Chronic Bronchitis vs. Emphysema
- October 24, 2020/
Signs and Symptoms
| Chronic Bronchitis (Blue Bloater) | Emphysema (Pink Puffer) |
| Chronic, productive cough | Dyspnea |
| Purulent sputum | Minimal cough |
| Hemoptysis | Increased minute ventilation |
| Mild dyspnea initially | Pink skin, Pursed-lip breathing |
| Cyanosis (due to hypoxemia) | Accessory muscle use |
| Peripheral edema (due to cor pulmonale) | Cachexia |
| Crackles, wheezes | Hyperinflation, barrel chest |
| Prolonged expiration | Decreased breath sounds |
| Obese | Tachypnea |
Complications
| Chronic Bronchitis (Blue Bloater) | Emphysema (Pink Puffer) |
| Secondary polycythemia vera due to hypoxemia. | Pneumothorax due to bullae |
| Pulmonary hypertension due to reactive vasoconstriction from hypoxemia | Weight loss due to work of breathing |
| Cor pulmonale from chronic pulmonary hypertension |
