Respiratory Medicine Flashcards
7 cards from real AMC MCQ practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Respiratory Medicine flashcards as text
A 24-year-old with known asthma presents with a silent chest, exhaustion, and SpO2 of 88% on air. What is the most appropriate immediate management?
Answer: Nebulised salbutamol, oxygen, IV hydrocortisone and call for senior/ICU help
A silent chest with hypoxia indicates life-threatening asthma requiring oxygen, nebulised bronchodilators, systemic steroids and urgent senior/ICU involvement.
Which finding on arterial blood gas is most concerning in an acute severe asthma attack?
Answer: A normal or rising PaCO2
A normalising or rising PaCO2 signals tiring respiratory muscles and impending respiratory failure.
A patient with COPD has chronic CO2 retention. What is the recommended target oxygen saturation range during an exacerbation?
Answer: 88–92%
In CO2-retaining COPD patients controlled oxygen targeting 88–92% avoids worsening hypercapnia.
Which organism is the most common cause of community-acquired pneumonia?
Answer: Streptococcus pneumoniae
Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most frequent pathogen in community-acquired pneumonia.
A CURB-65 score of 4 in a patient with pneumonia indicates which management approach?
Answer: Consideration of ICU admission
A high CURB-65 score (3–5) indicates severe pneumonia warranting hospital and possible ICU care.
Which feature most strongly suggests Legionella pneumonia rather than typical pneumonia?
Answer: Hyponatraemia with confusion and diarrhoea
Legionella classically causes hyponatraemia, neurological features and gastrointestinal symptoms.
What is the first-line investigation when pulmonary embolism is suspected in a haemodynamically stable patient with normal renal function?
Answer: CT pulmonary angiography
CT pulmonary angiography is the investigation of choice for diagnosing pulmonary embolism.