Veterinary Clinical Medicine-I (General and Systemic)

PAIN SEEKING PERCUSSION

• It is carried out with a fairly heavy hammer having a nylon head, applied with short strokes, starting with light blows. During pain seeking percussion avoid ribs which are sensitive and milk vein. By repeated percussion it is often possible to localize an area of increased tenderness.

Percussion sounds - Types of sound heard in the chest 

• Resonant or Ringing sound: This usually indicates the presence of large volume of air or gas beneath the site of percussion. It is the normal sound produced during percussion over a normal large lung. The ringing sound is exaggerated when there is excessive quantity of air or gas present at the site of percussion. Such sound is induced in conditions like pulmonary emphysema, pneumothorax, and gas filled viscus, in diaphragmatic hernia.
• Dull or Flat sound: This sound will be heard when there is no air or gas beneath the part percussed. If dull sounds are heard over lung during percussion it indicates the existence of the disease. Dull sound will be heard only when there is solid airless part which is sufficiently large i.e. about the size of a fist to produce the sound. Normally dull sound will be heard over the heart affected with pericarditis.
• Tympanic sound: This sound is distinguished from other sounds by its characteristic musical ring which is like that produced by striking a kettle drum. This type of sound is heard in pneumonia, pneumothorax, and subcutaneous emphysema.
• Metallic ring: This tone is high pitched tympanic one and resembles the response obtained on striking an empty metal jug. This occurs in diseases where there are small cavities of gas or air under pressure.
• Cracked pot sound: This sound stimulates that produced by striking a cracked pot. It arises when air escapes through a narrow opening. It will be produced in cases of emphysema and some times in pneumonia and pleurisy.