1) It is safe to use long-term oral prednisolone
Incorrect
CORRECT!
Maintainence inhaled corticosteroid is the management of choice. Oral prednisolone causes side effects of weight gain, cushingoid features, diabetes, osteoporosis, gastric ulcers and cataracts amongst others……
2) Anticholinegics are particularly effective because of increased airway vagal tone in COPD.
CORRECT!
Anticholinergics act by blocking acetylcholine in the parasympathetic nervous system, relaxing the smooth muscle tissue and keeping the airways open.
Incorrect
3) In type 2 respiratory failure, low concentrations of oxygen are used because of switching to hypoxic ventilatory drive.
CORRECT!
Incorrect
4) Venesection may be beneficial in patients who have developed cor pulmonale.
CORRECT!
Chronic hypoxia can lead to excess production of red blood cells – polycythaemia – which increases the viscosity of the blood and therefore puts the patient at higher risk of thrombotic events, eg. stroke.
Incorrect
5) In type 2 respiratory failure, oxygen is a dangerous drug and should not be given.
Incorrect
CORRECT!
Oxygen should always be administered to maintain the saturations between 88-92%. If this means that the patient retains ever greater amounts of carbon dioxide then they need assisted ventilation (eg. Non-Invasive Ventilation – NIV), they WILL DIE if you continue to turn down their oxygen.
