Which condition features air trapping and hyperinflation due to loss of elastic recoil?

Which condition features air trapping and hyperinflation due to loss of elastic recoil?

• A. Pulmonary edema
• B. Pneumonia
• C. Pulmonary embolism
• D. Emphysema

Answer: (D)

Air trapping and hyperinflation come from a loss of elastic recoil in the lungs. In emphysema, the alveolar walls are destroyed and elastic fibers are damaged, so the lungs don’t snap back effectively during exhalation. This makes the small airways prone to collapse and traps air inside the lungs, leading to persistent over-inflation. You’ll see increased lung volumes on tests—such as higher residual volume and higher total lung capacity—and often a reduced FEV1 with a lower FEV1/FVC ratio, reflecting obstructive airflow limitation with air trapping. Other conditions don’t produce this pattern from loss of elastic recoil. Pulmonary edema involves fluid in the lungs that can reduce gas exchange and compress airspaces; pneumonia causes consolidation that fills air spaces with inflammatory material; pulmonary embolism mainly causes perfusion issues and may lead to atelectasis—none of these produce chronic air trapping and hyperinflation driven by destroyed elastic recoil.

Air trapping and hyperinflation come from a loss of elastic recoil in the lungs. In emphysema, the alveolar walls are destroyed and elastic fibers are damaged, so the lungs don’t snap back effectively during exhalation. This makes the small airways prone to collapse and traps air inside the lungs, leading to persistent over-inflation. You’ll see increased lung volumes on tests—such as higher residual volume and higher total lung capacity—and often a reduced FEV1 with a lower FEV1/FVC ratio, reflecting obstructive airflow limitation with air trapping.

Other conditions don’t produce this pattern from loss of elastic recoil. Pulmonary edema involves fluid in the lungs that can reduce gas exchange and compress airspaces; pneumonia causes consolidation that fills air spaces with inflammatory material; pulmonary embolism mainly causes perfusion issues and may lead to atelectasis—none of these produce chronic air trapping and hyperinflation driven by destroyed elastic recoil.