COPD Flashcards
COPD should be considered in any patient with:
Dyspnea, chronic cough, or sputum production, a history of lower respiratory tract infections, and/or a history of exposure to risk factors for the disease.
What is required to make the diagnosis of COPD?
Spirometry with the presence of a post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC <0.70 will confirm the presence of persistent airflow limitation.
This is the permanent, alveolar damage and loss of elevation recoil that results in chronic hyperinflation of the lungs. Expiratory respiratory phase is markedly prolonged.
Emphysema
This is a condition associated with excessive tracheobronchial mucus production- defined as coughing with excessive mucus production for at least 3 or more months for a minimum of 2 or more consecutive years.
Chronic bronchitis
Clinical presentation of COPD:
Cough
Exertional dyspnea
Sputum production
Objective findings with the emphysema component?
Increased AP diameter Decreased Breath sounds and heart sounds Use of accessory muscles Purses-lip breathing Weight loss
Chest X-ray findings?
Flattened diaphragms with hyper inflation
Bullae sometimes present
Objective findings with the chronic bronchitis component?
Productive cough
Wheezing
Coarse crackles
Pink puffers are
Emphysema patients
Describe pink puffers:
May be very thin with a barrel chest
Decreased diaphragmatic excursion
Prolonged expiratory phase with expiratory wheezing
May sit in tripod posture
Purses lip breathing and use of accessory muscles
Heart sounds may be distant
Low BMI
Blue bloaters are seen with:
Chronic bronchitis
Blue bloaters May be described as:
May be obese
Frequent cough and expectoration
Use of accessory muscles common
Coarse rhonchi and wheezing may be auscultated
May have signs of heart failure such as edema and cyanosis
Lower peak flow measure with exercise
In COPD FEV1 and FEV1/FVC is:
Decreased
In COPD total lung capacity is:
Normal or increased
In COPD residual volume is:
Increased
