An 85-year-old man with hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus is brought to the emergency department because of a 2-day history of shortness of breath. He has smoked one pack of cigarettes daily for 30 years. His temperature is 36.9°C (98.4°F), pulse is 100/min, respirations are 30/min, and blood pressure is 138/75 mm Hg. Pulmonary function testing shows decreased tidal volume and normal lung compliance. Which of the following is the most likely underlying etiology of this patient's tachypnea?
ADiabetic ketoacidosis
BRib fracture
CPulmonary edema
DEmphysema exacerbation
ETension pneumothorax
A 35-year-old woman volunteers for a study on respiratory physiology. Pressure probes A and B are placed as follows: Probe A: between the parietal and visceral pleura Probe B: within the cavity of an alveolus The probes provide a pressure reading relative to atmospheric pressure. To obtain a baseline reading, she is asked to sit comfortably and breathe normally. Which of the following sets of values will most likely be seen at the end of inspiration?
AProbe A: -6 mm Hg; Probe B: 0 mm Hg
BProbe A: 0 mm Hg; Probe B: -1 mm Hg
CProbe A: -4 mm Hg; Probe B: 0 mm Hg
DProbe A: -4 mm Hg; Probe B: -1 mm Hg
EProbe A: -6 mm Hg; Probe B: -1 mm Hg
A 57-year-old man comes to the physician because of a 2-year history of fatigue, worsening shortness of breath, and a productive cough for 2 years. He has smoked 1 pack of cigarettes daily for the past 40 years. Examination shows pursed-lip breathing and an increased anteroposterior chest diameter. There is diffuse wheezing bilaterally and breath sounds are distant. Which of the following parameters is most likely to be decreased in this patient?
AThickness of small airways
BWork of breathing
CLung elastic recoil
DLower airway resistance
EPulmonary vascular pressure
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