copd

the doctor told my husband that his left lung no longer could hear any sound what does it mean                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             thank you

[David Tinkelman, M.D.]

Normally, when a doctor listens to your lungs with a stethoscope he/she hears a soft, whispering sound of air moving through the large airways.  With diseases of the lungs such as emphysema/COPD the volume of these sounds diminishes, barely audible with severe COPD.  When no sound is heard it may be because the lung has collapsed or the large bronchial tube to it is completely obstructed, for example by a tumor.  These are just some of the reasons why no sound is heard.

The important thing is to determine why the sounds of one lung are diminished or absent, especially when the breath sounds in the other lung can still be heard.  The first step should be to have a chest X-ray done.  The second would be for you or your husband to ask the doctor what the absence of your husband’s breath sounds in one lung means and what if anything should be done about it.

Good luck