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
- General appearance: Overweight
- Cyanosis
- Tachypnea
- Elevated jugular venous pulse (JVP)
- Peripheral edema
Pulmonary system
Inspection
- 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)
Auscultation
- Prolonged expiration; wheezing
- Diffusely decreased breath sound
- Additional sounds - coarse crackles with inspiration, coarse rhonchi