Which acronym indicates a normal lung exam with no abnormal breath sounds on both sides?

• A. Clear to Airway Bilaterally
• B. Clear to Auscultation Unilaterally
• C. Clear to Auscultation Bilaterally
• D. Clear to Percussion Bilaterally

Answer: (C)

Listening for breath sounds with a stethoscope is the key skill here. When the note says “clear to auscultation bilaterally,” it means that on both sides there are no abnormal sounds such as crackles, wheezes, rhonchi, or decreased/absent breath sounds, indicating a normal lung exam.

Other phrases don’t describe the breath sounds on both lungs: “clear to airway” refers to airway patency rather than lung sounds; “unilaterally” would mean only one side was assessed and could miss a problem on the other side; “clear to percussion” talks about the liver-patent sound on tapping the chest but does not address what’s heard with a stethoscope.