CPD 2 Midterm Flashcards
What is the significance of visible pulsations and/or heaves over the precordium?
o (precordium=portion of body over heart and lower chest)
o Visible pulsations/heaves: Right ventricular enlargement
Know how to palpate for S1, S2, S3, S4 and thrills (palpable murmurs).
o S1 and S2—use firm pressure, place R hand on chest wall. With L index and middle fingers, plpate the carotid artery in lower 1/3rd of neck. Identify S1 just before the carotid upstroke and S2 just after the upstroke
o S2 and S3—apply lighter pressure at cardiac apex to determine if extra movements
o Thrills—press ball of hand on chest to check for buzzing senation from vascular turbulence. Easier to detect if lean forward.
Know how to assess the apical pulse for size and understand the significance of that size.
o 5th interspace, mid clavicular
o > 2.5 cm evidence of Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) (seen in hypertension and aortic stenosis)
o If pushed laterally—enlarged heart
o If pushed medially—hyper inflated lung (eg COPD)
Know how to differentiate S1 from S2 using palpation of the carotid.
• Carotid will give you systole, so more S1 ish (??)
Which valves make S1 and S2 sounds? Where are these sounds best heard?
o S1: closure of mitral valve. Best heard over apex (5th intercostal space)
o S2: closure of aortic valve. Best heard over base (2nd intercostal space)
When (and where) is it normal for S1 to split? What constitutes an abnormally split S1?
o on inspiration
o Normal: Earlier mitral (loud) and later tricuspid sound.
o abn: 60ms apart.
How does one differentiate a split S1 from an S4 gallop?
o S4 is lower frequency than S1
What is the significance of variations in the intensity of the S1 sound?
o Feature of atrial fibrillation, premature beats, atrioventricular dissociation (HR can be slow or fast), auscultatory alternans (S1 is soft and loud with alternate beats)
What is the normal pattern of auscultation? Be able to name regions where each heart valve is best heard.
- Aortic & Pulmonic (2nd interspace)
- Erb’s (3rd interspace, lateral to pulmonic)
- Tricuspid (4th interspace, JUST lateral to sternum)
- Mitral (5th interspace, MCL)
What is a bruit? Where and how does one listen for them during the heart exam?
o Turbulent blood flow in artery which supplied blood to brain
o just lateral to Adam’s apple
o use either bell or diaphragm , or both
What sounds do the bell and diaphragm bring out?
o Bell: low pitched heart sounds
o Dipahragm: high pitched heart sounds
What positions will help accentuate certain heart sounds, i.e., aortic regurgitation, S3, and S4?
o S3 and S4—pt lying on L side, partially rolled over
o S3: soft, lo pitch; walking or elevate legs will accentuate
o Aortic murmurs, esp aortic regurgitation—pt sitting up and leaning forward
What is physiologic splitting of S2? What is paradoxical splitting? What is fixed splitting?
o Physiologic splitting: inhalationincreased negative pressure, lungs expand, increases venous return
o Paradoxical splitting: exhalation. Pulmomary valve closes before aortic valve seen in aortic stenosis, left bundle branch block
o Fixed splitting: does not vary with inspiration. Usually due to septal defect
How common is physiologic splitting of S2?
o 52.1% of normal adults in a recent study.
How does one differentiate a split S2 from an S3 gallop?
o Split S2 much higher pitch and closer to onset of S2
What are S3 and S4 sounds? What do they signify? What makes them? Where are they best heard? What bedside maneuvers can intensify them?
o S3: right after S2. Associated with heart failure (may be physiologic). Caused by oscillation of blood back and forth between walls of ventricles. Best heard: cardiac apex. Maneuver: lying on left side, partially rolled over.
o S4: right before S1. Associated with failing L ventricle. Atria contracting forcefully in an effort to overcome an abnormally stiff or hypertrophic ventricle. Best heard: over L or R ventricular areas. Maneuver: lying on left side, partially rolled over.
How does one differentiate a pathologic S3 from a physiologic S3?
- path: ssx: SOB, chest pain, orthopnea, wide or displaced apical pulse, peripheral edema, takes nitroglycerin
- phys: looks fit and asx
How is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy similar to, and different from MVP?
- Both diminish with squat and intensify with valsalva
- MVP—mid systolic click
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy—late systolic shwoooshy
What kinds of findings are we looking for on inspection of the abdomen?
- Skin markings: scars, striae, dilated vessels
- Contour: flatness, distensions, 7 Fs
- Peristalsis: increased w obstruction
- Pulsations: from vessels, abdominal aortic aneurysm
- Hernias: most are umbilical
- Ecchymosis: infiltration of the extraperitoneal tissues w blood
What are the 7 F’s for a distended abdomen?
• Fat, fluid, fetus, feces, flatus, fibroid, fatal growth
Why do we auscultate the abdomen before palpation?
• Palpation and percussion may stimulate peristalsis and alter exam findings
Understand normal and abnormal bowel sounds.
- High pitched tinkling sounds: early obstruction
- Absent sounds: late mechanical obstruction or ileus
- Secussion splash: air and fluid, obstruction, pyloric stenosis
- Peritoneal friction rub: inflammation
- Borborygmus: long prolonged gurgles: gastroenteritis
Be able to perform abdominal percussion using exemplary technique.
• You got it!
What is the expected liver span at the mid clavicular line?
• 8cm (6-12)
What is the splenic percussion sign? Know how to perform it.
- Percuss lowest costal interspace in L anterior axillary line. Normally tympanic
- Ask pt to take a deep breath and percuss this area again. Dullness here is sign of splenomegaly (.20 false positive with this test)
- If in doubt, percuss medially to laterally in Traube’s space until dullness is elicited; normally at mid axillary line
Why and how do we do light palpation? What can you do about ticklish patients?
- Begin away from pain. To help pt relax, to note guarding/tenderness, hyperesthesia, rigidity
- You can use their hand, or make no sudden movements.
What is the significance of guarding and rigidity? What are they?
- Peritonitis or appendidicitis
- Guard: voluntary contraction on palpation of ab wall mm, dt anxiety or cold hands; can be fully or partially overcome by tact and persuasion
- Rigid: involuntary contraction of ab mm dt peritoneal inflammation (out of pt’s control); can never be overcome by tact or reassurance
- To relax pt to distinguish: reassurance, distraction, banter
Be able to demonstrate deep palpation of the abdomen including the liver, spleen, and kidneys.
___
Which arteries are important to auscultate for bruits over the abdomen?
• Bruits over aorta and renal, iliac, and femoral arteries: obstruction
What is Murphy’s Sign?
- Positive sign—cholecystitis
* With your hands shoved up in there, tell pt to breathe in. Positive sign is abrupt arrest of inspiration!
What is rebound tenderness at McBurney’s Point?
• Possible appendicitis
Referred rebound tenderness (Rovsing)?
• Possible appendicitis
Be able to demonstrate psoas sign, obturator sign, costovertebral angle (CVA) tenderness.
- PSOAS: Flexion of thigh against resistance. To test for appendicitis
- OBTURATOR: internal rotation of flexed thigh. To test for appendicitis
- CVA: to test for pyelonephritis
• Physiological S2 spilts:
o Inspiration → listen for A2 and P2 to split
o bc ↑ venous return overloads RV and delays closure of P valve
• What are 5 things to note when listening to heart sounds?
o Location, timing, intensity, pitch
o Effect of respiration or special maneuvers
What is jugular venous distention? On what side is it measured? How is that done?
- Significance: hypervolemia, RCHF, SVC obstruction, Tricuspid stenosis or regurg
- On pt’s righ side
- 45 deg angle- Position pt so jugular pulse seen on lower neck, tangential light to visualize
- Identify highest pt pulse is seen
- Measure vertical distance bw point and sternal angle
- Abn: >3-4 cm
- Normal: highest point is below sternal angle
What is kussmauls sign?
- paradoxical increase in JVP during inspiration
* conditions that interfere w RV filling: constrictive pericarditis, constrictive cardiomyopathy, RV infx