Respiratory Examination Flashcards
What signs are you looking for in the eyes and why?
Drooping eyelids - Horner’s syndrome (suggests pancoast tumour of lungs)
Conjunctival pallor - anaemia (can cause SOB)
Conjunctivitis - can suggest TB or sarcoidosis
What would could cause a raised JVP?
Right sided heart failure Fluid overload Massive PE Tension pneumothorax Cardiac tamponade
What would it indicate if the trachea was deviated?
Deviated towards abnormal lung - Lung collapse, pneumonectomy
Deviated away from abnormal lung - tension pneumothorax, very big effusion
What signs are you looking for on the chest inspection?
Barrel chest - hyperinflation Pectus excavatum - developmental defect Pectus carniatum - increased respiratory effort during development Any scars Chest drain
What would hyper-resonant percussion indicate?
Pneumothorax
Emphysematous bullae
What would a dull percussion sound indicate?
Consolidation
Lung collapse
Alveolar fluid
What would a stony dull percussion sound indicate?
Extreme dullness over a pleural effusion
What would a polyphonic wheeze indicate?
Asthma, COPD
What would bronchial breathing indicate?
Consolidation
Upper boarder of pleural effusion
What would crepitations/crackles indicate?
Infection
Fluid
Fibrosis
When would you do vocal resonance?
If you wanted to differentiate a pleural effusion from consolidation
Increased vocal resonance - consolidation
Reduced vocal resonance - plural effusion
How would you complete a respiratory examination?
Check patients observation chart Check for oxygen saturation Perform peak flow Request a chest X-ray Perform ABG if indicated Perform cardiovascular exam if indicated
What conditions can you hear wheeze in (differentials)?
Asthma COPD Bronchitis Foreign body inhaled Heart failure Lung cancer Pneumonia
What are the causes of bibasilar crackles?
Pneumonia
Bronchitis
Pulmonary odedema
Interstitial lung disease
