Bronchial respiration: types and forms of pathological respiration

Bronchial breathing is noise produced during inhalation-exhalation, which in a person who does not suffer from any diseases of the pulmonary system, is listened to in the trachea, larynx and bronchi. This is physiological breathing. But it can also have a pathological character. In this case, breathing is heard outside these areas. Sometimes a painful process can be diagnosed even with an external examination. In pathology, noise is caused by seals or the presence of cavities in the lungs that will connect to the bronchi. Such processes require immediate relief. From the course of the disease depends on how long will the therapy continue and after what period of time the noise will disappear.

Types of pathological respiration

If the respiratory process extends to the chest, we can say that it is pathological in nature. Such a phenomenon is caused by diseases such as pneumonia, lung cancer and others. Often, the pathology manifests itself in diseases of the respiratory system, which are chronic.

Pathological bronchial breathing can be accompanied by spasms of bronchi and other disorders. Each disease requires individually selected therapy. Antibiotics, bronchodilators and other medicines are used.

Bronchial respiration may differ in the strength of sound, depending on the size and degree of the compaction area. Breathing can be loud or quiet.

In a large lesion, loud breathing occurs. If the hearth is small in size and is located in the depth, then the breathing will be audible quietly.

Bronchial breathing can be:

• Amphoric;
• Metal;
• Stenotic;
• Mixed;
• Vesicular.

Amphoric view

This type of breathing manifests itself in the case of a lesion of the lungs with smooth walls. The hearth contains air. It communicates with the bronchus. This condition can be caused by an abscess of the lungs after opening, as well as a tuberculous cavern.

Breathing in this case is inherent in rigidity. It looks like a booming sound that mimics the passage of air through an empty container. Noise is heard both on inhalation and exhalation. Amphoric breathing can be heard under the condition that the diameter of the affected cavity is 5 mm or more. The duration of such a breath is long enough.

Metallic appearance

This type of breathing is detected with open-air pneumothorax. The sound with it is very loud. He has a high timbre. Something like that can be heard when you hit a metal object. Such bronchial breathing is heard when there are cavities in the lungs that have large dimensions and smooth walls. There is a superficial location of the foci.

Stenotic appearance

This type of breathing is caused by a narrowing of the trachea or larynx, which can be noted in the presence of a tumor, an erosion or the presence of a foreign body.

During an external examination, a stethoscope is used. Often, breathing has a stiffness, and it is heard without this device even at a certain distance from the sick person. This breathing is very similar to a moan, which is characterized by a sharp long inspiration. A small amount of air passes through the lungs. The phenomenon can be observed for several days. In this case, everything depends on the severity of the disease and its development.

Mixed type

The vesicle-bronchial, or mixed type of breathing is inherent in infiltrative tuberculosis or focal inflammation of the lungs. There is such bronchial breathing in bronchitis. Often this phenomenon is a symptom of chronic pneumosclerosis. In this case, the foci are located very deep in the lung tissue. They are located at a great distance from each other. When inhaling, vesicular breathing is dried, and when exhaled, it is mixed.

The duration of this condition can range from several days to several weeks, depending on the duration of the disease. To facilitate the condition, the doctor prescribes bronchodilator or other means.

Vesicular breathing

Abnormal vesicular breathing can be monitored on both sides, on the one hand or in a specific area of the chest.

Two-sided breathing is always observed at shortness of breath of any genesis. For example, it occurs in diseases of the lungs, heart, pathology of higher nervous activity, metabolic disorders, blood diseases, pulmonary embolism, etc.

Special form of vesicular breathing

There is a separate form of vesicular breathing, which in medicine was called "hard". Most often it is tapped on both sides of the chest, but can be of a limited character. The basis of its occurrence is a pathological process manifested in the local inflammatory swelling of the bronchial mucosa, their deformation in the course of the chronic course of the disease, the accumulation of secretion and pus in them.

Vesicular breathing is listened to during an attack of bronchial asthma. It refers to chronic inflammatory diseases. The ailment causes an increased activity of the bronchi and their sensitivity to certain allergens, which provokes spasms.

In this case, the motion of the air jet undergoes certain changes. Due to the fact that the lumen in the bronchi becomes unequal, vortex air currents are formed. Vesicular breathing is characterized by roughness, unevenness and roughness. In this case, prolonged inhalation and expiration. By duration they are equal.

Simulations of this phenomenon can be achieved by breathing through tightly compressed lips with a slight interruption.

Hard breathing always indicates the presence of acute or chronic bronchitis. It almost always accompanies focal pneumonia, since this disease also affects the bronchi. Listening to such breathing in the area of the apex of the lungs may give rise to a diagnosis such as tuberculosis or local fibrosis.

A variant of rigid vesicular breathing is also an extended exhalation. His diagnosis is very important. It occurs when the emptying of the alveoli is hampered by narrowing of the small bronchi.

Such a process can be observed in diseases such as bronchiolitis or emphysema in combination with bronchitis.

Respiration in children with bronchial asthma also differs rigidity. Children have wheezing, coughing in the morning or at night, and obstructive syndrome.

Additional types of noise

When the body has pathological processes, then over the lungs can be listened to by side noise, which is attached to the main ones. They belong to the category of external noises. In this case, one can note a wet and dry wheeze, crepitation and a noise of friction of the pleura.

Appearance of wheezing

Chryps are very often diagnosed with chronic bronchial diseases. In this case, there is a hard breathing, against which a characteristic external sound is captured. Chryps can distinguish dryness or humidity.

The wet appearance is very long and musical. Its appearance is caused by a different degree of narrowing of the bronchial lumen, which is provoked by the accumulation of mucus. In the process of breathing, wheezing produces a medium viscosity fluid, after which bubbles form on its surface, which immediately burst. Wet wheezing has a non-permanent character. They disappear after coughing up the patient.

Dry rattles are audible when inhaled and exhaled. They are always accompanied by a hard breathing. Chrypses are also observed in asthmatics.

Respiration in bronchial asthma is determined by increased production of mucus, swelling and thickening of the walls of the bronchi. The narrowing of their lumens causes a difficult air ventilation. This entails the appearance of choking, wheezing, shortness of breath, severe bronchial breathing.

Crepitus

Crepitation accompanies severe pathological breathing. This is a side noise, which is caused by the simultaneous dissociation of a large number of alveoli. This sound is heard at the peak of the inspiration. It is stable because it is unchanged after coughing.

Creption is inherent in people affected by croupous pneumonia. It can be replaced by moist wheezing after filling the alveoli with viscous mucus. The duration of such a process can be from several days to several weeks. To get rid of crepitus, you should treat the underlying disease.

Noise of friction of the pleura

This sound often accompanies dry pleurisy and is the most striking symptom of this disease. Noise of the pleura is noted on inhaling and exhaling. It looks like the rustling of sheets of paper. This breath will be noted in the patient throughout the entire disease before the cure. This phenomenon occurs with diseases of respiratory organs of a chronic nature.

Conclusion

Bronchial respiration is a symptom of many pathological processes in the respiratory system. In its sound it can be different. Everything depends on the degree of damage to the bronchi and lungs.

As a rule, bronchial breathing passes after treatment of the underlying disease. Its persistence is due to the transition of the disease to a chronic form. Therefore, the first symptoms of bronchial or pulmonary involvement should be immediately consulted by a specialist. The doctor will appoint the necessary examinations and prescribe the appropriate treatment.