What finding is consistent with moderate emphysema?

In moderate emphysema, one of the characteristic findings is distant heart sounds. This occurs due to the hyperinflation of the lungs, which can push the heart downwards and somewhat away from the chest wall. As a result, the sounds of the heart can become less audible during auscultation. The hyperinflation and destruction of lung tissue lead to an increase in air space, making the heart sound more distant compared to normal pulmonary conditions.

Tactile fremitus is typically decreased in emphysema because the presence of air in the alveoli and the consequent loss of lung tissue reduces the transmission of vibrations from the lung to the chest wall. Similarly, dullness to percussion would not be expected in emphysema; rather, hyper-resonance is a more common finding due to the increased air in the lungs. A deviated trachea is usually not a standard finding in moderate emphysema unless there is associated pathology such as a large pleural effusion or a mediastinal shift.