NURS 612 Exam 2 Study Guide with Questions and Answers

Crackles CHF, pulmonary fibrosis, atelectasis. AKA rales. Often heard on inspiration. Fine crackles are brief, discontinuous, popping lung sounds that are high-pitched. Fine crackles are also similar to the sound of wood burning in a fireplace, or hook and loop fasteners being pulled apart or cellophane being crumpled. Crackles, previously termed rales, can be heard in both phases of respiration. Early inspiratory and expiratory crackles are the hallmark of chronic bronchitis. Late inspiratory crackles may mean pneumonia, CHF, or atelectasis. Wheezes Whistling, high-pitched bronchus; musical noise sounding like a squeak; most often heard continuously during inspiration and expiration; usually louder during expiration; COPD, bronchitis, asthma, pneumonia. Pleural Friction rub Loud/grating lung sound. Inflamed pleura, pneumonia, pleuritis, malignancy. Happens outside tree. Rhochi Loud, low, coarse sounds like a snore most often heard continuously during inspiration or expiration; usually louder during expiration; Coarse, low-pitched; may clear with cough. Rales Crackles; abnormal respiratory sound heard more often during inspiration and characterized by discrete discontinuous sounds, each lasting just a few milliseconds. May be fine, high-pitched, and relatively longer in duration. Causes of barrel chest? Results from compromised respiration as in chronic asthma, cystic fibrosis, or emphysema. Resonance percussion chest loud, low pitch, long duration, hollow quality (expected lung sound, can usually be heard over all areas of lungs). Dullness percussion medium intensity, medium to high pitch, medium duration, dull thud quality (suggests pneumonia, pleural effusion) Tympany percussion loud intensity, high pitch, medium duration, drumlike quality Hyperresonance percussion very loud intensity, very low pitch, longer duration, booming quality (associated with hyperinflation and may indicate emphysema, pneumothorax, or asthma).