VS Flashcards
When undertaking general inspection of a patient, list the signs which could indicate underlying gastrointestinal pathology
- Pallor
- Abdominal distension
- Jaundice
- Cachexia
- Obvious morbid obesity
- Hyperpigmentation
- Oedema
- Hernias
What are the 6 F’s of abdominal distension?
- Foetus
- Flatus
- Fluid
- Fulminant mass
- Fat
- Faeces
Name common abdominal scars & operations related to them
> Inguinal - hernia repair
McBurney’s - appendectomy
Pfannenstiel - Caesarean section
Midline laparotomy - Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair
Subcostal - open cholecystectomy
Nephrectomy - kidney resection
Describe “asterixis” and what it could indicate in the context of a GI examination
Bilateral flapping tremor elicited by asking patient to extend arms + cock their wrists back
Could indicate hepatic encephalopathy, renal failure…
What are Kayser-Fleischer rings?
Clinical sign of Wilson’s disease
Abnormal copper processing in the liver results in dark circles encircling the iris
Which condition is associated with the formation of hyperpigmented macules in the mouth?
Peutz-Jeghers syndrome
Genetic disorder which results in GI polyps
Which signs found in the mouth would be indicative of gastrointestinal pathology?
- Glossitis: smooth erythematous enlargement of tongue due to iron, B12, or folate deficiency
- Angular stomatitis
- Hyperpigmented macules
- Oral candidiasis
- Aphthous ulceration
What is the location of Virchow’s node and what could enlargement of said node imply?
- Left supraclavicular fossa
- Malignancy, sarcoidosis, infection
Which signs found in the chest could indicate gastrointestinal pathology?
- Spider naevi: cirrhosis; normal in pregnancy
- Gynaecomastia: cirrhosis
- Hair loss: iron deficiency anaemia, malnutrition
What is acanthosis nigricans and, if present, what could it indicate?
Hyperpigmentation and hyperkeratosis of axillary skin
Could indicate type II diabetes or GI malignancy
What do Cullen’s sign and Grey-Turner’s sign indicate?
- Cullen’s sign
Bruising around the umbilicus, late sign of haemorrhagic pancreatitis - Grey-Turner’s sign
Bruising around the flank, late sign of haemorrhagic pancreatitis
What does caput medusae indicate?
Portal hypertension - complication of cirrhosis
Describe the correct order that should be followed when performing an abdominal examination
- Inspection with patient lying flat
- Ask patient if in any pain
- Start palpation away from site of pain (if present)
- Light palpation of all 9 areas
- Deep palpation of all 9 areas
- Use palpation to check for any organomegaly
- Use percussion to check for hepatosplenomegaly, bladder distension or shifting dullness
- Auscultation to check for bowel sounds & bruits
Which factors should be taken into account when assessing for enlargement of the liver?
- Palpation and percussion of the liver should begin at the right iliac fossa
- 1-fingerbreadth enlargement of the liver could be considered normal
- Could be associated with asterixis
- If a liver edge is felt you should exclude lung hyperinflation as a contributor
Which factors should be taken into account when assessing for enlargement of the spleen?
- Palpation and percussion should start at the right iliac fossa
- Massive enlargement can be found in patients with leukaemia
- In a healthy adult it is normal to not be able to palpate the spleen when taking a deep breath in
- Grade 4 enlargement means the spleen goes past the umbilicus
- Very mild enlargement of the spleen usually can’t be detected during an abdominal examination
How long do you have to listen before considering that bowel sounds are absent?
1-3 minutes
Differentiate between normal and abnormal bowel sounds
Normal: borborygmus-type hyperactive bowel sounds
High-pitched: bowel obstruction
Following auscultation, which of the following would you say to the examiner that you would do to complete your GI exam?
- Inspect external genitalia in males: exclude inguino-scrotal herniae
- Inspect hernial orifices in males & females
- Digital rectal examination
Describe the steps that should be followed during a Digital Rectal Examination
- Explain procedure and obtain consent
- Offer chaperone
- Place patient in left lateral decubitus position
- Put on gloves, lubricate 1 index finger
- Inspect perianal area
- Ask patient to press down, insert gloved lubricated index finger
- Examine lateral and posterior rectal walls
- Examine anterior rectal wall/prostate
- Ask patient to squeeze finger to assess anal tone
- Withdraw finger and examine for blood/mucus
Match the following signs with genitourinary pathology
* Palpable bladder
* Positive renal punch sign
* Loin pain and haematuria
* Proteinuria and oedema
- Palpable bladder: urinary retention
- Positive renal punch sign: acute pyelonephritis
- Loin pain and haematuria: renal stone
- Proteinuria and oedema: nephrotic syndrome
Describe the steps required to perform urinalysis
- Don gloves and check patient details on sample
- Check expiry date of urine dipstick
- Check appearance of urine for colour & sediment and smell odour
- Hold stick correct way up and immerse in sample for 2 seconds
- Remove stick and tap stick on rim of sample bottle to remove excess
- Read stick correct way up against side of the chart
- Wait appropriate time to report each finding
- Dispose of stick and gloves appropriately
- Report exact findings
What would you look for when inspecting a patient during a neurological examination?
- Fasciculations
- Tremor
- Muscle wasting
- Posture
How would you assess for lower limb tone during a neurological examination?
- Rotate foot at ankle then sudden extension
- Lift leg at knee then drop to bed
- Roll leg
Which movements would you perform to assess lower limb power during a neurological examination?
- Dorsi/plantarflex the foot against resistance: ankle power
- Invert foot at ankle: mid-foot power
- Move heel towards bottom against resistance: knee flexion
- Lift straight leg off bed against resistance: hip flexion
- Push raised upper leg down: hip extension
- Leg straightened at knee against resistance: knee extension
Differentiate between upper and lower motor neuron signs
- UMN
Increased/brisk reflexes
Increased tone
Clonus - LMN
Decreased/absent reflexes
Decreased tone
Atrophy/muscle wasting
How would you elicit the plantar reflex? What does this indicate?
- Stroke the lateral side of the foot with the point of the tendon hammer
- Watch for the first movement of the toes
- Normal response is plantar flexion
Extension: positive Babinski sign, pyramidal pathology
How would you elicit an ankle reflex?
- Place patient’s foot and ankle at 90º
- Strike Achilles tendon with tendon hammer
- Watch for reflex & compare sides
How would you assess upper limb tone?
- Quick pronation
- Rotate elbow and wrist at the same time, vary speed
- Rotate wrist for cogwheel rigidity (Parkinson’s)
How would you test power in the upper limbs?
- With arms out and elbows bent slightly resist elbows being bent fully: elbow extension
- Holding the forearm with wrist facing down ask patient to bend their wrist down against resistance: wrist flexion
- Holding forearm ask patient to cock wrists back against resistance: wrist extension
- With palms facing up & thumbs pointing upwards, resist thumb being bent down: thumb abduction
- Ask patient to spread fingers and resist you closing them: finger abduction
- With arms held to the side & elbow flexed to sternum, ask patient to resist arms being pushed down: shoulder abduction
- Ask patient to grip 2 of your fingers: flexion at MCP joints
How would you test for upper limb reflexes?
- Biceps: biceps tendon in antecubital fossa
- Triceps: tendon proximal to elbow
- Supinator: tendon at base of wrist on radial side
- Jendrassik reinforcement manoeuver: to strengthen reflex ask patient to clench their teeth
Unilateral headache with associated photophobia and nausea would indicate:
Migraine