Respiratory evaluation notes Flashcards
Define crackles
low-pitched, non-musical sounds
Define wheezes
high-pitched, musical sounds
What should you consider if you note expanded lung fields
COPD or better termed RAO
What should you consider if you note diminished lung borders
Pulmonary consolidation
pleural effusion
diaphragmatic hernia
what are 2 common abnormal lung sounds
crackles & wheezes
What should you consider with absent or radiating cardiac sounds
pleural effusion
lung consolidation
what is dullness on percussion usually associated with
fluid accumulation within the thorax or increased tissue density
what would you note with fluid accumulation within the thorax when percussing
a well demarcated horizontal line (straight line, “fluid line”) across thorax where there is a change in tone ventrally (dull) compared to dorsally
what if you note localized areas of dimnishe sounds (dull, “thud”)
either trapped fluid or increased tissue density
what is the rebreathing procedure used for
used to elicit and/or accentuate abnormal lung sounds by increasisn rate & depth of respiration.
can guide response to tx
what does a CBC tell us
evidence of infection (neutrophilic leukocytosis)
fibrinogen: inflammatory vs non-inflammatory, chronic vs acute & severity of dz
What other blood evaluation is important in resp cases
ABG: arterial O2 & CO2 tensions
What specialized diagnostic tool is used routinely in equine resp disorder eval
Endoscopy
most relevan in dx of upper airway disorderd
What common diagnostic tool is used to evaluate both upper & lower airways
radiography
How is u/s helpful with resp cases
looking at thoracic wall
pleural space
normal lung & space
* remember can’t see through interposed gas or bone!
What are 2 ways to sample pulmonary stuff
TTW
BAL
what types of things can a TTW tell us
when is it indicated
cell types
can culture since sterile tech to perform
local or focal/multifocal dz
when is a BAL indicated
diffuse dz
can’t culture as not sterile!
what is the approach to eval resp cases
- categorize disease location
- upper vs lower airway
- categorize disease process
- infectious vs. non-infectious
what will upper airway dz present with generally
unilateral or bilateral discharge
which is the correct progressive order of respiratory structures from rostral to distal
- nares
- nasal passage
- ethmoid
- nasoharynx
- guttural pouch
- larynx
- trachea
What helps categorize upper airway dz
unilateral or bilateral discharge
mostly or purely inspiratory component to difficulty or noise
absence of abn lung sounds on auscult
what helps categorize lower airway dz
bilateral nasal discharge
symmetric airflow from nostrils
mostly or purely expiratory component to difficulty and/or associated abn sounds
abn lung sounds
how to categorize infectious dz
serous (viral), mucoid/mucopurulent/purulent discharge
fever
mature neutrophilic leukocytosis w/ hyperfibrinogenemia on CBC however varies accordin to underlying cause, severity, chronicity & duration
