Hypoxemia, Cyanosis, and Edema in COPD patients
Changes in lung tissue interfere with gas exchange in a progressive way until patients have low levels of oxygen and high levels of carbon dioxide in their blood. Lack of proper oxygenation in the blood can result in tissue hypoxemia (a lack of oxygen in the tissues), cyanosis (a bluish or purplish discoloration due to lack of oxygen) that may appear on the lips, and edema, often in the ankles or feet. Hypoxemia gives the tissues a bluish tone, and chronic edema produces a swollen appearance. Many of these patients have abnormalities of oxygenation that worsen during sleep because of upper airway obstruction and/or an altered breathing drive in the brainstem.
The terms "blue bloaters" and "pink puffers" may be used by physicians to describe patients with COPD. Because a lack of proper oxygenation of the blood can lead to cyanosis and edema, physicians may refer to patients with advanced bronchitis as "blue bloaters." Physicians may refer to other patients as "pink puffers." These patients present with good color, but use the accessory muscles of the neck while breathing in, often through pursed lips.
The goals of the Medical Sites Network are to provide people with meaningful information to make informed decisions about their health and health care.