A nurse on a Medical-Surgical unit is performing an assessment on a client who has COPD with emphysema. The client reports that he has a frequent wet cough and is occasionally short-of-breath. The nurse should anticipate which of the following assessment findings for this client?

The correct answer is choice B. Increased anteroposterior diameter of the chest.

Choice A rationale:

Petechiae on the chest (Choice A) are tiny red or purple spots that appear on the skin due to small blood vessel breakage. They are not typically associated with COPD and emphysema. Petechiae are more often related to conditions like thrombocytopenia or certain infections, where blood clotting is impaired.

Choice B rationale:

Increased anteroposterior diameter of the chest, often referred to as "barrel chest," is a characteristic finding in clients with COPD and emphysema. This occurs due to the hyperinflation of the lungs and the loss of elasticity in the lung tissues, which causes the chest to become rounded and the ribs to be positioned more horizontally.

Choice C rationale:

An oxygen saturation level of 96% (Choice C) is within the normal range for oxygen saturation. However, while it's important for clients with COPD to maintain adequate oxygen levels, this value doesn't specifically correlate with the client's symptoms of a wet cough and occasional shortness of breath.

Choice D rationale:

Respiratory alkalosis (Choice D) involves an increase in blood pH due to decreased levels of carbon dioxide (hypocapnia) caused by hyperventilation. While respiratory alkalosis can occur in clients with COPD due to compensatory hyperventilation, it is not a direct assessment finding related to the client's symptoms of a wet cough and occasional shortness of breath.

Choice A rationale:

The choice "Pigeon" is not the correct answer. Pigeon chest, also known as pectus carinatum, is a deformity of the chest characterized by a protrusion of the sternum and ribs. This condition is not associated with chronic bronchitis.

Choice B rationale:

The choice "Funnel" is not the correct answer. Funnel chest, or pectus excavatum, is a deformity where the sternum is sunken into the chest. It is not the expected chest shape in chronic bronchitis.

Choice C rationale:

The choice "Kyphotic" is not the correct answer. Kyphosis refers to an excessive outward curvature of the thoracic spine, leading to a rounded upper back appearance. This is not the typical chest shape seen in chronic bronchitis.

Choice D rationale:

The correct answer is "Barrel." Choice D is the correct answer. Chronic bronchitis is a type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) characterized by airway inflammation and narrowing. Over time, this can lead to air trapping in the lungs and an increase in the anteroposterior diameter of the chest. This results in a barrel-shaped chest appearance, where the chest appears rounded and the ribs are more horizontal. This adaptation allows for increased lung capacity to accommodate for the compromised airflow in patients with chronic bronchitis.