A Summary Of COPD

In the process of an exacerbation of COPD, the airways become more inflamed causing vasoconstriction, mucous is more heavily produced, and small airways are not exchanging oxygen at baseline function for the patient. This takes the patient into a worsening condition of COPD that drops oxygen levels down, causing a build-up of carbon dioxide in her blood, the pH to drop from the acidity, and possibly bicarb to be not excreted by the kidneys in response. This causes a condition of respiratory acidosis with partial metabolic compensation, ABG’s would show labs altered. The patient may also be coughing up more mucous than normal but also not able to cough as effectively because of the inflammation, which in turn can cause more increased respiratory …show more content…
This could cause a build-up of CO2 in the body, lowered amounts of oxygen. Eventually after so many exacerbations and chronic COPD, we might see heart changes because the lungs are not going to keep up with the body’s preload demands.

Expected signs/symptoms/labs/diagnostic tests
-Chest x-ray show infiltrates that could indicate infection, sputum culture positive
-ABG show increased CO2, decreased PO2, decreased pH, and possibly increased HCO3
-SpO2 levels lower than baseline (<90%), even with new supplemental oxygen
-SOB, retractions, cyanosis, altered LOC, lethargy, high respiratory rate, pursed lip breathing, cough with sputum, labored breathing, shallow depth, diminished lung sounds, crackles in lower lobes, wheezes on inspiration and expiration, increased heart rate,