Tests detail Flashcards
(274 cards)
General observation - what to look for - 6 items.
Posture. Assymetry. Gait. Involuntary movements. Atrophy. Skin condition/lesions.
Vital signs - Height and weight
Ask patient as part of history taking. Note build. If necessary check tables to determine over or underweight. BMI over 30 is obese.
Vital signs - Aural temperature
Thermometer in ear and hold for 2-3 s. Normal is 37. 7. Higher in evening.
Vital signs - Radial pulse rate
Compress radial artery at wrist with index and middle fingers. Count for 15s x 4. If very irregular, count for 60s. Normal is 60 to 100. >100 Tachycardia. <60 Braycardia. T is normal with stress or exercise. B is normal at rest for athletes.
Vital signs - Radial pulse regularity and amplitude
Compress radial artery at wrist with index and middle fingers. Regular - may vary with respiration. Regularly irregular - pattern with skipped beats. Irregularly regular - no pattern. Strong or weak?
Vital signs - Respiration rate
Observe patient’s brathing without announcing it. Notice any difficulty or irregularity. Count for 15s x 4. Normal is 14 to 20 with the occasional sigh.
Vital signs - Blood pressure - before procedure
Patient ot sit quietly for 5 mins before. Room quiet and warm. No alchohol or smoking 15 mins before. Check neither arm is contraindicated - lymphoedema. Check arm is free of clothing.
Vital signs - Blood pressure - Procedure
Palpate brachial pulse. Position arm with elbow crease at heart level - e.g on table. Fit cuff 2.5cm above crease centred on brachial artery. Arm slightly flexed. Measured in mmHg. Bilateral on first visit. Pump up cuff while palpating radial pulse till it annot be felt - systolic. Defleat and wait 15s. Place bell of stethascope on brachial artery and inflate about 30 above. Decrease slowly until 2 consecutive beats are heard - systolic. Decrease further till sound muffles and disappears - diastolic. Record to nearest 2mmHg. Check both sides if first visit. Twice on each arm and take higher reading.
Vital signs - Blood pressure - Interpretation of readings.
Use worst classification if s and d differ. Optimal under 120/80. Normal under 130/85. High-normal under 140/90. Hypertension: grade 1 under 160/100, grade 2 under 180/110. Grade 3 over. Difference of > 10 - 15 each side indicates compression or obstruction. Initial reading may be high due to white coat syndrome.
Extra vital signs - Oral temperature
Glass thermometer - shake down and place under tongue for 3-5 mins. Electronic - use disposable cover, insert under tongue, takes 10 s. Normal varies during day 35.8 morning, 37.3 evening. Over 38.5 is fever.
Extra vital signs - Axilliary temperature
Normal 36.3 - least accurate.
Extra vital signs - Orthostatic hypotension
Take blood pressure in 3 positions: supine after resting for 3 to 10 mins, sitting and standing within 3 mins. A difference of > 20 is positive.
Extra vital signs - Leg blood pressure
Normal for systolic to be 5 to 10 mmhg lower in legs. Large cuff around thigh, prone patient or flexed leg for popliteal. Can also measure dorsalis pedis.
Cerebral function tests - procedure
Assess while taking case history
Cerebral function tests - interpretation
Doesnt know time, day, date, place. Cannot name everyday objects. Cannot follow verbal instructions. Difficulty writing. Possible dementia. Sifficulty speaking, articualtion, fluency, vocabulary. Possible dementia or dysphasia.
Standing and walking freely - procedure
Observe patient standing and ask then to walk.
Heel and toe walking - procedure
Ask patient to walk away with on toes and back towards you on heels.
Tandem walk - procedure
Ask patient to walk in a straight line with heel touching the toe of the previous foot.
Rhomberg’s - procedure
Ask patient to stand with feet close together. Ask patient to close eyes.
Rebound test - procedure
Ask patient to stand with eyes closed and arms outstretched. Strike firmly down on one arm .
Finger to nose - procedure
Patient seated. Ask patient to point at own nose and your finger, several times with finger moved each time
Rapid alternating hand - procedure
Ask patient to alternately tap dorsal and palmer side of hand quickly on thigh - one hand then other. Demonstrate.
Heel down shin - procedure
Patient sitting. Ask patient to place one heel on opposite knee and run it down the shin and off at ankle. Demonstrate.
Standing and walking freely - interpretation
Check for sway when standing (vestibular problem); sways but corrects (hysteria). Check gait for veering, balance, intention tremor, ataxia (cerebellum, MS); shuffling, resting tremor (parkinsons); antalgic (pain avoidance), spastic paralysis gait (possible spinal cord lesion).