Characteristics of Breath Sounds
Characteristics of Breath Sounds
Characteristics of Breath Sounds
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Physical Findings in Selected Chest Disorders (cont’d)<br />
Condition<br />
Chronic Obstructive<br />
Pulmonary Disease<br />
(COPD)<br />
Slowly progressive<br />
disorder in which the<br />
distal air spaces enlarge<br />
and lungs become<br />
hyperinflated. Chronic<br />
bronchitis is <strong>of</strong>ten<br />
associated.<br />
Asthma<br />
Widespread narrowing<br />
<strong>of</strong> the tracheobronchial<br />
tree diminishes airflow<br />
to a fluctuating degree.<br />
During attacks, airflow<br />
decreases further and<br />
lungs hyperinflate.<br />
Percussion<br />
Note<br />
Diffusely<br />
Hyperresonant<br />
Resonant to<br />
diffusely<br />
hyperresonant<br />
Trachea<br />
Midline<br />
Midline<br />
<strong>Breath</strong> <strong>Sounds</strong><br />
Decreased to absent<br />
Often obscured by<br />
wheezes<br />
Adventitious<br />
<strong>Sounds</strong><br />
None, or the<br />
crackles, wheezes,<br />
and ronchi <strong>of</strong><br />
associated chronic<br />
bronchitis<br />
Wheezes, possibly<br />
crackles<br />
Tactile Fremitus<br />
and Transmitted<br />
Voice <strong>Sounds</strong><br />
Decreased<br />
Decreased