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Respiratory Examination
Introduction
Peripheral Examination
End of the Bed
The position of the patientFirst look at the patient from the end of
the bed for signs of breathlessnesss or distress. Those with extreme
pulmonary dysfunction will often sit up-right. In cases of real distress, they
will lean forward, resting their hands on their knees in what is known as the tri-
pod position.
Hands
Look at the hands for clubbing, tar staining and peripheral cyanosis.
Examine for tremor and a carbon dioxide retention flap.
Palpate the radial pulse to calculate heart rate. At this time also assess respiratory rate and
determine the pattern of breathing.
Face
Look at the patients eyes and face for signs of Horners syndrome or lupus pernio.
Inspect the conjunctivae for anaemia.
Look at the lips and tongue for central cyanosis
Lie the patient at 45 degrees and assess JVP.
Palpate the cervical, supraclavicular and axillary lymph nodes.
Examination of the chest
their precise relationship to underlying structures. Nevertheless, surface markers will give
you a rough guide to what lies beneath the skin. The pictures below demonstrate these
relationships. The multi-colored areas of the lung model identify precise anatomic segments
of the various lobes, which cannot be appreciated on examination. Main lobes are outlined
in black. The following abbreviations are used: RUL = Right Upper Lobe; LUL = Left Upper
Lobe; RML = Right Middle Lobe; RLL = Right Lower Lobe; LLL = Left Lower Lobe.
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Inspection
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1.look for chest deformity while you are examining the patient
anteriorly or spine deformity posteriorly.
These may arise as a result of chronic lung disease (ex.emphysema), occur
congenitally, or be otherwise acquired. In any case, they can impair a patient's
ability to breathe normally.
a. Barrel chest: chest wall increased anterior-posterior , Associated with emphysema
and lung hyperinflation
e. Scoliosis: Condition where the spine is curved to either the left or right
PALPATION:
Place the entire palm of each hand first on the superior portion of both
hemithoraces and then, gently though firmly, move the hand inferiorly to just
below the twelfth rib. Repeat the process moving laterally and subsequently
anteriorly; search for rib deformities, nodules, and areas of tenderness. In the face
of a history of chest discomfort, ask the patient to point to the area(s) of greatest
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1. Trachea:
The trachea should be checked to see if it is in the normal
central position. This means the distance between the trachea
and the sternomastoid muscles should be equal on both sides.
Slight displacement of the trachea to the right is fairly common
in healthy people. Palpate the trachea by placing a finger
either side of the trachea and judging whether the distance
between it and the sternomastoid tendons are equal on both
sides. Before doing this warn the patient that this might be
slightly uncomfortable.
Cricosternal distance
Measuring the cricosternal distance can help determine if the patient is
hyperventilating. A distance of less than three of the patients finger-breadths
indicates hyperventilation, usually evident as a visible descent of the trachea
during inspiration (tracheal tug) (Ford et al, 2005).
2.APEX BEAT:
It is the lower most , outer most ,most forceful pulsation.
It is important to check the line, space and character.
Position of the apex beat can confirm or exclude mediastinal displacement (Ford et al,
2005). This is not a reliable sign if there is cardiomegaly (Epstein et al, 2003).
3.CHEST EXPANSION:
Chest expansion must be assessed to determine the depth and quality of movement on each
side of the chest. Both sides should be assessed for symmetry. The symmetry and degree of
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chest expansion can be more accurately evaluated by observing chest movement than by
palpating the chest wall (Ford et al, 2005).
Method:
Assess chest expansion by putting the fingers of both your hands as far round the chest as
possible and then bring your thumbs together in the midline . Ask your patient to take a deep
breath and observe whether the distance moved is the same for both thumbs.
Your hands should lift symmetrically outward when the patient takes a deep breath .
Asymmetric lung expansion, as occur when anything fills the pleural space (e.g. air or fluid),
may then be detected as the hand on the affected side will move outward to a lesser degree.
thumbs typically separate by approximately 2 to 3 cm.ANT= 2 LEVELS ,POST= 3 LEVELS
Physiological idea:
. Increased TVF
Consolidation
Cavitation
Collapse with patent main bronchus
.Decreased TVF
Pneumothorax
4. Percussion
. Press The last 2 phalanges of your left middle finger firmly on the patient's back on the
area to be percussed and raise the second and fourth fingers off the chest surface; otherwise,
both sound and tactile vibrations will be blunted.
.Middle finger right strikes the middle phalanx of the other middle finger.. Use a quick,
sharp wrist motion, Allow your hand to swing freely at the wrist (like a catcher throwing a
baseball to second base) to strike the finger in contact with the chest wall with the tip of the
third finger of the other hand. The best percussion site is between the proximal and distal
interphalangeal joints.
. Percuss the posterior, lateral, and anterior chest wall in such a manner that the long axis
of the percussed finger is roughly parallel to the ribs. Compare one side to the other.
2.. Percuss from side to side and top to bottom using the pattern shown in the
illustration away from bones and midline.
4. Note the location and quality of the percussion sounds you hear.
5. The finger on the chest should always be placed in the intercostal space, and there is no
need to percuss more heavily than is necessary as this can be distressing for the patient.
C. Tidal percussion:
THE PURPOSE:
The purpose of percussion is to determine if the area under the percussed finger
is air filled (sounding resonant like a drum), fluid filled (a dull sound) or solid (a flat
sound). If the normal air-filled tissue has been displaced by fluid (e.g. pleural
effusion) or infiltrated with white cells and bacteria (e.g. pneumonia), percussion
will generate a deadened tone. Alternatively, processes that lead to chronic (e.g.
emphysema) or acute (e.g. pneumothorax) air trapping in the lung or pleural space,
respectively, will produce hyper-resonant (i.e. more drum-like) notes on percussion.
2. pleural fibrosis
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2. Collapse
Auscultation:
Keys to performing a sensitive yet thorough exam:
. Upper lobes in the anterior chest and at the top 1/4 of the posterior fields.
This can be quite helpful in trying to pin down the location of pathologic processes that may
be restricted by anatomic boundaries (e.g. pneumonia).
Technique of Auscultation
1. Put on your stethoscope so that the ear pieces are directed away from you.
Adjust the head of the scope so that the diaphragm is engaged. If you're not
sure, scratch lightly on the diaphragm, which should produce a noise. If not,
twist the head and try again. Gently rub the head of the stethoscope on your
shirt so that it is not too cold prior to placing it on the patient's skin.
2. While the patient relaxed and breathes normally with mouth open, auscultate the
lungs, making sure to auscultate the apices and middle and lower lung fields
posteriorly, laterally and anteriorly.
3. The upper aspect of the posterior fields are examined first. Listen over one spot and
then move the stethoscope to the same position on the opposite side and repeat. This
again makes use of one lung as a source of comparison for the other.
4. The entire posterior chest can be covered by listening in roughly 4 places on each side.
Of course, if you hear something abnormal, you'll need to listen in more places.
5. Alternate and compare both sides at each site.
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Note the intensity of breath sounds and make a comparison with the opposite side.
Assess length of inspiration and expiration. Listen for a pause between inspiration,
expiration and the quality of pitch of the sound
Also compare the intensity of breath sounds between upper and lower chest in
upright position. Compare the intensity of breath sounds from dependent to top lung
in the decubitus position.
.Note the presence or absence of adventitious sounds.
IN SUMMARY;
1. EQUALITY OF ENTRY OF BREATHING SOUNDS IN BOTH SIDES
2. TYPE OF BREATHING
3. ADDED SOUNDS CREPITATION,RHONCHI,PLEURAL RUB
IN NORMAL LUNG
The normal breath sounds heard over the lung are vesicular breathing.
The vesicular breathing is heard over the lungs, lower pitched and softer than
bronchial breathing. Expiration is shorter (I > E) and there is no pause between
inspiration and expiration.
The breath sounds are symmetrical and louder in intensity in bases compared to
apices in erect position and dependent lung areas in decubitus position.
No adventitious sounds are heard.
The breath sounds heard over the tracheobronchial tree are called bronchial
breathing.
The only place where tracheobronchial trees are close to chest wall without
surrounding lung tissue are trachea, right sternoclavicular joints and posterior right
interscapular space. These are the sites where bronchial breathing can be normally
heard. In all other places there is lung tissue and vesicular breathing is heard.
The bronchial breath sounds have a higher pitch, louder, inspiration and expiration are
equal and there is a pause between inspiration and expiration.
Voice Transmission Tests: are only used in special situations. All these tests become
abnormal in consolidation to confirm bronchial breathing. They include
Bronchophony
Whispered Pectoriloquy
Egophony
Whispered Pectoriloquy
Egophony
1. Ask the patient to say "ee" continuously.
2. Auscultate several symmetrical areas over each lung.
3. You should hear a muffled "ee" sound. If you hear an "ay" sound this is referred to as
"E -> A" or egophony.
4. Egophony (British: Aegophony) is an increased resonance of voice sounds heard when
auscultating the lungs, often caused by lung consolidation and fibrosis.
5. It is due to enhanced transmission of high-frequency noise across fluid, such as in
abnormal lung tissue, with lower frequencies filtered out. It results in a high-pitched
nasal or bleating quality in the affected person's voice.
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Adventitious sounds
Crepitations: types
Rhonchi: sibilant and sonorous
Pleural rub
Note when the wheezes occur and if there is a change after a deep breath or cough. Also
note if the wheezes are monophonic (suggesting obstruction of one airway) or polyphonic
(suggesting generalized obstruction of airways).
Conditions:
asthma
CHF
chronic bronchitis
COPD
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pulmonary oedema
Auscultation over the same region should help to distinguish between these possibilities, as
consolidation generates bronchial breath sounds while an effusion is associated with a
relative absence of sound. Similarly, fremitus will be increased over consolidation and
decreased over an effusion. As such, it may be necessary to repeat certain aspects of the
exam, using one finding to confirm the significance of another.
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The mechanical basis of crackles: Small airways open during inspiration and collapse
during
expiration causing the crackling sounds. Another explanation for crackles is that air
bubbles
through secretions or incompletely closed airways during expiration.
Conditions:
ARDS
asthma
bronchiectasis
chronic bronchitis
consolidation
early CHF
interstitial lung disease
pulmonary oedema
Pleural Rub
Pleural rubs are creaking or brushing sounds produced when the pleural
surfaces are inflamed or roughened and rub against each other. They may be
discontinuous or continuous sounds.
They can usually be localized a particular place on the chest wall and are
heard during both the inspiratory and expiratory phases.
Conditions:
pleural effusion
pneumothorax
3 types of lesions