What abnormal finding might be revealed on the affected side of the lungs during assessment of atelectasis?

In the context of atelectasis, which is the partial or complete collapse of a lung or a lobe of a lung, the correct answer highlights the key assessment findings expected during a clinical evaluation. When atelectasis occurs, the affected lung regions may exhibit decreased ventilation. Consequently, this can lead to the presence of bi-basilar crackles, which are intermittent sounds typically heard during inspiration and indicate the reopening of collapsed airways or alveoli.

Decreased breath sounds on the affected side is also a pivotal finding because less air enters the lung regions where atelectasis is present, resulting in a reduction of normal lung sounds. The combination of bi-basilar crackles and decreased breath sounds presents a distinctive pattern that suggests compromised function in those areas due to atelectasis.

In contrast, while wheezing and stridor may indicate airway obstruction, they are not characteristic findings of atelectasis specifically. Rales and rhonchi are broader terms that can imply fluid or secretions but do not focus specifically on the mechanism of collapse seen in atelectasis. Lastly, hyperresonance typically indicates conditions like pneumothorax or emphysema, not atelectasis, where dullness or reduced resonance would be more fitting due to the