Limited only to the extent necessary to maintain patient dignity.Īuscultation should be performed from side to side and top to bottom, However, patient exposure should be reasonable and (3) The rubbing sound of clothes may be misinterpreted asĪbnormal breath sounds. Stethoscope head and the patient's skin may muffle any findings that Through a garment and good contact between patient's bare chest and the Presence of another female during chest auscultation of a female These includeĪuscultation must be conducted in a quiet environment since ambient To pick up significant pulmonary signs, it is important to pay attention to the prerequisites and use of correct technique of auscultation. Crackles are discontinuous sounds usually heard during inspiration (2) while, wheeze and rhonchi are continuous sounds commonly heard during expiration but may be heard in inspiration in severeairway obstruction. (1) Adventitious breath sounds (crackles, wheeze, rhonchi) are superimposed on normal breath sounds and are often suggestive of some cardio-pulmonary pathology. bronchial breathsounds heard in peripheral lung fields may indicate consolidation) or if they are qualitatively different from normal breath sounds (e.g. ![]() Breath sounds are considered abnormal if they are heard outside their usual location in the chest (e.g. Pulmonary auscultation is a skill that helps to identify abnormal andadventitious breath sounds. This prompted us to read about the correct method recommended for chest auscultation and share this knowledge. ![]() ![]() Postponement of surgical cases and wastage of OT time is distressing both for the patient and the clinician. Missing significant findings due to improper technique of auscultation notonly deprives the patients of preoperative preparation and stabilization, but may increase morbidity. Thisled us to observe the technique of auscultation and we found that doctors would, at times, listen to air entry only during inspiration and would change to a new location on the chest omitting the expiratory phase. The two patients had been evaluated the day before and in the preoperative holding area, respectively, by two resident doctors. Recently we encountered two patients posted for elective surgery who were postponed because of wheeze detected on auscultation in the operationtheatre (OT). Although advancements in technology-based medicine has led to a decreased reliance on this skill as a diagnostic tool, its role in the acute care setting as a diagnostic and therapeutic aid has no substitute. Auscultation is a time honoured skill that forms an integral part of general physical examination.
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