Auscultation of Breath and Bowel Sounds

Flashcards covering abnormal continuous and discontinuous breath sounds, stridor, and abdominal bowel sound characteristics and assessment parameters.

Stridor

A high-pitched, continuous sound heard over the upper airway of a patient with upper airway obstruction.

Wheeze

Musical or squeaking, high-pitched, continuous sounds auscultated during inspiration or expiration that occur in small air passages.

Rhonchi

Sonorous or coarse, low-pitched, continuous sounds auscultated during inspiration or expiration occurring in large air passages, which coughing may clear.

Crackles

Bubbling, crackling, or popping low-to high-pitched discontinuous sounds auscultated during inspiration occurring in small air passages, alveoli, bronchioles, bronchi, and trachea.

Friction Rub

Rubbing or grating sound auscultated during inspiration and expiration that is loudest over the lower lateral anterior surface.

Normal Bowel Sound Frequency

Bowel sounds occurring at a regular frequency of $\text{q 5-20 seconds}$.

Hypoactive Bowel Sounds

Infrequent bowel sounds occurring at a rate of $\text{q 1 min.}$.

Hyperactive Bowel Sounds

Bowel sounds occurring very frequently at a rate of $\text{q 1-3 seconds}$.

Absent Bowel Sounds Assessment Rule

If no sounds are heard in an abdominal quadrant, the practitioner must continue to listen in that quadrant for a minimum of $3\text{ mins.}$

Small Bowel (ileum)

An abdominal organ that traverses all four quadrants (RUQ, RLQ, LUQ, and LLQ).