Saunders Respiratory Practice 2026 - Free Respiratory Practice Questions and Study Guide

In a client experiencing an acute exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), hyperinflated lungs are a common finding on a chest x-ray. This occurs due to the trapping of air in the lungs, which is a result of the airflow limitation characteristic of COPD. As patients struggle to exhale fully, air becomes trapped in the alveoli, leading to over-distension of the lung fields.

This hyperinflation can be visualized on a chest x-ray as an increase in lung volume, flattened diaphragms, and an increased retrosternal air space. These signs indicate that the lungs are over-inflated, which is typical in COPD patients, especially during exacerbations.

Other conditions like atelectasis and consolidation may present with distinct radiographic features but are not typically associated with the acute exacerbation of COPD. Fluid accumulation may be observed in various lung diseases but does not represent the characteristic finding during an exacerbation of COPD. Therefore, hyperinflated lungs serve as the key indicator of the pathological changes occurring during an exacerbation in patients with COPD.