A doctor is seeing a patient for complaints of pins and needles sensation to their left hand. Which of the following terms should the doctor indicate on their charting?

Choice A reason: Abdominal distention is an unexpected finding, potentially indicating serious issues like bowel obstruction, ascites, or organ enlargement, requiring urgent reporting. Unlike normal findings like symmetry, distention demands investigation. Prompt documentation ensures timely diagnosis and intervention, critical for preventing complications in patients with abdominal abnormalities.

Choice B reason: Silver striae are expected from skin stretching (e.g., pregnancy or weight gain), not typically concerning unless new or severe. Distention is more urgent. Assuming striae require reporting risks diverting focus from serious findings, potentially delaying evaluation of critical abdominal conditions needing immediate medical attention.

Choice C reason: Borborygmus (bowel sounds) is a normal finding, indicating active digestion, unless absent or hyperactive. Distention is abnormal and urgent. Assuming borborygmus requires reporting risks misprioritizing normal findings, neglecting serious issues like distention, critical for timely diagnosis and management of abdominal pathology.

Choice D reason: Abdominal symmetry is expected in healthy assessments, unlike distention, which signals pathology. Assuming symmetry is unexpected risks overlooking abnormal findings, diverting focus from urgent issues like obstruction or ascites. Reporting distention ensures prompt evaluation, critical for addressing underlying causes and preventing complications in patients.

Choice A reason: Crackles are discontinuous, high-pitched popping sounds heard during inspiration, often due to fluid in alveoli, as in pneumonia. The described continuous, low-pitched snoring sound indicates rhonchi, not crackles. Misidentifying crackles risks incorrect respiratory assessment, potentially delaying treatment for conditions like bronchitis requiring airway clearance or antibiotics.

Choice B reason: Wheezing is a high-pitched, musical sound caused by narrowed airways, typically in asthma or COPD, not a low-pitched snoring sound. The description matches rhonchi, indicating mucus in larger airways. Assuming wheezing misguides diagnosis, risking inappropriate bronchodilator use instead of interventions like suctioning for rhonchi-related conditions.

Choice C reason: Rhonchi are continuous, low-pitched, snoring-like sounds caused by mucus or secretions in larger airways, often in bronchitis or COPD. They may clear with coughing, matching the description. Accurate identification ensures proper interventions, like airway clearance or antibiotics, preventing complications like atelectasis or infection in patients with obstructive lung conditions.

Choice D reason: Pleural friction rub is a grating, creaking sound from inflamed pleural surfaces, not a snoring-like sound. It persists through the respiratory cycle, unlike rhonchi, which involve airway secretions. Misidentifying as a rub risks missing airway issues, delaying treatments like mucolytics, critical for managing conditions causing rhonchi in respiratory assessment.