Heart Exam Flashcards
(104 cards)
When is the cardiac assessment performed?
1 all sports, pre-employment, routine physicals
2 rule out viscerosomatic causes of neck, arm, and chest pain
3 presentation of potential heart related signs or symptoms
What are the characteristic symptoms of acute heart failure?
1 substernal chest pain/pressure
2 GI discomfort (MC in females)
3 exertional dyspnea
Where else can pain from a myocardial infarct manifest besides the chest?
1 jaw
2 neck
3 arms
4 back
What are the characteristic symptoms of right-sided chronic heart failure?
1 ankle edema *
2 fatigue
3 dyspnea
What are the characteristic symptoms of left-sided chronic heart failure?
1 exertional dyspnea *
2 cough
3 orthopnea
4 pink, frothy sputum
Bibasilar cracks would be a presentation with what kind of chronic heart failure?
Left-sided
Topographically, where is the base of the heart? Apex?
Base = 2nd intercostal space Apex = 5th intercostal space
What side of the heart is more muscular and why?
Left; has to propel blood to the fingers, toes, and nose
Why is the right side of the heart less muscular?
Only has to pump blood to the nearby lungs
What is the term used for the chest surface that overlies the heart?
Precordium
What is the traditional cardiac physical assessment procedure sequence?
1 inspection of precordium
2 palpation of precordium and peripheral pulses
3 percussion of heart border
4 auscultation of normal/abnormal heart sounds (BP, too)
The cardiac exam should also be done at the same time as the assessment of which other major organ?
Lungs
What visible features of the fingers could indicate heart issues?
Edema, cyanosis or clubbing
What is the term of the point of maximum impulse of the heart?
Apical impulse
At what location is the apical impulse visible?
Left 5th ICS medial to the midclavicular line
What would an apical impulse that is lateral to the midclavicular line indicate?
Cardiac hypertrophy or displacement
What should be investigated on the jugular veins?
Engorgement and accentuated waves
What problem would be indicated by distention of the jugular veins?
Problem with the right side of the heart (examples = tricuspid stenosis or regurgitation
What is indicated by accentuated A and V waves of the jugular veins?
Right sided heart issue
What is the term for the vibrations caused by turbulent blood flow in the heart that are visible externally?
Precordial “thrills”
What are the usual causes of diminished blood flow to the head and extremities?
1 atherosclerotic plaques
2 clots
3 aneurysms
4 impingement
The heart should be percussed in which direction?
Lateral to medial in ICS 5-2
What two sounds must be differentiated upon percussion of the cardiac region?
Resonant lung sound compared to a dull heart muscle sound
What is the X-ray way of physically assessing the size and placement of the heart?
P-A chest film at 72 inches (best way)