Question

Your adult patient presents with dyspnea that developed over the last few days and worsened today. During auscultation of the patient's lungs, his vocal sounds become louder over the left lower lobe of his lung. What does this likely indicate?

A. Consolidation (fluid, mucus) is present in the left lower lobe of the patient's lung

B. Consolidation (clear lung sounds) is present everywhere but in the left lower lobe of the patient's lung

C. A pneumothorax likely exists in the left lower lobe of the patient's lung

D. The patient is likely experiencing an acute asthma attack

Answer 1

The patient likely has consolidation (fluid, mucus) in the left lower lobe of the lung, suggestive of pneumonia.

Step-by-step explanation:

The patient's presentation of dyspnea that developed over the last few days and worsened, along with the finding of vocal sounds becoming louder over the left lower lobe of the lung during auscultation, likely indicate A. Consolidation (fluid, mucus) is present in the left lower lobe of the patient's lung. This is consistent with pneumonia, which is a condition characterized by the filling of the lungs with mucus. The crackling sound heard during auscultation and the presence of a shadow on the chest radiograph further support this diagnosis.