noun
General Slang
pink puffer
PINK PUFF-er · noun · informal
Emphysema patient who stays pink by breathing hard
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Definitions
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A patient with emphysema-predominant COPD who maintains oxygenation by increased respiratory effort, remaining pink but breathless.
“Classic pink puffer — thin, pursed-lip breathing, sats holding.”
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pink puffer In A Sentence
Classic pink puffer — thin, pursed-lip breathing, sats holding.
Origin & Usage
Clinical descriptor turned bedside shorthand; contrasted with 'blue bloater.'
People Also Ask
What is a 'pink puffer'?
A patient with emphysema-type COPD who keeps their blood oxygen up by breathing hard, so they stay pink but are visibly breathless.
What's the difference between a pink puffer and a blue bloater?
A pink puffer stays pink through extra breathing effort; a blue bloater is cyanosed (blue) and fluid-overloaded with chronic bronchitis.
Is 'pink puffer' a real medical term?
It's a classic teaching descriptor that crossed into informal bedside use; it describes a recognisable clinical picture.
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