Crackles / Rales / Crepitations
- Probably represent opening of small airways and alveoli. - They may be normal at the lung bases if they clear on coughing or after taking a few deep breaths. - Basal rales are a classical feature of pulmonary congestion with left ventricular failure. They may be more diffuse in pulmonary fibrosis.
- Adventitious sound
- Intermittent
- Appeared in phase of inspiration or early expiration
- Constant in site
- Unchanged in character
- Medium and fine crackles exist meantime
- Less or disappeared after cough
Site of crackles
- Local: local lesion
- Pneumonia, TB, bronchiectasis
- Both bases
- Pulmo. edema, bronchopneumonia, chronic bronchitis
- Full fields
- Acute pulmo. edema, severe bronchopneumonia, chronic bronchitis with severe infection