PAEA Surgery End Of Rotation (EOR) Practice Exam

What condition does an absent breath sound on one side typically indicate?

1. Pneumothorax

2. Acute asthma attack

3. Pneumonia

4. Bronchitis

The correct answer is: Pneumothorax

An absent breath sound on one side typically indicates a pneumothorax, which is a condition where air escapes into the pleural space, causing lung collapse on the affected side. In a pneumothorax, the presence of air in the pleural cavity removes the sound transmission that normally occurs as air moves through the lung tissue and bronchi during respiration. This results in diminished or absent breath sounds upon auscultation on the side of the pneumothorax. In contrast, conditions like acute asthma attacks, pneumonia, and bronchitis typically do not cause one-sided absent breath sounds. In acute asthma, wheezing and prolonged expiration may be heard due to bronchoconstriction, but breath sounds are not absent. Pneumonia usually presents with decreased breath sounds over the affected lung but may also include crackles or fremitus. Bronchitis can present with wheezes or rhonchi rather than absent breath sounds. Therefore, the characteristics of breath sounds and their distribution provide critical clues in diagnosing respiratory conditions.