history and examination

Question 1

what family history would you specifically ask for?

Answer 1

• renal disease
• cardiac disease
• diabetes
• hypertension

Question 2

what is the WHO performance status?

Answer 2

0 = Normal. fully active

1 = restricted in strenuous activity

2 = ambulatory and can self care but can’t work, up and about more than 50% of waking hours.

3 = capable of only limited self care, confined to bed or chair more than 50% of waking hours

4 = completely disabled, can’t elf care. confined to chair or bed.

5 = dead

Question 3

in an examination, what would you look for on general inspection?

Answer 3

• discomfort/pain
• breathlessness
• colour/cyanosis/marmoreal
• resp rate
• tremor
• bedside clues e.g oxygen, vomit bowel, dialysis machines

Question 4

how do you check fluid balance status in a renal examination?

Answer 4

• blood
• listen to heart sounds for any murmurs or added sounds
• Pulse character and rate
• chest auscultation, fine crackles for pulmonary oedema, decreased air entry and dull percussion with reduced vocal resonance for pleural effusion
• urine output
• sacral oedema
• peripheral oedema
• lying and standing BP -
• check for PD catheter