Skin prick testing can be read after 15-20 minutes. Skin patch testing is read after 48 hours Allergy tests Skin prick test Most commonly used test as it is easy to perform and inexpensive. Drops of diluted allergen are placed …
The new test was negative in 20 of the patients later shown to have myocardial ischemia (false negative) and negative in 40 patients confirmed not to have myocardial ischemia (true negative) Negative predictive value = TN / (TN + FN) …
Questions sometimes discuss the size of the pneumothorax in percentage terms rather than giving the interpleural distance. A variety of formulas have been proposed to convert between the two. As a very general rule of thumb: Average interpleural distance Approximate …
This question is about clinical judgement. A review of the British Thoracic Society guidelines will show that in such a scenario nebulised ipratropium bromide should have been given much earlier but this did not happen. The above arterial blood gas …
Even when patients are on oral prednisolone they should continue high-dose inhaled corticosteroids Asthma: stepwise management in adults The management of stable asthma is now well established with a step-wise approach: Step 1Â Â Â Inhaled short-acting B2 agonist as required …
Peak expiratory flow is of no value in the diagnosis of COPD COPD: investigation and diagnosis NICE recommend considering a diagnosis of COPD in patients over 35 years of age who are smokers or exsmokersand have symptoms such as exertional …
Pulmonary embolism – normal CXR The vast majority of patients with a pulmonary embolism have a normal chest x-ray. Pulmonary embolism: investigation 2012 NICE guidelines All patients with symptoms or signs suggestive of a PE should have a history taken, …
A falling pH likely represents carbon dioxide retention in a tiring patient as is an ominous sign in acute asthma. Performing serial peak flows in a patient with life-threatening asthma is neither practical nor desirable. Asthma: acute severe Patients with …
COPD: investigation and diagnosis NICE recommend considering a diagnosis of COPD in patients over 35 years of age who are smokers or exsmokersand have symptoms such as exertional breathlessness, chronic cough or regular sputum production. The following investigations are recommended …
Transfer factor The transfer factor describes the rate at which a gas will diffuse from alveoli into blood. Carbon monoxide is used to test the rate of diffusion. Results may be given as the total gas transfer (TLCO) or that …