assessing the respiratory patient Flashcards
what kind of information are you looking for in the history of present complaint in the subjective?
-chest of symptoms - sudden vs slow pattern
-frequency: daily, weekly, monthly
- severity- mild,moderate,severe
-fever?
what kind of information are you looking for in the past medical history ?
-any previous admissions
-chronic disorders eg COPD, asthma or bad chest
-measles or whooping cough?
-weight loss?
-allergies
what kind of information are you looking for in drug history in the subjective assessment of the resp patient?
-prescribed medication - compliance?
-oral contraceptive increases risk of PE
-long term oxygen therapy?
-ambulatory oxygen therapy (O2 for when you are active)
what kind of information are we looking for in the social history in the subjective exam of a resp pt?
-smoking history - pack history
-alcohol
-occupational therapy - nb high risk jobs like builder
-pets?
-housing
-home supports eg care package
-stairs do they get SOB on stairs?
-baseline functional status
-hobbies
-FAMILY HISTORY - eg genetic diseases, TB, covid, genetic etc
what are examples of precautions with resp patients?
- MRSA, TB, covid
-rib fractures
-metastatic disease
-lines/ attachments
-post op precautions - WB status
what are the most common symptoms for a resp patient?
-cough
-wheeze
-chest pain
-SOB
-sputum
what are the 5 questions you always ask a resp patient?
-do you have breathlessness
-do you have a cough
-are you coughing up sputum
-are you wheezing?
-chest pain ?
what is dyspnoea?
when the awareness of breathing is unpleasant and uncomfortable
what are the subjective q’s you ask in relation to breathlessness?
-duration
-sensation
-severity- how severe is it?
-aggs and eases - eg positioning might ease SOB, aggs movement?
-time course - sudden or slow onset
-associated features eg urinary incontinence
what is orthopnoea?
the sensation of breathlessness in the recumbent position
what is paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnoea?
-a sensation of SOB that awakens the patient, often after 1 or 2 hours of sleep, and is usually relieved in the upright position
what scale measures breathlessness?
modified Borg dyspnea scale
what is a cough?
a basic protective mechanism
-any stimulation of receptors located in pharynx, larynx or bronchi may induce a cough
what are the benefits / effects of coughing?
-expelling sputum and inhaled irritants
-can cause bronchospasm, exhaustion
what are important considerations to take into account about cough?
-urinary incontience - do you feel like you leak a bit when you cough
-bone density - constant coughing can cause rib fractures
-hernias
what is dry cough associated with?
early stages of pneumonia
what is a moist cough associated with?
occurs in RTI, COPD, bronchiectasis
what are important subjective questions to ask about cough?
-when?
-aggs/eases
-changes in character
-freq
-moist or dry?
-wheezy
-productive - producing sputum
-non productive - nothing coming up
what are important subjective questions to ask about sputum?
-colour
-consistency
-volume/quantity eg teaspoon,tablespoon,egg cup
-frequency of expectoration
what is haemoptysis?
presence of blood in sputum
what is frank haemoptysis?
fresh blood in the sputum