Respiratory Flashcards
What general signs would you look for in a patient before beginning the examination?
Resp rate, body mass (obesity, weight loss), fever, confusion, distress/demeanour.
What would you look for in a patient’s hands?
Clubbing, peripheral cyanosis, tobacco staining, CO2 flap.
What would you look for in a patient’s neck?
JVP, accessory muscle use.
What would you look for in a patient’s face?
Central cyanosis, Horner’s syndrome (ptosis [droopy eyelids], myosis [constricted pupil], anhydrosis [decreased sweating]).
What would you look for during inspection of the chest?
Scars, deformity, scoliosis (side to side curvature), kyphoscoliosis (backward and lateral curvature), pigeon chest.
What does a resonant, dull, stony dull and hyper-resonant percussion sound mean?
Resonant - normal. Dull - collapse or consolidation. Stony dull - effusion. Hyperresonant - pneumothorax.
What would cause bronchial breath sounds?
Consolidation.
What would crackles indicate?
Pulmonary oedema, fibrosis or infection.
What would wheeze indicate?
Asthma or COPD.
What signs can be seen in the legs?
Bilateral oedema (cor pulmonale), unilateral oedema (DVT).
Where is the first place you should percuss on the front and back?
Front: clavicles.
Back: shoulders.
Describe a resp exam from start to finish.
Intoduce self and wash hands -> check end of bed -> check hands -> check pulse and respiratory rate -> check face -> perform lymph node exam -> check JVP -> inspect chest -> palpate trachea and check chest expansion -> percuss and auscultate the back, front and sides -> check legs -> thank patient.
What part of the stethoscope do you listen with?
The bell.
