What kind of breath sounds do you expect to hear in patients with atelectasis? what would very loud breath sounds indicate?

Nothinng: With atelectasis, there is no lung space through which air travels to make sound. Other areas of lung may make enough noise to prevent the lack of air sounds to be noticed. Atelectasis is often dx'd by x-ray.

Decreased: Breath sounds are diminished over an area of atelectasis. Loudness of breath sounds is not useful in isolation. Other characteristics such as pitch, frequency, and the phase of respiration in which it occurs, are also important determinants of breath sounds. Discuss it with your doctor as interpretation of lung sounds has to be done in context of the age & clinical picture of each individual.