|
Page 3 of 14
Vesicular Breath Sounds
This is the normal breath sound and is heard over most of the lungs.
It is soft and low-pitched and the inspiratory sounds are longer than the expiratory sounds. It is compared in character to the rustling of dry leaves.
Abnormal Breath Sounds
Absent or Decreased Breath Sounds
There are a number of common uses for absent or decreased breath sounds, including:
- Asthma: decreased breath sounds
- Atelectasis (Collapse): If the bronchial obstruction persists, breath sounds are absent unless the atelectasis occurs in the upper lobes when adjacent tracheal sounds may be audible.
- Fibrosis: decreased breath sounds, unless fibrosis occurs in upper lobes when adjacent tracheal sounds may be audible
- Emphysema: decreased breath sounds
- Pleural Effusion: decreased or absent breath sounds. If the effusion is large, bronchial sounds may be heard at the upper level of fluid.
- Pneumothorax: decreased or absent breath sounds
- ARDS: decreased breath sounds in late stages
|
