Rales

(Redirected from Rale)
Jump to navigation Jump to search

WikiDoc Resources for Rales

Articles

Most recent articles on Rales

Most cited articles on Rales

Review articles on Rales

Articles on Rales in N Eng J Med, Lancet, BMJ

Media

Powerpoint slides on Rales

Images of Rales

Photos of Rales

Podcasts & MP3s on Rales

Videos on Rales

Evidence Based Medicine

Cochrane Collaboration on Rales

Bandolier on Rales

TRIP on Rales

Clinical Trials

Ongoing Trials on Rales at Clinical Trials.gov

Trial results on Rales

Clinical Trials on Rales at Google

Guidelines / Policies / Govt

US National Guidelines Clearinghouse on Rales

NICE Guidance on Rales

NHS PRODIGY Guidance

FDA on Rales

CDC on Rales

Books

Books on Rales

News

Rales in the news

Be alerted to news on Rales

News trends on Rales

Commentary

Blogs on Rales

Definitions

Definitions of Rales

Patient Resources / Community

Patient resources on Rales

Discussion groups on Rales

Patient Handouts on Rales

Directions to Hospitals Treating Rales

Risk calculators and risk factors for Rales

Healthcare Provider Resources

Symptoms of Rales

Causes & Risk Factors for Rales

Diagnostic studies for Rales

Treatment of Rales

Continuing Medical Education (CME)

CME Programs on Rales

International

Rales en Espanol

Rales en Francais

Business

Rales in the Marketplace

Patents on Rales

Experimental / Informatics

List of terms related to Rales

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Synonyms and keywords: Crackles; crepitations

Overview

Rales are the clicking, rattling, or crackling noises heard on auscultation of (listening to) the lung with a stethoscope during inhalation. The sounds are caused by the "popping open" of small airways and alveoli collapsed by fluid, exudate, or lack of aeration during expiration. The word "rales" derives from the French word râle meaning "rattle".

Causes

Common Causes

Diagnosis

Physical Examination

The Sound of Rales

Crackles (or rales) are caused by explosive opening of small airways. Cracklinuous sounds; they are intermittent, nonmusical and brief. Crackles are much more common during the inspiratory than the expiratory phase of breathing, but they may be heard during the expiratory phase. Crackles are often associated with inflammation or infection of the small bronchi, bronchioles, and alveoli. Crackles that don't clear after a cough may indicate pulmonary edema or fluid in the alveoli due to heart failure or acute respiratory distress syndrome.

  • Crackles are often described as fine, medium, and coarse. They can also be characterized as to their timing: fine crackles are usually late-inspiratory, whereas coarse crackles are early inspiratory.
  • Fine crackles are soft, high-pitched, and very brief. This sound can be simulated by rolling a strand of hair between one's fingers near the ears, or by moistening one's thumb and index finger and separating them near the ears. Their presence usually indicates an interstitial process, such as pulmonary fibrosis or congestive heart failure.
  • Coarse crackles are somewhat louder, lower in pitch, and last longer than fine crackles. They have been described as sounding like opening a Velcro fastener. Their presence usually indicates an airway disease, such as bronchiectasis.

Related Chapters

References

Template:Skin and subcutaneous tissue symptoms and signs Template:Nervous and musculoskeletal system symptoms and signs Template:Urinary system symptoms and signs Template:Cognition, perception, emotional state and behaviour symptoms and signs Template:Speech and voice symptoms and signs Template:General symptoms and signs


Template:WikiDoc Sources