Respiratory Examination

Question 1

What are the respiratory causes of clubbing?

Answer 1

Lung cancer, interstitial lung disease, cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis

Question 2

What’s included in the hand part of a respiratory examination?

Answer 2

Inspection, temperature palpation, clubbing, fine tremor, asterixis, capillary refill

Question 3

What does a fine tremor indicate in respiratory examination?

Answer 3

Beta-2-agonist use

Question 4

What dose asterixis indicate in respiratory examination?

Answer 4

CO2 retention

Question 5

What can bradypnoea indicate in respiratory examination?

Answer 5

Opiate overdose

Question 6

What is oral candidiasis associated with?

Answer 6

Steroid inhaler use

Question 7

What can cause trachael deviation?

Answer 7

Tension pneumothorax and large pleural effusion

Question 8

What face signs are relevant to the respiratory examination? What could this indicate?

Answer 8

Plethoric complexion (congested red face)

• polycythaemia and CO2 retention

Question 9

What are signs are relevant to the respiratory examination? What could this indicate?

Answer 9

Conjunctival pallor - anaemia

Ptosis, mitosis, enopthalmos (Horner’s syndrome, lung cancer can be a cause)

Question 10

What mouth signs are relevant to respiratory examination? What could this indicate?

Answer 10

Central cyanosis - hypoxaemia

Oral candidiasis - fungal infection

Question 11

What are the respiratory causes of a displaced apex beat?

Answer 11

Right ventricular hypertrophy (pulmonary hypertension, COPD, interstitial lung disease)

Large pleural effusion

Tension pneumothorax