pink puffer
Last reviewed 01/2018
Pink puffers have a good respiratory drive.
Features include:
- purse-lip breathing with intense dyspnoea
- patient is often thin and elderly
- little sputum produced
- oedema and overt heart failure are rare complications
Investigations:
- blood gases are near normal until pre-terminally
- there is very severe airways obstruction
- total lung capacity is increased
- reduction in transfer factor