You observe a patient pursing his lips during expiration.This is most likely due to

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Pursed-lip breathing is performed by patients with COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).It is the patient's innate mechanism to apply positive-pressure breathing to prevent total alveolar collapse with every breath.Less energy is expended with each breath because the alveoli do not completely collapse after expiration.Blocked nasal passages obstruct the normal breathing passageway and lead to mouth breathing.Patients with pneumonia or pneumothorax do not purse their lips during expiration.

You Observe a Patient Pursing His Lips During Expiration