Intercostal Retractions
Alternate Names : Retractions of the Chest Muscles
What to Expect at your Health Care Provider's Office
In emergency situations, interventions will be taken first to help with the breathing. This may include oxygen, medications to reduce swelling, or other measures.
When the condition is stable enough to allow it, the history will be obtained and a physical examination performed to determine the cause of the airway obstruction.
Medical history questions documenting intercostal retractions in detail may include:
- time pattern
- When did it start?
- Is it getting better, worse, or staying the same?
- Does it occur all the time?
- quality
- history
- Did you notice anything significant that might have caused an airway obstruction?
- Have you or the child been ill, coughing, or complaining of a sore throat?
- Have you seen the child putting anything in the mouth that might have been inhaled into the airway?
- What other symptoms are also present? Especially, did the child turn blue, wheeze, or have a high-pitched sound when breathing (stridor)?
Diagnostic tests may include:
- arterial blood gases
- chest X-ray
- laboratory tests, such as a CBC
- other tests depending on the suspected cause
After seeing your health care provider:
You may want to add a diagnosis related to intercostal retractions to your personal medical record.
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