The Cardiovascular Exam

Question 1

What can cause pale/white mucous membranes?

Answer 1

anemia, poor CO, severe vasoconstriction

Question 1

What can cause red mucous membranes?

Answer 1

vasodilation, erythrocytosis, carbon monoxide

Question 2

What can cause blue/purple mucous membranes?

Answer 2

Cyanosis/hypoxemia

Question 3

What abnormalities could diastolic runoff point to?

Answer 3

AV shunt
PDA
Aortic regurge

Question 4

When you see retinal vessels, hemorrhage, and detachment on fundic exam, what are you concerned about?

Answer 4

High BP
Hyperviscosity
Cats: hyperthyroid, renal

Question 5

What valves do you ausculatate on the left side?

Answer 5

PAM
Pulmonary, aortic, mitral
Cr > Cd

Question 6

What valves do you auscultate on the right side?

Answer 6

Tricuspid
Sometime aortic murmurs

Question 7

Why should you be careful when auscultating kittens, puppies, or other tiny animals?

Answer 7

Excessive pressure can compress vessels and cause a murmur

Question 8

What does “lub” indicate?

Answer 8

S1
Start of systole
QRS on ECG
AV valves close

Question 9

What does “dub” indicate?

Answer 9

S2
End of systole
T wave of ECG
Ao valve closes

Question 10

What happens during S3 and S4?

Answer 10

Early diastolic filling / late diastolic filling

Question 11

What are some reasons heart sounds could be softer than expected?

Answer 11

Obesity
Fluid-pericardial or pleural
Myocardial failure - reduced contractility
Mass lesion -diaphragmatic hernia

Question 12

What are some reasons heart sounds could be louder than ecpected?

Answer 12

Increased sympathetic tone
Hypertension

Question 13

What are normal HRs?

Answer 13

Dog: 70-150
Cat: 140-220
Cow: 45-70
Horse: 30-50

Question 14

What heart sounds are common in hyperthyroid cats?

Answer 14

Gallop sounds (S3/S4)

Question 15

What are mid-systolic clicks?

Answer 15

Systolic event related to mitral or tricuspid valve prolapse

Question 16

What is the main difference between a 4/6 and 5/6 murmur?

Answer 16

5/6 you can palpate murmur through body wall

Question 17

What are the Six S’s of innocent heart murmurs?

Answer 17

1. Sensitive: change w/ position/respiration
2. Short duration: proto systolic
3. Single: no associated clicks or gallops
4. Small: limited to a small area and does not radiate
5. Soft- low amplitude
6. Systolic: limited to systole

Question 18

What is stridor?

Answer 18

Vibratory sound produced by narrowed large air passages
Worse during inspiration
Reflects airway absotruction (larynx, trachea, etc)

Question 19

What is stertor?

Answer 19

Harsh, snoring sound, usually inspiratory
Typically related to soft palate obstruction or secretions in the upper airway

Question 20

What are wheezes?

Answer 20

Reflect small airway collapse, usually epiratory and high pitched

Question 21

What are crackles?

Answer 21

Harsh, popping sounds related to rapid openeing of callapsed airways or alveoli.