Chronic bronchitis physical examination

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease can be diagnostically evaluated by physical examination through auscultation.

Physical Examination

Physical examination are quite specific and sensitive for severe disease. The signs are usually difficult to detect in cases of mild to moderate diseases.

General physical examination

• Cyanosis
• Tachypnea
• Respiratory distress indicated by use of accessory respiratory muscles. Hoover sign presenting as paradoxical indrawing of lower intercostal spaces is evident (known as the Hoover sign)
• Elevated jugular venous pulse (JVP)
• Peripheral edema can be observed.

Pulmonary system

Inspection

• Hyperinflation (barrel chest)

Percussion

• Hyperresonance

Auscultation

• Prolonged expiration; wheezing
• Diffusely decreased breath sound
• Additional sounds - coarse crackles with inspiration

Specific features of Chronic bronchitis

• General appearance: Overweight
• Coarse rhonchi
• Signs of right heart failure or cor pulmonale such as edema and cyanosis can be seen.

References

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