The nurse is assessing a patient with an endotracheal tube and notes decreased breath sounds on the left with normal sounds on the right.Which condition may cause this? Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected.
Select all that apply.
A)Pressure from a right pneumothorax
B)Misplacement of the endotracheal tube
C)High pulmonary pressures
D)Partial obstruction of the endotracheal tube
E)A large infiltrate in the left lung

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Decreased breath sounds on one side can be due to misplacement of the endotracheal tube or a large infiltrate in the lung on that side. A right pneumothorax could cause decreased breath sounds on the right, not the left, and high pulmonary pressures or partial obstruction of the endotracheal tube would not cause unilateral decreased breath sounds.

The Nurse Is Assessing a Patient with an Endotracheal Tube