RT Book, Section
A1 Pfennig, Camiron L.
A1 Brown, B. Ethan
A2 Knoop, Kevin J.
A2 Stack, Lawrence B.
A2 Storrow, Alan B.
A2 Thurman, R. Jason
SR Print(0)
ID 1181053048
T1 Sputum
T2 The Atlas of Emergency Medicine, 5e
YR 2021
FD 2021
PB McGraw-Hill
PP New York, NY
SN 9781260134940
LK accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1181053048
RD 2024/04/23
AB Sputum  is  expectorant  from  the  lungs  and  respiratory  passages  that  contains  mucus  and  pus  and  is  a  clue  to  the  severity  of  respiratory  illness.  While  microscopic  examination  provides  the  most  accurate  clues  to  illness,  gross  examination  provides  valuable  information.  Color,  consistency,  and  volume  are  features  that  provide  insight  to  the  cause  and  severity  of  illness.  Bloody  sputum  or  hemoptysis  (see  Fig.  25.47)  may  occur  in  streaks  or  in  life-threatening  amounts.  Acute  bronchitis,  pneumonia,  lung  cancer,  tuberculosis,  bronchiectasis,  lung  abscess,  pulmonary  embolism,  and  pulmonary  infarction  are  causes  of  hemoptysis.  Pink  or  white  frothy  sputum  suggests  pulmonary  edema.