Pleural Rubs

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.

Patient Recording

Patient Recording - Half Speed Playback

Position

The patient's position should be seated.

Listening Tips

Features: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

Waveform (Phonocardiogram)

Authors

These authors contributed the audio recordings and text found in this reference guide: Jon Keroes, MD,Diane Wrigley, PA, and David Lieberman.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Barbara Erickson, PhD, RN, CCRN.

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