Chronic Bronchitis Case Study Essay

1. What clinical findings are likely in R.S. as a consequence of his COPD? - COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is mostly consists of two main diseases: emphysema and chronic bronchitis. A patient with COPD can show various clinical findings which can include dyspnea, cyanosis, wheezing, “Blue bloaters” clubbing of the finger nails, and pink puffers. Also, the patient can show continuation of productive chronic coughing with expectoration within last 3 months for two consecutive years. Other clinical findings may include fever, headaches, pulmonary HTN and rhonchi (coarse rattles)
2. How would these differ from those of emphysematous COPD? - Although many of the clinical findings may be similar between emphysematous COPD and chronic bronchitis, some clinical findings can help to differentiate the two diseases. Barrel chest, tripod position, use of accessory muscle to air respiration are usual findings with patients with emphysema that are not found on patients with chronic bronchitis. The pathophysiology of emphysematous COPD can be explained by the structures of alveolar are distended, lose elasticity rupture or coalesce together to combine one mass. The loss of elastic recoil causes
The normal range for PaCO2 is 35-45 mm Hg. The increase in PaCO2 is caused by alveolar hypoventilation. The lungs’ inability to remove unwanted CO2 in the body is causing build up acid in the body. The normal clinical range for PH is between 7.35-7.45. Polycythemia can be explained as abnormal amount hemoglobin production of the body. The cause of polycythemia is due to lack of oxygenated blood in the body and the body is trying to compensate by increasing the production of oxygen carrying blood cells. However in the long run the patient may develop clog in the blood vessel because of the over