Vital Signs Flashcards
Auscultatory Gap
Silent period between systolic and diastolic sounds that leads to the physician thinking BP is lower than it actually is.
Underestimation of diastolic BP
JNC-VII BP classifications
Normal: 160/>100
Always take the higher reading
Orthostatic hypotension
Drop of >20 systolic or >10 diastolic
HR increase of >15 bpm or tachycardic
Normal HR
60-100 bpm
Normal RR
14-20 bpm
SpO2 levels
> 92 is OK, normal is 97-99
<89=hospitalization
Temperature
98.6 F (37 C) is normal
oral is gold standard
Sputum
substance produced by lungs by coughing
- note color, consistency, blood etc
Infection, inflammation (asthma), COPD, pulmonary edema
Hemoptysis
coughing up blood from lungs
Clots, cancer, pulmo HTN, PE
Smoking, Infection (most common cause)
Dyspnea
subjective SOB
objective=tachypnea
Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, orthopnea
Wheezing
high pitched sound from partially obstructed airway.
Bronchospasm, edema, foregin body, CHF, tumor,
All that wheezes is not asthma
Cyanosis
blue discoloration of skin due to decreased O2
central (problem at lungs) vs peripheral (problem at tissues
Pleuritic pain
chest wall pain associated with breathing, inflammation of pleuras
Examination of respiratory system
Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
Percussion sounds
Dull: solid organ, think liver
Resonant: air-containing organ, think lungs
Tympanic: hollow organ, think stomach
Flat: large muscle mass
Tracheal lung sounds
very loud, very high pitched
1:1 IE ration
harsh
heard over trachea on neck
Bronchial lung louds
loud, high pitched 1:3 IE
over manubrium
(larger airways)
Bronchovesicular
moderate or intermediate pitch and volume
1:1
Head over primary bronchi b.w. scapulae
Vesicular
soft, low pitch
3:1 I:E ratio
heard over most lung fields anteriorly/post/lat
this is the one to listen for
Rales/crackles
opening and closing alveoli that are filled with fluid
PE
Wheezes
high pitched sound caused by turbulent airflow in partially obstructed small airways, ex asthma
Ronchi
low pitched sound that arise from partially obstructed large airways (bronchitis)
often filled with mucus
PMI
located in 5ICS at MCL
displaced PMI indicates pathology (cardiac hypertrophy)
Thrills: check for vibration=mumur
Heave: impulse or displacement of sternum or precodium
heart auscultation
R2ICS=aortic area L2ICS=pulmonic area L3ICS=Erbs point L4ICS= tricuspid area L5ICS= mitral area