Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a collection of lung diseases that obstruct airflow. This group of diseases can include asthma, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis. Patients with COPD or severe asthma often have hyperinflated lungs. If hyperinflation is severe enough, the resultant shallow breathing can reduce lung sliding.
If you see normal findings such as lung sliding and A-lines but the patient still has symptoms and difficulty breathing, you should consider COPD, asthma, pulmonary embolism, or nonpulmonary conditions causing the patient’s dyspnea.
COPD/Asthma Ultrasound Profile
- Bilateral A-lines
- Normal sliding or reduced lung sliding (as seen in severe asthma/COPD)
