The nurse is performing cardiac assessment on a 65-year-old patient 3 days after the patient had a myocardial infarction.Heart sounds are normal when she is supine,but while the patient is sitting and leaning forward,the nurse hears a high-pitched,scratchy sound at the apex with the diaphragm of the stethoscope.The sound disappears on inspiration.The nurse suspects:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Inflammation of the precordium gives rise to a friction rub.The sound is high-pitched and scratchy,like sandpaper being rubbed: It is best heard with the diaphragm,with the patient sitting up and leaning forward,and with the breath held in expiration.A friction rub can be heard anywhere on the precordium but usually is best heard at the apex and left lower sternal border,areas where the pericardium comes in close contact with the chest wall.

The Nurse Is Performing Cardiac Assessment on a 65-Year-Old Patient