Pulmonary Lab Flashcards
Values for Pulse Rate
Normal = 60 – 100 bpm
> 100 bpm =Tachycardia
> < 60 bpm=Bradycardia
Pulse Rhythms
- Regular = evenly spaced beats, may vary with respiration
- Regularly Irregular = regular pattern overall with skipped beats (need to measure for 60 sec)
- Irregularly Irregular = chaotic, no real pattern, very difficult to measure rate (need to measure for 60 sec)
How long do you need to take pulse for?
Adult: 15 seconds x 4, 30 sec x 2, 60 sec x 1
Children: Count for 60 seconds
Grading System for Pulse Quality
What are the 6 different pulses?
- Radial
- Femoral
- Posterior Tibialis
- Doralis Pedis
- Abdominal Aorta
- Femoral
Abdominal Aorta Palpation Steps
- Pt. is supine, knees flexed to 90 degrees; examiner stands on the right
- Assess for size, location and pulsation of the aorta
- Place the palms of both have on abdomen with index fingers pointing up toward the head
- Press down firmly to locate pulsating aorta
Values of abdominal aorta
- Normal: 2.5 cm
- Abnormal: 3-4 cm, suggests aortic aneurysm; refer
- Width is more significant than pulsation
Abnormal Pulse Patterns
Pulsus Alterans
* Palpation: Weak beats alternating with strong beats; regular rhythm
* Probable Cause: Left Ventricular Failure
Pulsus Bigeminus
* Two beats ocurring in rapid sucession, followes by a pause during which no pulse is felt; irregular rhythm; premature beat
* Probably Cause: Cardiac Arrythmias
Why do we auscultate for Bruits
- Late middle aged or older are at risk
- Sign of srterial narrowing and risk of stroke
Ascultation for Bruits
- Patient is seated or supine with head turned slightly away from examiner.
- Place the BELL of the stethoscope over each carotid artery. You may use the diaphragm if the patient’s neck is highly contoured.
- Ask the patient to stop breathing momentarily.
- Listen for a blowing or rushing sound–a bruit suggesting turbulence. Do not be confused by heart sounds or murmurs transmitted from the chest.
Auscultation Steps for Aorta, Renal and Iliac Arteries
- Patient is supine with knees flexed or supported by pillows for relaxation. Examiner stands on right side of patient.
- Place the diaphragm of your stethoscope lightly on the abdomen starting in the upper right quadrant and work clockwise.
- Bruits = loud blowing sound due to arterial atherosclerosis and represent turbulent blood flow.
- Listen for bruits over the renal arteries, iliac arteries, and aorta. Renal bruits may be found in patients with hypertension.
- Listen for bowel sounds. Are they normal or absent?
ABI via Doppler
- Have subject lie supine ~ 10-15 minutes
- Place cuff around arm above elbow
- Apply gel to probe
- Hold Doppler at 45 degree angle; and place over brachial artery (radial)
- Inflate cuff until doppler sound disappears
- Deflate the cuff until sound returns
- Document this systolic pressure (brachial)
- Place cuff around leg just above malleolus
- Hold Doppler at 45° angle; and place over dorsalis pedis or post tibial artery
- Inflate cuff until doppler sound disappears
- Deflate the cuff until sound returns
- Document this systolic pressure (ankle)
ABI Values: N vs Ab
N: 1.0 - 1.4
Ab: .41-.90
Severe: less than 0.4 (Critical Limb Ischemia)
How would you identify an arterial stenosis with ABI?
A reduction in pressure occurs distal to the lesion
ABI examines PAD but also ____ and ____
- detecting stenosis
- differentiating true cladification from psudocladification