Multiple Choice Questions on Respiratory System Related

Review Multiple Choice Questions on Respiratory System related questions and content

A patient has been diagnosed with heart failure that has not yet responded to treatment. What breath sound should the nurse expect to assess on auscultation?

  • A. Expiratory wheezes
  • B. Inspiratory wheezes
  • C. Rhonchi
  • D. Crackles
Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: Crackles. In heart failure, crackles are often heard on auscultation due to fluid accumulation in the lungs. This is a result of the heart's inability to effectively pump blood, leading to congestion in the pulmonary circulation. Crackles are discontinuous, moist sounds that occur during inspiration and sometimes expiration. Expiratory wheezes (A) are typically associated with obstructive airway diseases such as asthma. Inspiratory wheezes (B) are not commonly heard in heart failure. Rhonchi (C) are low-pitched continuous sounds often heard in patients with bronchitis or pneumonia, not specifically in heart failure.