Lower Respiratory Exam Lab Flashcards

1
Q

Steps for lower respiratory exam

A

Inspect pt
Palpate (anterior & posterior chest, tactile fremitus)
Percussion (ant & post chest & diaphragmatic excursion)
Auscultate (2 ant, 4 post & 1 R lateral)

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2
Q

Where is a needle thoracentesis placed?

A

2nd intercostal space just superior to 3rd rib margin @ mid-clavicular line

used for emergent decompression of tension from pneumothorax

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3
Q

Where is a chest tube inserted?

A

4th intercostal space @ mid or anterior axillary line just superior to margin of 5th rib

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4
Q

Where should you look for an endotracheal tube?

A

@ level of T4 vertebra on chest X ray

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5
Q

What do you evaluate during pt respiration?

A

rate, rhythm, depth & effort

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6
Q

What is a normal respiration rate?

A

14-20 breaths per minute

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7
Q

What may asymmetrical movement of chest during respiration indicate?

A

pleural effusion

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8
Q

What may intercostal retractions during respiration indicate?

A

severe asthma, COPD, upper airway obstruction

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9
Q

What is pursed lip breathing assoc w/?

A

COPD or obstructive lung disease

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10
Q

What is tripoding?

A

pt w/ obstructive lung disorders tend to sit & lean forward w/ shoulders elevated

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11
Q

What should you inspect on the neck during respiration?

A
contraction of accessory muscles
tracheal position (should be midline)
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12
Q

When does lateral displacement of trachea occur?

A

tension pneumothorax

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13
Q

What do you inspect the fingernails for?

A

signs of clubbing

loss of normal angle btwn nail & proximal nail fold (>180 degrees)

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14
Q

What does palpation of chest include?

A

areas of tenderness
rib motion (inhalation v exhalation dysfunction)
thoracic expansion
tactile fremitus

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15
Q

How do you assess for thoracic expansion?

A

place thumbs @ level of 10th ribs & grab parallel to lateral rib cage

have pt inhale deeply & watch distance between thumbs as move apart, feel for range & symmetry of rib cage as expands & contracts

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16
Q

What is tactile fremitus?

A

palpate vibrations transmitted thru bronchopulmonary tree to chest wall as pt speaks (says 99)

perform on ant & post chest & use ULNAR sides of hand

17
Q

When would increased tactile fremitus occur?

A

pneumonia (increased transmission thru consolidated tissue)

18
Q

When would decreased tactile fremitus occur?

A

COPD, pleural effusions, fibrosis, pneumothorax, thick chest wall, infiltrating tumor

19
Q

What is important in technique for percussion of chest?

A

strike extended middle finger @ DIP w/ quick & sharp motion

20
Q

Flat percussion characteristics

A

soft intensity
high pitch
short duration

21
Q

Dull percussion characteristics

A

medium intensity
medium pitch
medium duration

22
Q

Resonant percussion characteristics

A

loud intensity
low pitch
long in duration

healthy lung

23
Q

Hyper-resonant percussion characteristics

A

very loud
lower pitch
longer duration

24
Q

Tympanitic percussion characteristics

A

loud
high pitch
longer

gastric air bubble

25
When does dullness occur?
fluid or solid tissue replaces air-containing lung ``` lobar pneumonia (b/c alveoli filled w/ fluid & RBCs) pleural accumulations (effusion, hemothorax, empyema, fibrosis or tumor) ```
26
When does hyper-resonance occur?
hyper-inflated lungs COPD/emphysema asthma
27
When does unilateral hyper-resonance occur?
large pneumothorax | large air-filled bulla in lung
28
What is normal diaphragmatic excursion?
3 to 5.5 cm (distance btwn 2 levels of diaphragm-during inhalation & expiration)
29
What does dullness @ higher level in diaphragmatic excursion indicate?
suggests pleural effusion or high diaphragm (due to atelectasis or phrenic N paralysis)
30
How do you auscultate lungs?
have pt breathe deeply in & out thru OPEN mouth
31
Crackles in breath sounds
discontinuous, intermittent, nonmusical & brief fine crackles sound like velcro & coarse crackles are louder & lower in pitch
32
Wheezes in breath sounds
continuous, musical quality & prolonged (not always during entire respiratory cycle) suggests narrowed airways
33
Rhonchi breath sound
relatively low-pitched w/ snoring quality suggests secretions in large airways
34
Stridor in breath sound
high pitched wheeze that is usually only during INSPIRATION louder in neck & indicates partial obstruction of larynx or trachea
35
Which breath sound indicates a medical emergency?
stridor
36
Pleural friction rub
sounds like cracking, usually during expiration & in small area on chest wall rough pleural surfaces rubbing against each other
37
Bronchophony
pt says "99" while listen abnormal: spoken words become louder & clearer (indicates consolidation)
38
Egophony
pt says "ee" abnormal: "ee" sounds like "A" (usually indicates pneumonia if pt has fever & cough)
39
Whispered pectoriloquy
pt whispers "99" or "1, 2 3" abnormal: whispers are heard louder & clearer during auscultation