During cardiac auscultation, I have the patient lean forward, take a deep breath, and forcefully exhale. The combination of maneuvers causes retractions of the chest cavity, making the heart closer to ...

I was taught that good contact between the chest and stethoscope is essential for accurate auscultation—even to the point of wetting the chest in some particularly hirsute men. These days, I see ...

Pulmonary assessment combines history-taking with physical examination maneuvers—inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation—to evaluate lung health and function. Observing breathing patterns, ...