Registered Nurse (RN) Respiratory Practice Exam

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can present with various symptoms depending on the type of COPD they have. In this case, the presence of cyanosis and abdominal edema strongly suggests chronic bronchitis. Chronic bronchitis is characterized by inflammation and swelling of the bronchial tubes, leading to excessive mucus production and chronic cough.

Cyanosis, a bluish discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes, occurs due to inadequate oxygenation of the blood, which is common in chronic bronchitis due to the compromised airflow and impaired gas exchange. The abdominal edema can also be a result of right-sided heart failure, often seen in chronic bronchitis due to pulmonary hypertension. This condition leads to fluid retention and subsequent edema, particularly evident in the abdomen.

Although emphysema is another form of COPD, it typically does not present with symptoms like cyanosis and abdominal edema; instead, patients may exhibit more severe dyspnea without significant sputum production or cyanosis in the earlier stages. Pneumonia and pneumothorax are acute conditions and would present with different symptomatology, such as fever, productive cough, or sudden pleuritic chest pain and respiratory distress, rather than the chronic symptoms associated with COPD. Thus, chronic