COPD Exacerbation

A 72-year-old woman with severe COPD, who uses an inhaled LAMA/ LAMA daily on a set schedule and SABA via MDI as needed for symptom relief, presents with a 4-day history of URI symptoms, starting with sore throat and clear nasal discharge, without fever. She denies N, V, or other GI upset. She now reports a 2-day history of increasing shortness of breath and production of clear to white sputum. SaO2= 97% and she is no acute distress. In considering the diagnosis of COPD exacerbation, which of the following best describes the role of imaging in the evaluation of COPD exacerbation? A. A chest x-ray should be ordered in COPD exacerbation in the patient with fever and/or low SaO2 to help rule out concomitant pneumonia. B. A chest x-ray should be ordered routinely in the evaluation of a person with COPD exacerbation. C. Given the frequency of COPD exacerbations that typically occur in a person with COPD, chest x-ray use should be limited due to radiation exposure risk. D. A thoracic ultrasound is the preferred imaging study to order in a COPD exacerbation. --- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNKRn-wvg4I&list=PLf0PFEPBXfq592b5zCthlxSNIEM-H-EtD&index=18 Visit fhea.com to learn more!