Respiratory General Examination

Question 1

What is the difference between Respiratory General Examination and Respiratory Chest Examination?

Answer 1

Respiratory General does not require the use of a stethoscope listening to the lungs. It involves looking at the general state of the patient- hands, wrists (pulse), face, neck, lymph nodes, eyes and legs.

Question 2

Summarise the steps in order

start with hands and work way up order to face

Answer 2

-Introduction- ppe, wash hands, confirm name and DOB, gain consent and explain procedure (Safety)
-Hands- ataxia
-Pulse/RR
-Face
-Lips
-Neck
-Lymph Nodes
-Eyes
-Legs

Question 3

What does End of Bed Assessment Involve`?

Answer 3

-General wellness of the patient
-Surroundings- medication, Oxygen, inhalers, cannulation

Question 4

Hands:

Answer 4

-Temperature
-Tar staining (smoking), finger clubbing, splinter haemorrhages (infective endocarditis)
-Tremor- beta agonists
-Flapping tremor- CO2 Retention

Question 5

Pulse and Resp Rate

Answer 5

-calculate pulse for 15 secs and X4
-RR 15 secs X4
*try and measure at the same time

Question 6

Face

Answer 6

-Cyanosis lips
-Conjunctive pallor (pale eyes- Anaemia)
-Inside the mouth- ulceration

Question 7

Neck

Answer 7

Examine the Lymph Nodes of the Neck:
(work in a figure of 8 direction)
-Submandibular
-Submental
-Anterior Triangles
-Posterior Triangles
-Pre-Aurciular
-Post-Auricular
-Occipital
-Subclavicular (back)

Question 8

Legs

Answer 8

-DVT
-Pitting Oedema
-Rash/Erythema