An immobilized client is suspected of having atelectasis.This is assessed by the nurse upon auscultation as:

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Atelectasis is the collapse of alveoli.In atelectasis,secretions block a bronchiole or a bronchus,and the distal lung tissue (alveoli)collapses as the existing air is absorbed,producing hypoventilation.If the client were suspected of having atelectasis,the nurse would expect diminished breath sounds in the area of hypoventilation.Harsh crackles indicate excessive airway secretion.Wheezing on inspiration indicates narrowing of the lumen of a respiratory passageway.Bronchovesicular sounds are a mixture of bronchial and vesicular sounds.Bronchovesicular whooshing would not be an expected sound indicating atelectasis.

An Immobilized Client Is Suspected of Having Atelectasis