CLIN Resp Exam - Week 2 Flashcards
fResp Exam Intro
- HH
- Greet pt
- Introduce yourself
- Identify pt
- Explanation of examination & confidentiality
- Discuss exposure – to the waist (w gown for female pts)
- Obtain consent
- Clarification – ask give the pt the opportunity to ask any questions
- Position – sitting & later lying at 45 degrees/lying at 45 degrees
- Privacy – gown suitable
- Ask whether the pt is comfortable
Resp Exam GI
a. Respiratory distress (particularly breathing through pursed lips or accessory muscle use).
b. Stridor/wheeze
c. Cough
d. Hoarseness
e. Dyspnoea
f. Cyanosis
g. ‘Noting body habitus’ (particularly any weight loss)
h. Posture
i. Aids – sputum mug, O2 mask, nebuliser, peak flow meter, inhaler
& complete vital signs prior to next stage.
Breathing through pursed lips/accessory muscle use may indicate
Severe COPD.
Stridor may indicate
May indicate obstruction of the larynx/trachea - due to foreign body, tumour, infection, inflammation.
Bovine cough character & may indicate
Lack of usual explosive beginning - ‘bovine cough,’ may indicate vocal cord paralysis.
Muffled, wheezy, ineffective cough may indicate
Muffled, wheezy, ineffective cough - may indicate obstructive pulmonary disease.
Loose, productive cough may indicate
Loose, productive cough - may indicate excessive bronchial secretions due to chronic bronchitis, pneumonia, bronchiectasis.
Dry, irritating cough may indicate
Dry, irritating cough - may occur w chest infections, asthma, carcinoma of the bronchus, left ventricular failure, interstitial lung disease, ACE inhibitor use.
Barking or croupy cough may indicate
Barking or croupy cough - may indicate problem w upper airway (pharynx/larynx), pertussis infection.
Hoarseness may indicate
May indicate recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy associated w lung carcinoma, laryngeal carcinoma, laryngitis, use of inhaled corticosteroids, hypothyroidism.
Clubbing may indicate
Commonly indicates hypertrophic pulmonary osteoarthropathy (HPO) (especially when combined w wrist tenderness) - may be caused by primary lung carcinoma, pleural fibromas, infective endocarditis. HPO does not occur as a result of COPD.
Normal range for pulse ox.
> 95%
Muscle wasting may be caused by
Pancose tumour compressing on brachial plexus nerve roots.
Weakness of hand muscles may be caused by
Can be caused by lung tumours compressing the lower trunk of the T1 nerve root.
Asterixis/flapping tremor indicates
Indicates severe CO2 retention (e.g., in severe COPD pts).
Signs of severe CO2 retention
Patients with severe CO2 retention may be confused and typically have warm peripheries, a bounding pulse, positive asterixis.
Resp Exam Hands
a. Look
i. Clubbing
ii. Peripheral cyanosis
iii. Capillary refill
iv. Pulse oximetry
v. Tar staining
vi. Muscle wasting
vii. Weakness of hand muscles(via finger abduction)
viii. Asterixis/flapping tremor
1. Ask pt to hold out arms
2. Spread fingers
3. Dorsiflex wrists
4. Hold for 30secs.
Resp Exam Wrists & Elbow
a. Palpate/Perform
i. Pulse
1. Rate
2. Rhythm
ii. Respiratory rate & character
iii. Wrist swelling/tenderness
iv. Blood pressure
v. Temperature
Tachycardia & pulsus paradoxus are strong indicators for what condition
Asthma
Pulsus paradoxus
Severe weakening of pulse on inspiration
Tachypnoea range
> 25
Bradypnoea
<8
RR normal range
16-25
Wrist swelling/tenderness may indicate
HPO
Resp Exam Face
- Face
a. Look
i. Facial plethora
ii. Cyanosis - Eyes
a. Look
i. Jaundice - Pull eyelids up & ask pt to look down
- Comment on colour
ii. Horner’s syndrome
iii. Pallor - Pull eyelids down
- Comment on pallor of conjunctiva
- Nose/nostrils
a. Look (use torch)
i. Polyps
ii. Engorged turbinates
iii. Deviated nasal septum
b. Palpate
i. Frontal sinus
ii. Maxillary sinus - Ears
a. Look
i. Infection
ii. Perforation - Oral cavity
a. Look
i. Central cyanosis
ii. Dentition
iii. Crowding of the pharynx
iv. Inflammation of the pharynx
b. Palpate
i. Front & maxillary sinuses
Signs of Horner’s syndrome
Ptosis (drooping of one eyelid), miosis (unilateral pupil constriction), anhydrosis (dry skin around one eye).
Potential cause of Horner’s syndrome
Pancoast’s tumour - apical lung carcinoma which may compress the sympathetic nerves in the neck.
Polyps are associated with what respiratory condition
Asthma
Engorged turbinates are associated with what respiratory condition
Allergic respiratory conditions
What respiratory condition may a broken or rotten tooth predispose a patient to?
Lung abscess or pneumonia.
Crowding of the pharynx is a potential risk factor for
OSA
Inflammation/redness of the pharynx indicates
Infection.
Tenderness over the front &/ maxillary sinuses may indicate
Sinusitis.
In what condition does the JVP appear raised?
R-sided Heart Failure.