The following symptoms and complaints may indicate emphysema (pulmonary hyperinflation):
- Dyspnea (shortness of breath) – increases as the disease progresses.
- Fassthorax (shape of chest resembles a barrel) with:
- Distended clavicle pits
- ribs running horizontally
- Inspiratory (“when breathing in”) retractions in the flank area.
- Small respiratory volumes
- Polyglobulia – excessive increase in the number of erythrocytes (red blood cells) in the blood.
- Irritative cough
- Drumstick finger
- Clock glass nails (arched nails)
- Central cyanosis – bluish discoloration of skin and central mucous membranes / tongue.
In chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), two types of emphysema (phenotypes/appearances) are distinguished
Blue Bloater | Pink Buffer | |
Habitus (weight) | Overweight | slim to cachectic |
Skin coloration | Cyanotic (bluish discoloration of the skin or mucous membranes) | Pale |
Clinical symptoms | Suffers little dyspnea (shortness of breath), but productive cough | Severe dyspnea and dry irritating cough |
Physical examination (auscultation/listening). | Wet rales (wet RGs), expiratory wheezing (some distance wheezing). |
Quiet breath sounds; silent chest (silent lung phenomenon). |
Blood gas analysis (ABG) | Early respiratory global insufficiency (oxygen partial pressure: pO2 ↓ , carbon dioxide partial pressure: pCO2 ↑). | Respiratory partial insufficiency (pO2 ↓, pCO2 normal or ↓). |
Complications (see also under secondary diseases) |
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