Sherif EL Hawary, MD

Professor of Internal Medicine

Kasr AL Aini
CHEST SYMPTOMS
• COUGH
• HEMOPTYSIS
• CHEST PAIN
• DYSPNEA
COUGH
 ETIOLOGY

Reflex Psychogenic Central

(Hysterical) CVS
1. Respiratory
• Airway dis.: e.g. Bronchitis Encephalitis
Brain tumours
• Parenchymatous lung dis.: e.g. Lung abscess
• Pleural dis.: e.g. Pleurisy

2. Extra-respiratory
• Cardiovascular dis.: e.g. Pulm congestion (LSHF)
• Other causes: e.g. ACE – I
 APPROACH TO THE PATIENT
1. Is the cough ACUTE or CHRONIC ??
ACUTE (< 3 weeks): e.g. Pneumonia, Pulmonary embolism.
CHRONIC (> 3 weeks): e.g. COPD, GORD.

2. Is the cough DRY or PRODUCTIVE ??

DRY: e.g. Pleurisy, Psychogenic, DRUG (ACE – I).
PRODUCTIVE: e.g. Chronic bronchitis, Bronchiectasis, Lung abscess.

3. Is there PERIODICITY ?? (DIURNAL or SEASONAL)

DIURNAL
(Early morning): e.g. Bronchitis, Br. asthma, Bronchiectasis.
(Nocturnal): e.g. Cardiac asthma.
SEASONAL (winter): e.g. Bronchitis, Br. asthma, Bronchiectasis.

4. Is there associated WHEEZING ??

GENERALISED: e.g. Bronchitis, Br. asthma, Bronchiectasis, COPD.
LOCALISED: e.g. Br. carcinoma.

5. Is the patient taking an ACE – I ??

 COMPLICATIONS

Thoracic Extrathoracic
1. Rupture pulm bleb
2. Rupture bronchial varices
3. Rupture aneurysm
4. Stress fracture of a rib
1. ↑ intra-abdominal pressure
• Hernia
• Prolapse
• Stress incontinence
2. ↑ intra-ocular pressure
• Retinal & subconjunctival hemorrhage
• Retinal detachement
• Puffiness of eye lids

3. ↑ intra-cranial pressure
● Rupture aneurysm SAH
● Cough syncope

4. OTHERS
● Insomnia
● Cough-induced vomiting
HEMOPTYSIS
 ETIOLOGY
1) Respiratory causes:
Laryngeal causes:
Inflammation.
Tumours.
Tracheo-bronchial causes:
Acute Bronchitis. (the most common cause)
Bronchiectasis.
Bronchial carcinoma.
Bronchial adenoma.
Pulmonary causes:
Pulmonary TB.
Pulmonary embolism.
Pneumonia.
Lung abscess.
Goodpasture syndrome.

2) Cardiovascular causes:
Pulmonary congestion, e.g. MS & acute pulmonary oedema.
Pulmonary infection.
Pulmonary infraction.
Rupture of bronchial varices.
Rupture of aortic aneurysm.

3) Systemic diseases:
Hemorrhagic blood diseases, e.g.
Hemophilia.
Purpura.
MANAGEMENT OF HEMOPTYSIS
I. Diagnosis:
1 Differentiation between hemoptysis & hematemesis:

Hemoptysis Hematemesis
Past history Chest disease GIT disease

The attack Cough Vomiting

Blood Bright red, frothy Dark red, food particles
After the Streaked sputum Melena
attack
Examination Chest signs Abdominal signs

Investigations Chest or heart disease GIT disease

2 Exclusion of false hemoptysis:

Examination of the upper resoiratory tract usually reveals the cause.

3 Detection of the cause of hemoptysis:

Clinical picture Investigations
Treatment:
1. Treatment of the cause.

2. Cases of massive hemoptysis require:

Hospitalization.
Sedation.
Blood transfusion & anti-shock measures.
CHEST PAIN
 ETIOLOGY
Cardiovascular causes:
Myocardium: CAD (angina or infarction).
Pericardium: Pericarditis or pericardial effusion.
Endocardium: Mitral valve prolapse.
Aorta Aortic aneurysm & Aortic dissection.
Pulmonary: Pulmonary embolism & Pulmonary infarction.
Pain of cardiac neurosis.
Huge cardiomegaly.
Respiratory causes:
Pleural disease: pleurisy, pleural effusion, pneumothorax, hydropneumothorax.
Pulmonary disease extending to the pleura , e.g. pneumonia & lung abscess.
Acute massive lung collapse.

Chest wall causes:

Skin: wounds.
Breast: mastitis, tumour.
Ribs: osteomyelitis, tumour, fracture, Tietze syndrome.
Intercostal muscles: myositis, muscle strain ( from severe cough).
Intercostal nerves: nerve root pain ( herpes zoster).
Mediastinal causes:
Tumours, LN, Mediastinitis.

GIT:
GORD, peptic ulcer, cholecystitis.
 CAUSES OF ACUTE CHEST PAIN
MYOCARDIUM: angina pectoris & acute myocardial infarction.
PERICARDIUM: acute pericarditis.
ENDOCARDIUM: mitral valve prolapse.
AORTA: dissecting aneurysm of the aorta.
PULMONARY: massive pulmonary embolism & pulmonary infarction.
CARDIAC NEUROSIS.

Pleural disease: acute pleurisy & pneumothorax.

Lung disease: acute massive lung collapse.

Musculo-skeletal disorders: Tietze syndrome.

Nerve root pain: Herpetic neuralgia.

GIT: GORD, peptic ulcer, cholecystitis.

DYSPNEA
 ETIOLOGY
Cardiovascular causes:
Pulmonary congestion: Left – sided heart failure
Pulmonary embolism .
Pericardial effusion .
Pathogenesis of cardiac dyspnea

1) Pulm congestion → ↓ alveolar compliance due to interstitial oedema

2) Low CO → fatigue & weakness of the respiratory muscles
3) Pleural effusion → mechanical compression of the lungs
4) Churchill Cope reflex
5) Hypoxia → stimulates the respiratory centre
Types of cardiac dyspnea

1) Exertional
2) Dyspnea at rest
3) Orthopnea
4) PND
Chest causes:
Laryngeal:
- Foreign body, Tumours.

Tracheo-bronchial:
- Bronchitis, Br. asthma, Bronchiectasis, COPD.

Lung:
- Consolidation, Collapse.
- Fibrosis (pulmonary, ILD).

Pleural:
- Pleurisy, pleural effusion, pneumothorax, hydropneumothorax.

Chest wall:
- Chest deformities, scleroderma, marked obesity (Pick syndrome).
 Abdominal causes:
- Abdominal distension, e.g. marked ascites.

General causes:
- Anemia.
- Hemorrhage & shock.
- Acidosis.

Psychogenic (Hysterical)
Neurological causes:

1- Diaphragmatic paralysis.

2- Disorders of Neuro-muscular apparatus:

CNS: Head injury, CVS, Drugs ( opiates & barbiturates).

AHCs: MND, Poliomyelitis.

Peripheral nerve: Polyneuropathy, e.g. GBS.
NMJ: Myasthenia gravis.
Muscle: Myopathies.
 CAUSES OF ACUTE DYSPNEA

Acute massive myocardial infarction, (Acute LVF).

Acute pulmonary embolism.
Acute massive lung collapse.
Pneumothorax (Tension).
Pneumonia.
Pleurisy.
Bronchus: Bronchial asthma.
Larynx: Inhaled FB, laryngeal spasm, laryngeal oedema.
Hemorrhage, shock, acidosis.
Hysterical.