Which finding on auscultation is indicative of atelectasis?

Decreased breath sounds on auscultation are indicative of atelectasis due to the collapse or incomplete expansion of a lung or part of a lung. In the case of atelectasis, the alveoli are not filled with air, which reduces the overall airflow in the affected area. This decreased airflow leads to diminished or absent breath sounds when listening with a stethoscope over the site of the atelectasis.

Wheezing sounds occur due to airway obstruction or constriction, typically associated with conditions like asthma or bronchitis, rather than a collapse of lung tissue. Stridor, characterized by a high-pitched wheezing sound resulting from turbulent airflow in the upper airway, is indicative of upper airway obstruction and does not relate to atelectasis. Rhonchi are low-pitched, rumbling sounds often associated with the presence of secretions in larger airways and signify different issues, such as bronchitis rather than the collapse of lung tissue.

Understanding these distinctions is key to clinical assessment and diagnosing the underlying conditions present in patients.