What indicates an increase in residual volume in a patient with emphysema?

Prepare for the JBL Airway Test with flashcards and multiple choice questions. Each question includes hints and explanations to help you excel. Get ready for the exam!

An increase in residual volume in a patient with emphysema is primarily indicated by an inability to fully exhale. In emphysema, the elasticity of the lung tissue is compromised due to damage to the alveoli. This leads to an obstruction of airflow during exhalation, thereby trapping air in the lungs and preventing complete emptying. As a result, the residual volume—the amount of air remaining in the lungs after a maximal exhalation—becomes elevated.

This phenomenon is closely associated with the characteristic difficulty in breathing that patients with emphysema experience. They often find it challenging to expel air completely, leading to retained air in the lungs and an overall decrease in their breathing efficiency. Other choices provided do not accurately reflect the physiological changes occurring within the lungs of an emphysema patient. For example, improved tidal volume does not typically occur in this condition, and decreased lung compliance usually involves a direct relationship with respiratory effort, while increased vital capacity would not occur due to the air obstruction inherent in emphysema. Thus, the inability to fully exhale serves as a clear indicator of increased residual volume in such patients.

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