventilated but not perfused) â wasted ventilation (dead space) - Most lung diseases involve some V/Q mismatch - Examples: COPD, asthma, pneumonia, atelectasis, PE - Improves with supplemental O2 (high response)
2. Shunt - Blood passes through unventilated alveoli or A-V malformations - True anatomic shunt: AV malformations, congenital - Physiologic shunt: severe atelectasis, pneumonia, ARDS, severe pulmonary edema - DOES NOT improve with supplemental O2 (key feature) - Calculation: A-a gradient â
3. Alveolar Hypoventilation - â VE â â PaCO2 + â PaO2 - Examples: drug overdose, neuromuscular weakness, central depression, obesity hypoventilation, OSA - A-a gradient normal (key distinguishing feature) - Improves with supplemental O2
4. Diffusion Impairment - Thickened alveolar-capillary membrane - Examples: ILD, pulmonary edema, severe emphysema - â DLCO - Improves with supplemental O2
5. Low FiO2 - Altitude - Rare in clinical (unless mountain medicine)
302.1.0.1.2.2 A-a Gradient
- A-a gradient = PAO2 - PaO2
- PAO2 (alveolar) = FiO2 Ã (PB - PH2O) - PaCO2/0.8 â 150 - 1.25 Ã PaCO2 at sea level (FiO2 0.21)
- Normal A-a gradient: 5-15 mmHg (younger), increases with age (age/4 + 4 rule)
- â A-a gradient: V/Q mismatch, shunt, diffusion impairment
- Normal A-a gradient + hypoxemia: hypoventilation or low FiO2
302.1.0.1.3 Hypercapnia (â PaCO2)
302.1.0.1.3.1 Three Mechanisms
1. Alveolar Hypoventilation - Reduced VA â â PaCO2 - Examples: opioid overdose, neuromuscular disease (ALS, GBS), severe COPD with fatigue, OSA, central hypoventilation
2. Increased Dead Space - More wasted ventilation, less effective alveolar ventilation - Examples: COPD, PE, ARDS, pulmonary fibrosis
3. Increased CO2 Production (Rare cause alone) - Fever, sepsis, hyperthyroidism, high-carb diet - Usually compensated by â ventilation unless coexisting lung disease
302.1.0.1.4 Common Symptoms
302.1.0.1.4.1 Dyspnea (Shortness of Breath)
Etiology: - Cardiac: HF, MI, valvular, arrhythmia, pericardial effusion - Pulmonary: COPD, asthma, pneumonia, PE, pleural effusion, pneumothorax, ILD, PH - Anemia - Deconditioning / obesity - Anxiety / panic - Hyperthyroidism - Neurologic: neuromuscular disease, MS
Distinguishing Features: - Cardiac dyspnea: orthopnea, PND, exertional, S3, edema - Pulmonary: cough, wheeze, sputum, position-independent - Anemia: pallor, fatigue, palpitations - Anxiety: tingling, paresthesias, sigh-like respirations
Assessment: - mMRC (modified Medical Research Council) dyspnea scale 0-4 - NYHA (cardiac) - Borg scale (effort, 6-20) - 6-minute walk test
302.1.0.1.4.2 Cough
Acute (< 3 weeks): - Viral URI (most common) - Acute bronchitis - Pneumonia - Asthma exacerbation - Pertussis (esp adults)
Subacute (3-8 weeks): - Post-infectious cough - Pertussis - UACS - Asthma
Chronic (> 8 weeks): - 80-90% of chronic cough: 1. UACS (upper airway cough syndrome): post-nasal drip, allergic rhinitis, sinusitis 2. Asthma / cough-variant asthma: methacholine challenge 3. GERD: acid + non-acid reflux, esophageal hypersensitivity - Other causes: - ACE inhibitor cough (5-20%) - Chronic bronchitis (smoker) - Bronchiectasis - Eosinophilic bronchitis - Tuberculosis (endemic areas) - Lung cancer - Interstitial lung disease - Refractory chronic cough: gefapixant (P2X3 antagonist, 2024 FDA), nalbuphine - Empiric trial approach
302.1.0.1.4.3 Hemoptysis
Volume: - Trivial: < 30 mL/day - Moderate: 30-200 mL/day - Massive: > 200 mL/day OR > 100 mL in single episode (life-threatening)
Causes: - Bronchitis (40%): bronchiectasis, infectious, eosinophilic - Lung cancer (15-20%) - Tuberculosis (esp endemic) - Pulmonary embolism - Pneumonia - AVM - Vasculitis (granulomatosis with polyangiitis, Goodpasture) - Foreign body - Coagulopathy - Cardiogenic (MS, severe HF)
Workup: - Chest CT (preferred over CXR for evaluation) - Bronchoscopy (rigid for massive) - Sputum for TB, malignancy - Coagulation studies
Massive Hemoptysis Management: - Position with bleeding lung down - Secure airway (selective intubation if known side) - Reverse anticoagulation - Interventional bronchoscopy (cold saline lavage, balloon tamponade, ICU clips) - Bronchial artery embolization (definitive for most) - Surgery for refractory
302.1.0.1.5 Physical Examination
302.1.0.1.5.1 Inspection
- Cyanosis (central / peripheral)
- Clubbing (chronic hypoxia, lung cancer, ILD, CF)
- Use of accessory muscles
- Tracheal deviation (pneumothorax, large effusion)
- Chest shape (pectus, kyphoscoliosis, barrel chest)
- Respiratory rate, pattern
302.1.0.1.5.2 Palpation
- Tactile fremitus: â in consolidation, â in effusion/pneumothorax
- Tracheal position
- Chest expansion
302.1.0.1.5.3 Percussion
- Dull: consolidation, effusion, atelectasis
- Hyperresonant: pneumothorax, emphysema
302.1.0.1.5.4 Auscultation
- Normal breath sounds: vesicular (peripheral), bronchial (over bronchi)
- Adventitious sounds:
- Crackles (rales): fine (ILD, pulmonary edema), coarse (bronchitis, pneumonia)
- Wheezes: asthma, COPD, foreign body
- Rhonchi: large airway secretions
- Stridor: upper airway obstruction
- Pleural friction rub: pleuritis
- Egophony: E sounds like A â consolidation
- Whispered pectoriloquy: whispered voice clear â consolidation
302.1.0.1.6 Pulse Oximetry + ABG
302.1.0.1.7 Diagnostic Tests Overview (Detailed in Ch302)
- Pulmonary function tests (PFTs)
- Chest X-ray
- High-resolution CT (HRCT)
- V/Q scan (PE workup)
- CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA)
- Bronchoscopy
- Sputum analysis
- Pleural fluid analysis (thoracentesis)
- Echocardiogram (cor pulmonale, PH)
- Sleep study (polysomnography)
- Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET)
302.1.0.2 𩺠åºé鿥
- 5 hypoxemia mechanisms: V/Q mismatch (most common), shunt, hypoventilation, diffusion, low FiO2
- Shunt vs V/Q: shunt NO improvement with O2; V/Q improves
- Hypoventilation: A-a gradient normal; PaCO2 â
- Chronic hypercapnia: HCO3 ~ 3.5 mEq/L per 10 mmHg ÎPaCO2 (compensation)
- Chronic cough (> 8 wk): UACS + asthma + GERD = 80-90%
- ACE inhibitor cough: 5-20%; switch to ARB
- Hemoptysis 200 mL/d = massive: ICU, bronchoscopy, bronchial artery embolization
- Refractory chronic cough: gefapixant 2024 FDA (P2X3 antagonist)