Bullous emphysema symptoms

The signs and symptoms of bullous emphysema are closely related to the number, size of the bulla, and whether to be combined with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

No obvious Symptoms
In most cases, the fewer and smaller simple bullae (without other severe lung diseases) are no obvious symptoms, so that they are usually found on routine chest radiograph or surgical operation due to other diseases of lung or pleural cavity.

Chest tightness and shortness of breath
Chest tightness and shortness of breath are both the two main symptoms of bullous emphysema, which appear mainly in the case with huge or many bullae. They are both the non-characteristic symptoms, and can be also caused by lung cancer, asthma, bronchiectasis, chronic bronchitis, COPD and other diffuse pulmonary disease.

Symptoms of progressive bullous emphysema

The progressive bullous emphysema can easily rupture and develop into pneumothorax. This progress often causes a series of acute symptoms, such as: Sudden - shortness of breath, coughing, difficulty breathing, or a chest pain chest pain resembling angina pectoris.

Angina spasmodic, suffocating, or choking pain.

Angina pectoris paroxysmal, severe constricting chest pain, often radiating to the shoulder and arms.

Cyanosis:
Cyanosis causes bluish discoloration on the lips, nail beds, skin and mucous membranes. Cyanosis is a result of a lack of oxygen, can be caused by bullous emphysema due to shortness of breath and difficulty breathing.

Complications of bullous emphysema

Spontaneous pneumothorax and Hemopneumothorax are the common complications. They can be found by clinical analysis and chest X-ray.

Spontaneous-pneumothorax Air in the pleural space that occurs because of lung disease or other naturally occurring causes. Being different from the artificial pneumothorax and trauma pneumothorax.

Hemopneumothorax Pneumothorax with hemorrhagic effusion - the accumulation of air and blood together in the pleural space.

Secondary infection is less found in bullous emphysema, marked by gas-liquid line in bulla. There is no capillary, or not enough in the wall of the bulla. Coughing up blood is rare in patients with bullous emphysema, even if the bullae rupture.

Source: BullousEmphysema.org
Last update: 2011-11-03