Upon assessment of respiratory excursion, the clinician notes asymmetric expansion of the chest. One side expands greater than the other. This could be due to:
A. Pneumothorax
B. Pleural effusion
C. Pneumonia
D. Pulmonary embolism
ANS: A
The respiratory excursion, or expansion, is determined by placing hands around the patient's posterior rib cage with the thumbs approximately at the level of the 10th rib between the thumbs, and then asking the patient to take a deep breath and observing the movement of the hands. The motion should be symmetrical. Less than anticipated movement occurs with advanced COPD and many restrictive processes, such as interstitial lung disease. Asymmetry of movement occurs with atelectasis, lobar collapse, pneumothorax, and several other conditions.
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