Intro To Lung Sounds

Pleural Rubs Sounds

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Pleural rubs are discontinuous or continuous, creaking or grating sounds. The sound has been described as similar to walking on fresh snow or a leather-on-leather type of sound. Coughing will not alter the sound. They are produced because two inflamed surfaces are sliding by one another, such as in pleurisy.

During auscultation, pleural rubs can usually be localized to a particular place on the chest wall. They also come and go.

Because these sounds occur whenever the patient's chest wall moves, they appear on inspiration and expiration. Pleural rubs stop when the patient holds her breath. If the rubbing sound continues while the patient holds a breath, it may be a pericardial friction rub.

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The recommended auscultation position for the stethoscope is the Chest wall position. For this sound, use stethoscope's Diaphragm.

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The recommended patient position is Seated

Waveform

This waveform plots sound amplitude on the vertical axis against time on the horizontal axis.

Skin and Ribs

Blended View

Lungs

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Lessons

1	Vesicular - Normal
2	Wheeze - Expiratory
3	Pleural Rubs
4	Bronchophony - Healthy
5	Stridor

Practice Drill

Listening Tips
A synopsis of important sound features and timing for this abnormality.
Plural rubs are creaking or grating sounds that have been described as being similar to walking on fresh snow or a leather-on-leather type of sound. Pleural rubs stop when the patient holds a breath.

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