The nurse is auscultating heart sounds on a client and hears an extra sound late in diastole, just before the S1. How should the nurse document this finding?

A. Atelectatic crackles that do not have a pathologic cause:

Atelectatic crackles are short, popping, crackling sounds heard during auscultation. They occur in individuals who are in a supine position and disappear after a few breaths. These crackles are not indicative of any pathological condition; they are common when the lungs are not fully aerated, especially when a person is lying down.

B. Vesicular breath sounds:

Vesicular breath sounds are normal lung sounds heard over the peripheral lung areas. They are soft, low-pitched, and continuous throughout inspiration and part of expiration. Vesicular breath sounds are the typical sounds heard during routine breathing and are not associated with crackling or popping noises.

C. Fine wheezes:

Wheezes are high-pitched whistling sounds heard during expiration. They occur due to narrowed airways and are commonly associated with conditions like asthma or bronchoconstriction. Fine wheezes suggest a partial obstruction in the smaller airways, causing turbulent airflow, leading to the characteristic sound.

D. Fine crackles and may be a sign of pneumonia:

Fine crackles are high-pitched, discontinuous, crackling sounds heard during inspiration. They can occur due to the sudden opening of small airways, and their presence may indicate fluid in the lungs or lung inflammation. Fine crackles are often associated with conditions such as pneumonia, heart failure, or interstitial lung diseases.

A. The third heart sound (S3):

The third heart sound (S3) is an abnormal heart sound that occurs during early diastole, immediately after S2 (the second heart sound). It is caused by the rapid filling of the ventricles and is often associated with conditions like heart failure. In heart failure, the ventricles become stiff, causing vibrations that produce the S3 sound.

B. A friction rub:

A friction rub is a high-pitched, scratchy sound heard during both systole and diastole. It is caused by the rubbing together of inflamed pericardial layers (pericarditis) and is usually heard best at the left lower sternal border. Friction rubs can indicate pericardial inflammation and are often heard in conditions such as pericarditis or after a myocardial infarction.

C. The fourth heart sound (S4):

The fourth heart sound (S4) occurs late in diastole, just before S1, and is caused by atrial contraction. It is associated with increased resistance to ventricular filling, often due to conditions like hypertension or aortic stenosis. The S4 sound is heard as a low-pitched "atrial gallop."

D. A split second heart sound S2:

The second heart sound (S2) represents the closure of the aortic and pulmonic valves. Normally, S2 has two components: A2 (aortic valve closure) and P2 (pulmonic valve closure). A split S2 occurs when A2 and P2 do not close simultaneously. A physiological split S2 is common during inspiration and occurs due to delayed closure of the pulmonic valve. An abnormal or fixed split S2 can indicate underlying heart conditions such as atrial septal defect (ASD) or right bundle branch block (RBBB).