investigations in emphysema
Last edited 12/2018
The investigation of emphysema should include:
- chest radiography to show:
- attenuated peripheral vessels
- bullae
- lung function tests to show:
- increased total lung capacity
- forced expiratory ratio (FEV1/FVC) is usually less than 0.65 implying an obstructive ventilatory impairment
- reduced alveolar gas transfer
- arterial blood gases to show:
- normal PCO2
- mild hypoxaemia
- full blood count:
- polycythaemia is uncommon