In which situation might a clinician expect to hear stridor?

• A. When the patient is in a relaxed state
• B. When the patient is experiencing labored breathing
• C. During normal deep breaths
• D. When the patient is speaking clearly

Answer: (B)

Stridor is a high-pitched, wheezing sound caused by disrupted airflow in the upper airway, typically due to partial obstruction. The presence of stridor often indicates that there is some kind of difficulty in breathing, such as swelling or narrowing of the airway. Therefore, the situation in which a clinician might expect to hear stridor is during labored breathing.

When a patient is experiencing labored breathing, the respiratory muscles are working harder than usual to get air into the lungs, which can exacerbate any existing obstruction in the upper airway, leading to stridor. In contrast, when a patient is in a relaxed state or during normal deep breaths, the airflow is typically unobstructed, and stridor is less likely to occur. Similarly, if a patient is speaking clearly, it indicates that their airway is open and functioning properly, reducing the likelihood of stridor.