Exam 3 - Heart & Neck Vessels Flashcards
List subjective data
Chest pain (angina) Dyspnea (DOE/PND) Orthopnea Cough Fatigue Cyanosis/pallor Edema - swelling in face, hands, legs (bilaterally) Nocturia
Cardiac disease risk factors:
- Nutrition (modifiable) - 24 hr diet recall
- Smoking (modifiable) - pack history = multiply packs per day X years of use
- Alcohol (modifiable) - how much, how often, how long, etc.
- Exercise (modifiable) - What type, for how long, how often
- Drugs (modifiable
How do we differentiate from BPH and Heart issues?
The frequency and amount or urination
Heart issues: void frequently at night with high amounts
BPH: try to void frequently at night but amount will be low
How should we teach our pt about chest pain?
Signs and symptoms for early recognition of MI
Always call 911 with chest pain
What do we ask about past cardiac history?
1 - Immediate family history (nonmodifiable)
2 - Hypertension? (Nonmodifiable) - if yes, what medication are you on and when have you taken it?
3 - Activity level? (Modifiable) - how many times/week do you exercise? How long? How long do you rest?
Order of assessment during physical exam
Pulse and BP
Extremities
Neck vessels
Precordium
Position pt should be in when palpating the carotid arteries
Sitting
Position pt should be in when palpating the jugular veins and precordium
Supine, slightly elevated (*allows blood to pool)
Active waves
Arterial
*What does an active wave mean?
Blood is actively flowing. Takes force from cardiac contraction to push the blood around
Which waves are passive?
Venous waves
- What does a passive wave mean?
Rely on muscle to move blood up
What is S1 and what causes it?
“Lub” - the sound of the atrioventricular valves (tricuspid and mitral) closing
What is S2 and what causes it?
“Dub” sound - closing of semilunar valves (aortic and pulmonic) closing
Can respirations affect arterial waves?
No
Can passive venous waves be affected by respirations?
Yes
List the flow of blood through the heart
1 - Superior vena cava 2 - Right atrium 3 - Right ventricle 4 - Pulmonic artery 5 - Lungs 6 - Pulmonic vein 7 - Left atrium 8 - Left ventricle 9 - Aorta 10 - Body
Muscle that covers the carotid arteries
Sternomastoid
How to palpate the carotid arteries
- Avoid excessive pressure
- Palpate medial to sternal muscle
- One carotid at a time
What is something abnormal we would notice while palpating the carotid arteries?
Thrills (turbulence)
What is a thrill?
Palpable vibration in carotid arteries
Normal strength of pulse at carotid arteries
2+
What does a thrill feel like?
The throat of a purring cat
What does a thrill mean?
Signifies turbulent blood flow, and usually accompanies loud murmurs
(Absence of a thrill does not rule out presence of a murmur)
*Part of stethoscope used to auscultate carotids and **what should we have pt do while listening?
Bell with light pressure
Have pt take deep breath, exhale, and hold it
Patients we should listen to carotids on?
Middle aged and older
Pts showing symptoms of CV disease
Abnormal sound heard while listening to carotids, and what is it?
Bruit - blowing, swishing sound indicating blood flow turbulence
What do normal carotids sound like?
- Absence of bruit
- Normal strength 2+
- Same bilaterally
Position pt should be in to inspect jugular venous pulse
Supine (30-45 degree angle)
Head turned to Side
Have pen light shining directly on neck
Normal jugular venous appearance upon inspection
Visible by pulsation only
Disappears when pt sits up
Abnormal jugular venous pulse
Increased CVP (central venous pressure) - heart failure
Location of Internal jugular pulse vs. carotid pulse
Internal jugular: lower, more lateral, under or behind sternomastoid muscle
Carotid: higher and medial to sternomastoid muscle
Quality of internal jugular pulse vs. carotid pulse:
Internal jugular: undulant and diffuse, two visible waves per cycle
Carotid: Brisk and localized, one wave per cycle
Respiration with internal jugular pulse vs. carotid pulse:
Internal jugular: varies with respiration
Carotid: does not vary
Are internal jugular pulse or carotid pulse palpable?
Jugular: No
Carotid: yes
Pressure used for internal jugular pulse vs. carotid pulse:
Jugular: light pressure at base of neck easily obliterates
Carotid: no change
Position of person when inspecting / palpating internal jugular pulse vs. carotid pulse:
Jugular: level of pulse drops and disappears as person is brought to sitting position
Carotid: no change
Where is the base of the heart?
At the top
Where is the apex of the heart?
At the bottom