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A patient is admitted with the diagnosis of severe left-sided heart failure. The nurse expects to auscultate which adventitious lung sounds?

A) Sonorous wheezes in the left lower lung
B) Rhonchi midsternum
C) Crackles only in apex of lungs
D) Inspiratory crackles in lung bases

1 Answer

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Final answer:

In severe left-sided heart failure, the expected adventitious lung sound is inspiratory crackles at the lung bases, which are caused by fluid buildup due to reduced heart pumping efficiency.

Step-by-step explanation:

A patient admitted with the diagnosis of severe left-sided heart failure is likely to have specific adventitious lung sounds when auscultated by a nurse or a healthcare provider. These sounds are typically caused by the accumulation of fluid in the lungs due to the heart's reduced ability to pump blood effectively, leading to pulmonary congestion.

The most expected adventitious lung sound in this scenario would be inspiratory crackles in the lung bases, which occur as the small airways and alveoli pop open during inspiration. This is due to fluid accumulation, often heard at the end of the inspiration, especially when the patient is lying down, as in the case of left-sided heart failure.

User Francois Wouts
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