Final answer:
Bronchovesicular sounds are the breath sounds that a nurse would not expect to hear in a patient with a pulmonary embolism, as they are normal breath sounds heard over the major bronchi. Wheezing is also not a classic finding in pulmonary embolism but can be present in obstructive lung disorders like asthma or COPD. Auscultation, pulse oximetry, and radiographic imagery form part of the assessment in diagnosing respiratory conditions.
Step-by-step explanation:
When listening to a patient with a pulmonary embolism, a nurse would be attentive to various abnormal breath sounds that may present. A pulmonary embolism, which is the sudden blockage of a pulmonary artery, can cause several changes in lung sounds. However, some breath sounds are not typically associated with this condition.
When conducting auscultation, the presence of egophony, where 'E' sounds like 'A' through a stethoscope, can sometimes occur, as well as dullness or decreased breath sounds due to parts of the lungs being occluded. Additionally, crackling sounds may be present, often indicating the presence of fluid in the lungs. These are indicative of lung conditions that may occur concurrently with or lead to pulmonary embolism.
Bronchovesicular sounds are normal breath sounds heard over major bronchi and are not typically increased in pulmonary embolism. Wheezing is another sound that might be noted in conditions like asthma or COPD but is not a classic finding in pulmonary embolism. These breath sounds correlate with obstructive lung disease, where airflow is diminished due to narrowed airways, which is a different pathology from that of a blockage in the blood vessels as seen in pulmonary embolisms.
Listening to heart and lung sounds with a stethoscope, using pulse oximetry, and obtaining radiographic images are essential parts of diagnosing respiratory conditions. The auscultation of the heart might reveal the "lub-dub" sounds, which are the sounds of the atrioventricular and semilunar valves of the heart closing. With pulmonary embolisms, additional signs like hypoxemia, or a low level of oxygen in the blood, and specific imaging features on a chest radiograph indicative of a clot might be present.