Problem
A 65- year-old man was brought into the pulmonology clinic to see Dr. Strait. He had experienced shortness of breath for three weeks and now has difficulty breathing if sleeping flat in the bed. He also had a history of empyema last year, and he had a right lobectomy two years ago. Dr. Strait reports that the patient has tachypnea.
a) What term could you use to describe the patient's condition in regard to his difficult breathing in bed?
b) Describe his previous surgery.
c) Describe the patient's rate of breathing.
d) What was present in his lungs last year?