Respiratory Pathways

Assessment and management of acute COPD exacerbation including controlled oxygen and NIV decision

Risk stratification and antibiotic selection for community-acquired pneumonia using CURB-65

Diagnosis and management of acute PE including risk stratification and anticoagulation

Systematic evaluation of pleural effusion — transudates vs exudates and management

Safe oxygen prescribing — target saturations and devices for different clinical scenarios

2-week wait pathway for suspected lung cancer — investigation and referral

BTS/SIGN/NICE NG80 — severity stratification, oxygen, salbutamol/ipratropium, IV magnesium, escalation criteria.

BTS 2023 — recognition, pleural fluid analysis (pH, biochemistry), chest drain criteria, intrapleural fibrinolytics, surgical referral.

NICE NG139 — early- vs late-onset, empirical antibiotics by severity + risk factors, escalation criteria.

NICE NG33 — clinical recognition, diagnostics (sputum, NAAT, culture), standard 6-month RIPE regimen, monitoring, public-health notification.

BTS 2019 — increased symptoms (cough, sputum volume/purulence, dyspnoea, malaise) — tailored antibiotics by colonisation, airway clearance, escalation triggers.

Berlin definition, lung-protective ventilation (low TV, plateau pressure, prone positioning, PEEP), conservative fluids, treat cause.

Definition: >200–600 mL/24h or any haemodynamic compromise — airway protection, lateralise, urgent CT angiography, bronchial artery embolisation.

Distinguish chemical pneumonitis from bacterial pneumonia, supportive care, antibiotic decision, prevent recurrence.

CF Trust UK — IV antibiotics matched to colonisation, airway clearance, nutrition, PERT, CFTR modulator continuation.

STOP-BANG screening, sleep study (oximetry / polysomnography), CPAP, lifestyle, surgical referral when appropriate.

Type 1 vs Type 2 respiratory failure, oxygen targets, NIV/CPAP indications and contraindications, escalation to invasive ventilation.

BTS / Fleischner 2017 — risk stratification by size, character, smoking history; surveillance vs biopsy vs PET-CT.