Final answer:
Clinical presentation of a bronchopleural fistula mainly includes subcutaneous emphysema and persistent air leaks, with COPD and emphysema contributing to its formation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The clinical presentation of a bronchopleural fistula may include a range of symptoms. The condition is characterized by an abnormal connection between the bronchial tree and the pleural space. Symptoms can be variable and may include subcutaneous emphysema, persistent air leaks, dyspnea (shortness of breath), cough, fever, and in some cases, chest pain. However, the most significant signs suggesting a bronchopleural fistula are subcutaneous emphysema and a persistent air leak post-surgery or due to a lung disease such as COPD, emphysema, or pneumothorax. Since emphysema involves the breakdown of alveoli reducing elasticity and trapping air in the lungs, and pneumothorax is a collapsed lung, both can contribute to the formation of a bronchopleural fistula.