Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis physical examination

Patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis usually appear fatigued and short of breath. Physical examination of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis usually remarkable for bronchial breathing, increased vocal resonance, and fine crepitations.

Patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis usually appear fatigued and short of breath.^[1][2][3]

• Low grade fever may be noted
• Tachypnea
• Pulsus paradoxus
  • Pulse wave volume decreases with inspiration

• Tar staining on fingers from cigarettes
• Joint swelling and tenderness
  • Features of rheumatological disease
• Scarring on chest wall may be noted from previous operations
  • May be in mid-axillary line and indicates a chest tube placement, or horizontal postero-lateral scars from lobectomy

• Conjunctival pallor
• Inflamed nares

• Jugular venous distension
  • Suggests pulmonary hypertension
• Lymphadenopathy

• Increased chest expansion
  • Barrel chest suggests COPD
• Lungs are hyperresonant
• Fine crackles upon auscultation of the lung bases or apices, unilaterally or bilaterally
• Rhonchi
• Bronchial breath sounds
• Expiratory wheezing with normal or delayed expiratory phase
• Wheezing may be present
• Egophony present
• Bronchophony present
• Increased tactile fremitus

• Right ventricular heave may be noted in cor pulmonale

• Clubbing
• Peripheral or central cyanosis
• Pitting/non-pitting edema of the upper or lower extremities

Template:WH Template:WS [[Category:Primary Care]