How to Assess Lungs Sounds
Only a trained health care professional should diagnosis any pulmonary disorder. That being said, virtually anyone who possesses a working stethoscope and a general understanding of anatomy can perform the following noninvasive analysis. There are 14 spots, auscultation points, on a person's back (seven on each side) that you can use to listen to a patient's lung sounds. Always listen to auscultation points bilaterally, that is, point 1 with the corresponding point 1 on the opposite side.
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Instructions
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Locating Auscultation Points
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1
Start just lateral to the patient's mid-line (where the neck and shoulders meet). This is the first point of auscultation.
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2
Locate the next four points between every other intercostal space (the space between two ribs), going down the patient's back while staying in a straight line.
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3
Locate points 6 and 7, about two inches lateral (away from the mid-line) from points 4 and 5, respectively.
Procedure
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4
Place the stethoscope on the first auscultation point on the right side of the patient's body. Instruct the patient to take one short breath, followed by one deep breath.
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5
Move the stethoscope in a ladder-like pattern to the other side, and repeat Step 1 on the other first auscultation point.
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6
Repeat this process for the remaining 12 points, remembering to always compare like points, for example, point 4 with the corresponding point 4 on the opposite side.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Only a trained health care professional should differentiate between the lung sounds heard. If you hear any abnormal sounds, such as crackles or wheezes, instruct the person to visit with her doctor.
