Question

The nurse is caring for a client diagnosed with an acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Which clinical findings would indicate that the client is experiencing emphysema?

1) Cough with copious amounts of sputum
2) Barrel chest
3) Use of accessory muscles when breathing
4) Diminished breath sounds
5) Hypercapnia noted within laboratory results

Answer 1

Clinical indicators of emphysema include a barrel chest, use of accessory muscles for breathing, diminished breath sounds, and hypercapnia. Emphysema is a type of COPD resulting from alveolar damage, primarily caused by smoking, leading to impaired gas exchange with no cure except lung transplantation in severe cases.

Step-by-step explanation:

The clinical findings that would indicate that a client is experiencing emphysema, an acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), include: 2) A barrel chest, which is due to the overinflation of the lungs and air trapping, 3) Use of accessory muscles when breathing, indicating the effort required for breathing due to weakened respiratory muscles and airway collapse, 4) Diminished breath sounds, because of the destruction of alveolar walls and the decrease in functional respiratory surface area, and 5) Hypercapnia noted within laboratory results, which reflects the impaired gas exchange and the inability to adequately remove carbon dioxide from the blood.

Emphysema is a form of COPD characterized by the breakdown and destruction of the alveoli, leading to reduced gas exchange capability. Smoking is the leading cause of emphysema and cessation can slow the progression. Symptoms of emphysema include shortness of breath and chronic cough. Treatments may reduce symptoms but there is no cure for emphysema except in severe cases where lung transplantation may be considered.