ATI Basic Care and Comfort Practice Test

Decreased breath sounds in the lower lobes for a client on bedrest after a lacerated spleen can indicate atelectasis, which is the collapse or incomplete expansion of lung tissue. This condition is commonly associated with prolonged immobility, which can lead to the accumulation of secretions or reduced airflow in the lungs, especially in the lower lobes.

In a patient on bedrest, the natural distribution of gravity affects the breathing process, potentially leading to shallow breathing or retention of secretions. These factors contribute to decreased lung expansion, which can subsequently cause areas of the lung to collapse or not fully inflate, resulting in diminished breath sounds upon auscultation.

While pneumonia or bronchitis may also cause changes in breath sounds, they typically come with additional symptoms such as fever, productive cough, or wheezing that are not specifically associated with the decreased sounds in the context of immobility. Asthma is characterized by wheezing due to airway constriction, which is not indicated by the presence of decreased breath sounds. Thus, the most relevant condition aligned with decreased breath sounds in this scenario is atelectasis.