Respiratory Signs on examination revision

Question 1

What are acute causes of breathlessness?

Answer 1

PE, Pneumothorax, Pulmonary oedema

Question 2

What are subacute causes of breathlessness?

Answer 2

Pneumonia, pleural effusion, Asthma/COPD, Pulmonary oedema

Question 3

What are chronic causes of breathlessness?

Answer 3

COPD, Pulmonary fibrosis, PE

Question 4

What are some causes of an acute dry cough? <8 weeks (Lots of them listed)

Answer 4

Commonly viral aetiology, Lung cancer, Mesothelioma, Pulmonary Mets, Pulmonary fibrosis, Sarcoidosis, Hypersensitivity pneumonitis?

Question 5

What are some causes of a chronic dry cough?

Answer 5

GORD, ACE-I, Upper airways disease, Smoking.

Question 6

What are some causes of Haemoptysis?

Answer 6

Infection, carcinoma, PE, Bronchiectasis.

Question 7

What is the cause of a CO2 flap?

Answer 7

Hypercapnic encephalopathy

Question 8

What are causes of finger clubbing?

Answer 8

Bronchial carcinoma, fibrosi alveolitis, lung suppuration (Bronchiectasis, lung abscess, empyema), congenital heart disease, Infective endocarditis, congenital, idiopathic

Question 9

What are 2 causes of Horner’s syndrome?

Answer 9

Pancoast tumour, cervical lymphandeopathy

Question 10

What are the symptoms of Horner’s syndrome?

Answer 10

Small pupils, Ptosis, Unilateral loss of sweating, Enophthalmos

Question 11

What causes unilateral reduced chest expansion?

Answer 11

Pneumothorax, Pleural effusion, blocked central bronchus, diaphragm palsy.

Question 12

What causes bilateral reduced chest expansion?

Answer 12

Hyperinflation(emphysema), Restrictive lung disease

Question 13

How would a trachea deviate in a tension pneumothorax?

Answer 13

Away from the pneumothorax

Question 14

What cause would cause tracheal deviation towards it?

Answer 14

Collapse consolidation

Question 15

What would cause tracheal deviation away from its cause?

Answer 15

Tension pneumothorax, pleural effusion

Question 16

What would cause hyper-resonant percussion?

Answer 16

Pneumothorax, emphysema

Question 17

What would lead to impaired resonance on percussion?

Answer 17

Consolidation, pleural thickening, raised hemi-diaphragm

Question 18

What would lead to stony dull percussion?

Answer 18

Pleural effusion

Question 19

How would breath sounds be described if normal?

Answer 19

Vesicular with no added sounds

Question 20

What can cause reduced breath sounds on auscultation?

Answer 20

Effusion, collapse, bronchial obstruction, emphysema

Question 21

What can cause bronchial breath sounds?

Answer 21

Consolidation without patent bronchial system(e.g. pneumonia or pulmonary fibrosis)

Question 22

What can cause a localised wheeze on auscultation?

Answer 22

One cause is a large airway tumour

Question 23

What can cause a generalised wheeze on auscultation?

Answer 23

Small airway obstruction such as Asthma or bronchitis

Question 24

What can cause squeaks (& crackles) on auscultation?

Answer 24

Bronchiolitis

Question 25

What can cause fine crackles on auscultation?

Answer 25

Pulmonary fibrosis (late inspiratory)

Question 26

What can cause moderate/coarse crackles on auscultation?

Answer 26

Pulmonary oedema, Consolidation, bronchiectasis

Question 27

What can cause a plural rub?

Answer 27

Pneumonia, PE, viral or autoimmune pleurisy

Question 28

What can cause a pleural click?

Answer 28

Pneumothorax