Final answer:
In a patient with pericarditis, a friction rub is a possible auscultatory finding. This sound is the result of inflamed pericardial layers rubbing together and is distinctive from other abnormal heart sounds associated with various cardiac conditions.
Step-by-step explanation:
A possible auscultatory finding in a patient with pericarditis is a friction rub. The heart sounds that are heard via auscultation with a stethoscope normally include the "lub" of the atrioventricular valves (S1) and the "dub" of the semilunar valves closing (S2). However, pericarditis can cause a distinctive friction rub, which is produced by the inflammation of the pericardial layers, leading to their roughened surfaces rubbing together during cardiac motion. This is quite different from other heart sounds such as fixed splitting of S2, which can be associated with atrial septal defect, a mid-systolic click, which might indicate mitral valve prolapse, or a pericardial knock, often a sign of constrictive pericarditis.