Types of Investigations:
- Pulmonary Function Tests (PFTs) → Spirometry.
- Sputum & Fluid Analysis → Sputum Test, Gastric Lavage, Pleural Fluid Analysis.
- Blood Tests → CBC, Serology, Skin Tests.
- Radiological Tests → X-ray, CT, MRI, Angiography.
- Endoscopic Tests → Bronchoscopy, Mediastinoscopy.
- Biopsy & Other Procedures → Pleural Biopsy, Lung Biopsy, Thoracoscopy.
Mnemonic: "P.S.B.R.E.B. = Pulmonary, Sputum, Blood, Radiology, Endoscopy, Biopsy"
1. PULMONARY FUNCTION TESTS (PFTs)
SPIROMETRY (Lung Function Test)
Measures:
Lung Volume & Airflow Speed.
Used for Asthma, COPD, Pulmonary
Fibrosis.
Graph Interpretation:
Obstructive Pattern → ↓
Expiratory Flow (Asthma, COPD).
Restrictive Pattern → ↓ Lung
Volume (Fibrosis, TB).
- Mnemonic: "S.O.R. = Spirometry for Obstructive & Restrictive"
2. SPUTUM & FLUID ANALYSIS
SPUTUM EXAMINATION
Used for:
- TB (Ziehl-Neelsen Stain for AFB).
- Bacterial Infections (Gram Stain, Culture).
- Fungal Infections (KOH Stain).
- Cancer Cells (Cytology, Papanicolaou Stain).
Mnemonic: "T.B.F.C. = TB, Bacteria, Fungus, Cancer"
OTHER SECRETIONS TESTS
- Gastric Lavage → Used for TB Diagnosis in Children.
- Transtracheal Aspiration → Used for Pneumonia, Bronchiectasis.
- Mnemonic: "G.T. = Gastric Lavage for TB, Transtracheal for Pneumonia"
3. BLOOD TESTS
HEMATOLOGY TESTS (CBC, ESR, Eosinophils)
- Anemia → Seen in Chronic Lung Diseases.
- Leukocytosis → Bacterial Infections.
- Eosinophilia → Allergic Lung Diseases (Asthma).
- Raised ESR → TB, Lung Cancer.
Mnemonic: "A.L.E.R. = Anemia, Leukocytosis, Eosinophilia, Raised ESR"
SEROLOGY (Blood Antibody Tests)
- Used for Fungal & Viral Infections.
- Diagnoses TB, Histoplasmosis, Aspergillosis.
- Mnemonic: "S.F.V. = Serology for Fungal & Viral"
SKIN TESTS (Allergy & TB Tests)
- Immediate Skin Test (Scratch Test) → For Asthma, Allergies.
- Delayed Skin Test (Mantoux Test) → For TB.
Mnemonic: "I.D. = Immediate for Allergy, Delayed for TB"
4. RADIOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS
X-RAY (Most Common Test)
Findings:
- White Patch → Pneumonia, TB.
- Black Air Space → Pneumothorax.
- Fluid Level → Pleural Effusion.
Mnemonic: "W.B.F. = White Patch (TB), Black Air (Pneumothorax), Fluid (Effusion)"
CT SCAN (Detailed Lung Imaging)
- Used for Lung Cancer Staging, Fibrosis, TB.
MRI (Magnetic Imaging for Lungs)
- Used for Mediastinal Tumors, Vascular Diseases.
- Mnemonic: "X.C.M. = X-ray, CT, MRI"
PULMONARY ANGIOGRAPHY (Gold Standard for Pulmonary Embolism)
- Dye Injection to Detect Clots.
- Mnemonic: "A.C.T. = Angiography for Clots, CT for Tumors"
LUNG SCAN (Ventilation-Perfusion Scan for Embolism)
- Ventilation Scan → Xenon Gas Inhalation.
- Perfusion Scan → Injected Radioisotope.
Mnemonic: "V.X.P.I. = Ventilation (Xenon), Perfusion (Isotope)"
5. ENDOSCOPIC TESTS
BRONCHOSCOPY (Lung Endoscopy)
Uses:
- Detects Tumors, TB, Foreign Body.
- Takes Biopsy Samples.
Mnemonic: "B.T.F. = Bronchoscopy for Tumor, TB, Foreign Body"
MEDIASTINOSCOPY (Mediastinal Biopsy Test)
- Used for Lung Cancer Staging, TB.
- Mnemonic: "M.T. = Mediastinoscopy for TB"
6. BIOPSY & OTHER PROCEDURES
PLEURAL FLUID ANALYSIS (Thoracentesis Test)
- Used for Pleural Effusion.
- Determines Transudate vs Exudate.
Mnemonic: "P.T.E. = Pleural Test for Transudate & Exudate"
PLEURAL BIOPSY
- Used in TB & Cancer Diagnosis.
- Mnemonic: "P.B. = Pleural Biopsy for TB"
LUNG BIOPSY (5 Types)
- Transbronchial Biopsy → Via Bronchoscope.
- Needle Biopsy → For Small Lesions.
- Open Lung Biopsy → Gold Standard for Fibrosis.
- Mnemonic: "T.N.O. = Transbronchial, Needle, Open Biopsy"
THORACOSCOPY (Video-Assisted Chest Surgery)
- Used for TB, Cancer, Pleural Disease.
- Mnemonic: "T.C.P. = Thoracoscopy for Cancer & Pleura"
HOMOEOPATHIC MANAGEMENT OF RESPIRATORY DISEASES
- For Asthma & Allergy:
- Blatta Orientalis, Ipecac, Arsenicum Album.
- For Tuberculosis & Lung Infections:
- Tuberculinum, Bacillinum, Phosphorus.
- For Chronic Bronchitis & COPD:
- Antimonium Tart, Carbo Veg, Senega.
Mnemonic: "B.I.A. = Blatta, Ipecac, Arsenicum for Asthma"
FINAL REVISION WITH MNEMONICS
- Investigations = "P.S.B.R.E.B." (Pulmonary, Sputum, Blood, Radiology, Endoscopy, Biopsy)
- Spirometry = "S.O.R." (Spirometry for Obstructive & Restrictive)
- Sputum Test = "T.B.F.C." (TB, Bacteria, Fungus, Cancer)
- Hematology = "A.L.E.R." (Anemia, Leukocytosis, Eosinophilia, Raised ESR)
- X-ray Findings = "W.B.F." (White Patch, Black Air, Fluid)
- Angiography = "A.C.T." (Angiography for Clots, CT for Tumors)
- Ventilation-Perfusion Scan = "V.X.P.I." (Ventilation Xenon, Perfusion Isotope)
- Bronchoscopy = "B.T.F." (Tumor, TB, Foreign Body)
- Pleural Fluid = "P.T.E." (Pleural Test for Transudate & Exudate)
- Lung Biopsy = "T.N.O." (Transbronchial, Needle, Open Biopsy)
- Homeopathy = "B.I.A." (Blatta, Ipecac, Arsenicum for Asthma)
