Introducing Practice Flashcards
What do you look for in the chest breathing pattern?
Depth
Chest movement - all elements together
Indrawing/recession of intercostal space
Paradoxial/Hoovers sign/frail rib fractures
Tracheal tug
Asymmetry
What does a pale skin colour suggest?
Anaemia
Low BP
What does a Ruddy (red cheeks) skin colour suggest?
Retaining CO2
Increased RBC
What does a cyanosed(blue) skin colour suggest?
Lack of oxygen
Central
Peripheral
What are the signs there is a problem?
Shortness of breath Sputum Cough Wheeze Pain Changes in exercise tolerance Functional ability Psychosocial changes
What is in the objective assessment?
Observation Palpation Auscultation Chest x-rays & imaging Pulmonary function tests Pulse oximetry Arterial blood gases Functional ability/quality of life Exercise tolerance/tests Charts
What do you look at in observation?
General appearance Position Chest Skin colour Abdomen Use of accessory muscles Nasal flaring Lines, drains etc Oxygen therapy Quality of voice
What do you look for in their eyes during observation?
Pallor - anaemia Plethora - high Hb Jaundice - liver/blood Drooping Oedema - fluid retention
What do you look for in their hands during observation?
Flapping tremor Fine tremor Wastage Clubbing Nicotine stains Cyanosis Temperature - hot&cold
What causes clubbing?
Cardiac - congenital heart diseases - bacterial endocarditis Lung disease - infective (bronchiectasis, lung abscess, emphysema) - fibrotic -malignant
What do you look for in the mouth during observation?
Dry/dehydrated
Hydrated
Cyanosis
Pursed lip breathing
What do you look for in oedema during observation?
Peripheral
Pitting
What do you look for in their position during observation?
In bed slumped?, in a chair?
Position of ease
Fixing
What do you look for in their chest shape?
Scoliosis Kyphosis Kyphoscoliosis Pectus excavatum (funnel chest) Pectus carinatum (pigeon chest) Hyperinflated/barrel
What do you look for in their chest wall movement?
Symmetrical increase in antero-posterior, transverse & vertical diameters of chest
2 components
-antero-posterior angle/pump handle
-transverse angle/bucket handle