General
blue bloater
What does blue bloater mean?
A COPD patient of the chronic-bronchitis type who is cyanotic ('blue') and fluid-overloaded ('bloated'), contrasted with the pink puffer.
"He's a blue bloater — cyanosed, oedematous and retaining CO2."
Origin
Classic respiratory teaching pairing with 'pink puffer.'
Frequently asked questions
What is a 'blue bloater'?
A COPD patient of the chronic-bronchitis type who appears blue (cyanosed) from low oxygen and bloated from fluid retention.
How is a blue bloater different from a pink puffer?
A blue bloater is cyanosed and oedematous with CO2 retention; a pink puffer stays pink by breathing hard but is thin and very breathless.
Where does the term come from?
It's a classic respiratory teaching pairing used alongside 'pink puffer' to describe the two COPD phenotypes.
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