Certified Respiratory Therapist Practice Exam

What pulmonary finding is critical in diagnosing emphysema?

1. Decreased breath sounds

2. Wheezing

3. Increased tactile fremitus

4. Dullness to percussion

The correct answer is: Decreased breath sounds

Decreased breath sounds are critical in diagnosing emphysema because this condition leads to the destruction of the alveoli and the associated elastic recoil of the lung tissue. As alveoli become enlarged and the lung tissue loses its elasticity, there is less air exchange and reduced airflow, which results in diminished breath sounds during auscultation. This decrease indicates that the air is not moving in and out of the lungs as effectively as it should, which is a hallmark of emphysema. In contrast, wheezing typically indicates bronchoconstriction or obstruction within the airways, which is more associated with conditions like asthma rather than emphysema. Increased tactile fremitus occurs when there is consolidation or fluid in the lungs, and dullness to percussion suggests fluid accumulation or solid masses within the thoracic cavity, neither of which are characteristic findings in emphysema. Therefore, the identification of decreased breath sounds is a vital component in the clinical assessment and diagnosis of emphysema.