Question:
I am writing a term paper on asthma for my paramedic class. I would like any
information, particularly focusing on the importance and location of
auscultating lung sounds in the asthma patient.
In layman's terms, I am interested in knowing where to listen for lung sounds
in the asthma patient, and what these lung sounds are telling me (Medically
speaking).
Answer:
as a critical care nurse...things are bad in a asthma patient when you hear
no air moving in the lungs......on lung maybe "tighter than another." This can
be heard over all lung field,s or over one side. This can be indicitive of
Bronchospasm, which can go from mild, to severe, to a respitory arrest.
Wheezing is air going thru tight lung passages...this too can sound different
on either side. Rhonchi...big loose congestion sounding can be found
scattered all over the lung fields in asmatics, and alot of time can sound
better in the patient who has a adequate cough. This is usually in big
bronchi....Rales normally can be herad in the bases, but can be throught the
lung fields is fluid, secreations that are very fine soundinging and you
really gotta listen for them...I think it sounds like very quiet
bubbling...where rhonchi is loud and course sounding. Alot of the time all
these lung sounds can be really altered with administration of albuterol
nebulizer..... This is my daily working knowledge with a asthma patients no
matter how unmedical it sounds.
