Cardio Exam Signs

Question 1

What is being red a sign of?

Answer 1

CO2 retention causing vasodilatation

Question 2

What is being blue a sign of?

Answer 2

Cyanosis

Question 3

What is being pale a sign of?

Answer 3

Anaemia

Question 4

What are the three M’s?

Answer 4

Medications, mobility devices, monitoring devices

Question 5

What are splinter haemorrhages a sign of?

Answer 5

Bacterial endocarditis

Question 6

What are clubbed nails a sign of?

Answer 6

Infective endocarditis, cynaotic congenital heart disease

Question 7

What are sweaty/clammy hands a sign of?

Answer 7

Acute coronary syndrome

Question 8

What are Osler’s nodes, and what do they suggest?

Answer 8

Painful, raised nodes generally found on the skin - a sign of infective endocarditis

Question 9

What are Janeway lesions, and what do they suggest?

Answer 9

Non-tender, haemorrhagic found generally on the palm - sign of bacterial endocarditits

Question 10

What are xanthomata and what do they suggest?

Answer 10

Raised yellow fatty lesions on the hands/tendons of the wrist; a sign of hyperlipidaemia

Question 11

How long should a capillary refill in a cap refill test? If abnormal, what does this suggest?

Answer 11

<2-3 seconds at the level of the heart; otherwise it suggests hypovolaemia

Question 12

What should you ask before taking a carotid pulse?

Answer 12

If the patient has had fainting, dizziness, epilipsy or strokes

Question 13

What is a radio-radial delay suggestive of?

Answer 13

Aortic dissection, subclavian artery stenosis

Question 14

What is a collapsing pulse a sign of?

Answer 14

Aortic regurgitation

Question 15

What is an abnormal level for the JVP and what might that suggest?

Answer 15

If JVP is visible above 4cm vertically above the manubrio-sternal angle this can suggest right ventricular failure or tricuspid reguritation

Question 16

What is corneal arcus, and what does it suggest?

Answer 16

Ring of lipid around the iris - sign of hypercholesterolaemia

Question 17

What is xanthelasma, and what does it suggest?

Answer 17

Fatty yellow raised lesions around the eye, sign of hypercholesterolaemia

Question 18

What is conjunctival pallor and what is it a sign of?

Answer 18

Tissue beneath the lower eyelid is pale, a sign of anaemia

Question 19

What is a high palate arch of the mouth suggestive of?

Answer 19

Marfan syndrome

Question 20

Where do you feel for heaves and thrills?

Answer 20

On either side of the sternum with a flat palm

Question 21

Where should the apex beat be felt?

Answer 21

5th intercostal space, mid-clavicular line

Question 22

How should patients breathe so that the valves of the heart are better heard?

Answer 22

If it is on the right hand side of the chest (aortic valve), then get the patient to breathe in and hold.
If it is on the left hand side of the chest (the rest) the get the patient to breathe in and then out and hold.

Question 23

What tests should be suggested at the end of a cardiovascular exam?

Answer 23

Urine dipstick
Blood sugar
ECG
Chest X-Ray
Retinal fundoscopy