The nurse is listening to the breath sounds of young adult client with severe asthma. The nurse recognizes that air passing through narrowed bronchioles would produce which of these adventitious sounds?
A.
Wheezes
B.
Whispered pectoriloquy
C.
Bronchial sounds
D.
Bronchophony
The correct answer and Explanation is :
The correct answer is A. Wheezes.
Explanation:
Wheezes are high-pitched, continuous sounds that occur when air flows through narrowed airways, such as those seen in conditions like asthma. In severe asthma, bronchospasm, inflammation, and increased mucus production contribute to the narrowing of the bronchioles. When a nurse listens to the breath sounds of a patient experiencing an asthma exacerbation, wheezes are often the prominent adventitious sounds heard during both inspiration and expiration.
Wheezing is particularly characteristic of asthma because it indicates turbulent airflow through constricted air passages. The sound can vary in pitch and intensity and may be more pronounced during expiration due to the greater resistance faced by air as it exits the lungs. Patients with severe asthma may experience prolonged expiratory phases, making wheezing a significant indicator of their condition.
In contrast, the other options do not accurately describe the sounds associated with narrowed bronchioles in asthma:
- B. Whispered pectoriloquy refers to increased clarity of whispered sounds heard through a stethoscope, often indicating lung consolidation rather than narrowing.
- C. Bronchial sounds are normal breath sounds heard over the trachea and larger airways; they are not adventitious and are not indicative of airway obstruction.
- D. Bronchophony is the phenomenon where spoken sounds are louder and clearer when auscultating over areas of lung consolidation. Like whispered pectoriloquy, this is not related to narrowed airways but rather to lung pathology.
Recognizing wheezes and understanding their significance is crucial for nurses caring for patients with asthma, as it helps assess the severity of airway obstruction and guides appropriate interventions.