OSCE Flashcards
(236 cards)
General inspection in a cardio exam - what are you looking for?
- Cyanosis
- SOB
- pallor
- Malar flush
- oedema
Cyanosis on general examination indicates?
poor circulation e.g hypovalaemia or inadequate oxygenation of the blood e.g. right-to-left cardiac shunting).
SOB on general examination indicates?
cardio disease e.g. congestive heart failure, pericarditis OR
respiratory disease (e.g. pneumonia, pulmonary embolism).
Pallor on general exam indicates?
Underlying anaemia (e.g. haemorrhage, chronic disease) or poor perfusion (e.g. congestive cardiac failure).
Malar flush in a cardio exam indicates?
mitral stenosis
Oedema on cardio exam indicates?
most likely congestive heart failure
What are you looking for in the hands in a Cardio exam and why?
Colour - cyanosis may indicate poor perfusion
Tar staining - smoking is a risk factors for cardiovascular disease
Xanthomata - seen in hyperlipidaemia
arachnodactyly - long slender fingers - may be seen in marfans syndrome which is associated with aortic/mitral prolapse and aortic stensosis
Clubbing - congenital cyanotic heart disease, infective endocarditis and atrial myxoma
splinter haemorrhages, janeway lesions and oslers nodes - associated with endocarditis.
What could splinter haemorrhages in nails suggest?
infective endocarditis
sepsis
vasculitis
psoriatic nail disease
What could the temperature of the hands in the context of a cardio exam tell you?
They should be symmetrically warm. If cold then could indicate poor perfusion (e.g. congestive HF) or if Cold and sweaty then acute coronary syndrome
Causes of radio-radial delay?
Subclavian artery stenosis (e.g. compression by cervical rib)
aortic dissection
aortic coarctation
Causes of collapsing pulse?
- normal physiological states (e.g. fever, pregnancy)
- cardiac lesions (e.g. aortic regurgitation, patent ductus arteriosus)
- high output states (e.g. anaemia, arteriovenous fistula, thyrotoxicosis)
What is slow rising pulse associated with?
aortic stenosis
what is bounding pulse associated with?
aortic regurgitation
CO2 retention
what is thready pulse associated with?
intravascular hypovolaemia in conditions such as sepsis
Definition of hypotension?
<90/60mmHg
Definition of narrow pulse-pressure?
<25mmHg between systolic and diastolic
Causes of narrow pulse pressure?
aortic stenosis
congestive heart failure
cardiac tamponade.
Definition of wide pulse pressure?
> 100mmHg between systolic and diastolic
Causes of wide pulse pressure?
aortic regurgitation
aortic dissection
BP difference of over 20mmHg in each arm causes?
aortic dissection
Why should you auscultate carotid pulse before palpating?
if bruit is present then this could suggest carotid stenosis making palpation potentially dangerous as this could dislodge plague causing ischaemic stroke
Patient instructions for auscultating carotid pulse?
deep breath in and hold while listening
which murmur can radiate to the carotids causing a bruit sound?
aortic stenosis
causes of raised JVP?
INDICATES VENOUS HYPERTENSION:
Right sided HF
tricuspid regurgitation
constrictive pericarditis