CCRN Nursing Exam Prep - Adult Critical Care

Answer - C - Clients with rib fractures should be assessed periodically for the possible complication of pneumothorax. Decreased or absent breath sounds are related to pneumothorax because pneumothorax compresses functional lung tissue. Pink, frothy sputum is a possible (but unlikely) finding in clients with pneumothorax (Choice A). Hoarseness is indicative of an airway obstruction or laryngeal nerve paralysis (Choice B). Percussion sounds are hyperresonant in the area of a pneumothorax, caused by the collection of air in the pleural space (Choice D).