Etymed
emphysema
Definition
A chronic lung disease characterized by the abnormal distension of the air spaces (alveoli) in the lungs, leading to difficulty in breathing
Clinical context
A 65-year-old man with a 40-pack-year smoking history presents to the emergency department with progressive shortness of breath and wheezing. On examination, he has a barrel chest with hyperresonant percussion notes and decreased breath sounds. His arterial blood gas shows hypoxemia with hypercapnia. The patient's condition is consistent with emphysema, a form of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. His symptoms are likely exacerbated by his prolonged exposure to cigarette smoke.
Mnemonic
EMPHYSEMA - Excessive Mucus Production, Hypercapnia, Pneumonia, Hyperinflated lungs, Emphysematous changes, Metabolic acidosis, Alveolar destruction, Malignancy, Airway obstruction