Cardiovascular and Peripheral Vascular Assessment Flashcards
precordium
area of the chest overlying the heart
inspect, palpate, and ausculate
no percussing, chest x-ray is more reliable to identify the borders of the heart
Angle of Louis
sternal angle, used to identify 2nd intercostal space
Aortic area
2nd intercostal space, right sternal boarder
pulmonic area
2nd intercostal space on the left sternal border
Erb’s point
3rd intercostal space on the left sternal border
Tricuspid area (right ventricular area)
4th or 5th intercostal space to the left sternal border
Mitral area (apical area)
5th intercostal space, medial to the midclavicular live
epigastric area
area overlying the xiphoid process
lift
a slight movement
heave
more vigorous movement; may see at the sternal border and a left ventricular heave at the apex
apical pulse
a normal pulsation located over the apex of the heart, at the 5th intercostal space medial to the midclavicular line
dependent edema
found in dependent areas such as feet and sacrum
peripheral edema
feet and hands
generalized edema (anasarca)
all over the body; massive edema
pulmonary edema
fluid accumulation in the lungs due to imbalanced capillary dynamics
cerebral edema
fluid in the brain
pitting edema
press your finger into edematous area for 2-3 seconds and note the depth of indentation
grades of pitting edema
1+: slight pit, normal contour
2+: deeper pit, fairly normal contour
3+: puffy, appearance of deeper pit
4+: extremely deep pit, definitely swollen
thrills
palpable cardiac murmur; feels like the throat of the purring cat and is considered abnormal. signifies turbulent blood flow and accompanies loud murmurs
pulses
palpate all pulses bilaterally temporal arteries carotide arteries radial, ulnar, brachial arteries apical impulse femoral, popliteal, posterior tibialis, dorsalis pedis arteries
skin temp
use dorsum or back of hand
normal=warm
skin turgor
indicates hydration status
assessed by pitching the skin and releasing it
best tested on the sternum or forehead
skin goes back within 3 seconds
capillary refill
normal should be 2 seconds or less
3-4 seconds= sluggish
>4= abnormal