Sounds Flashcards
Causes of cracles
fine vs coarse
Fine crackles, the 2 F‘s:
Fibrosis
Failure (cardiac)
Coarse crackles may indicate airway pathology e.g. pneumonia/bronchiectasis.
Crackles always occur during inspiration.
FInger clubbing causes
cardio & respiratory
cardIAC
- Congenital cyanotic heart disease
- Infective endocarditis
- Atrial myxoma
Respiratory
Newly Sprouted Fingers
- Neoplasia – bronchial carcinoma, mesothelioma
- Suppurative lung disease – cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis, abscess, empyema
- Fibrotic lung disease – cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis, connective tissue disease (e.g. RA, SLE)
Whispered Pectoriloquy
Whispered “99”is louder if there is a consolidation:
either a solid mass (cancer)
or fluids (pneumonia)
tactile fremitus
The reason for increased fremitus in a consolidated lung is the fact that the sound waves are transmitted with less decay in a solid or fluid medium (the consolidation) than in a gaseous medium (aerated lung). Conversely, the reason for decreased fremitus in a pleural effusion or pneumothorax (or any pathology separating the lung tissue itself from the body wall) is that this increased space diminishes or prevents entirely sound transmission.
Ronchi
Rhonchi is the coarse rattling sound somewhat like snoring, usually caused by secretion in bronchial airways.
Atelectasis
llapse or closure of the lung resulting in reduced or absent gas exchange. Alveoli are deflated
On percussion: dullness
Percussion
when dull? when hyper?
Dull over pleural effusion, lobar pneumonia and collapse
Increased in emphysema, pneumothorax
Bronchiectasis
is a disease state defined by localized, irreversible dilation of part of the bronchial tree caused by destruction of the muscle and elastic tissue. It is classified as an obstructive lung disease, along with emphysema, bronchitis, asthma, and cystic fibrosis.
