|
Page 7 of 14
Bronchial Breath Sounds:
Bronchial breath sounds are usually loud, high-pitched and sound close to the stethoscope.
Character of the sound is HOLLOW.
There is a gap between the inspiratory and expiratory phases of respiration, and the expiratory sounds are equal in length to inspiratory sounds.
If these sounds are heard anywhere other than over the manubrium, they indicate an abnormality.
- Consolidation
- Cavity
- Upper level of pleural effusion
- Upper lobe fibrosis
- Upper lobe collapse
NOTE:
The ideal way to recognize a bronchial breathing while auscultating is to look for
- the hollow character of the sound.
Then confirm that it is indeed bronchial breathing by looking for
- the gap between inspiration and expiration and
- the equality of these two phases of respiration.
|
