Questions of Respiratory System Related

Review Questions of Respiratory System related questions and content

An emergency room nurse is assessing a male client who has sustained a blunt injury to the chest wall. Which of these signs would indicate the presence of a pneumothorax in this client?

  • A. A low respiratory rate.
  • B. Diminished breath sounds.
  • C. The presence of a barrel chest.
  • D. A sucking sound at the site of injury.
Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Diminished breath sounds. In the case of a pneumothorax, air leaks into the pleural space, causing the lung to collapse partially. This results in diminished or absent breath sounds on the affected side. A low respiratory rate (A) is a general sign of respiratory distress but not specific to pneumothorax. The presence of a barrel chest (C) is associated with conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) but not indicative of a pneumothorax. A sucking sound at the site of injury (D) is characteristic of an open pneumothorax, not necessarily present in all cases of pneumothorax.