In medicine, the respiratory examination is performed as part of a physical examination, or when a patient presents with a respiratory problem (dyspnea (shortness of breath), cough, chest pain) or a history that suggests a pathology of the lungs.

Contents 1 Position/Lighting/Draping 2 Inspection 2.1 Chest wall deformities 2.2 Signs of respiratory distress 3 Palpation 4 Percussion 5 Auscultation 5.1 Vocal fremitus (not usually done) 6 External links

[edit] Position/Lighting/Draping

Position - patient should sit upright on the examination table. The patient's hands should remain at their sides. When the back is examined the patient is usually asked to move their arms forward (hug themself position) so that the scapulae are not in the way of examining the upper lung fields. as many physicians around world request

Lighting - adjusted so that it is ideal. Draping - the chest should be fully exposed. Exposure time should be minimized.

The basic steps of the examination can be remembered with the mnemonic IPPA:

• Inspection
• Palpation
• Percussion
• Auscultation

[edit] Inspection

• Tracheal deviation (can suggest of tension pneumothorax)

[edit] Chest wall deformities

• Kyphosis - curvature of the spine - anterior-posterior
• Scoliosis - curvature of the spine - lateral
• Barrel chest - chest wall increased anterior-posterior; normal in children; typical of hyperinflation seen in COPD
• Pectus excavatum - sternum sunken into the chest
• Pectus carinatum - sternum protruding from the chest

[edit] Signs of respiratory distress

• Cyanosis - person turns blue
• Pursed-lip breathing - seen in COPD (used to increase end expiratory pressure)
• Accessory muscle use (scalene muscles)
• Diaphragmatic paradox - the diaphragm moves opposite of the normal direction on inspiration; suspect flail segment in trauma
• Intercostal indrawing

[edit] Palpation

• Tracheal deviation - check whether trachea is in centre line.
• Tactile fremitus - the patient says boy-O-boy or ninety-nine, whilst physician sense with ulnar aspect of hand for changes in sound conduction.
• Respiratory expansion - check whether expansion is equal
• Location of apex beat - check if there has been deviation of heart

[edit] Percussion

Middle finger strikes the middle phalanx of the other middle finger. The sides of the chest are compared.

• dullness indicates consolidation
• hyper-resonance (as can be simulated by percussing the inflated cheek) suggests a pneumothorax (can be related to COPD or a pleural effusion)
• diaphragmatic excursion - normal is 3 to 6 cm.

[edit] Auscultation

• Inspiratory crackles (decompensated congestive heart failure)
• Expiratory wheezes (asthma, emphysema)
• Stridor and other upper airway sounds
• Bronchial vs. vesicular breath sounds
• Appropriate ratio of inspiration to expiration time (expiration time increased in COPD)

[edit] Vocal fremitus (not usually done)

• Egophony
• Whisper pectoriloquy

[edit] External links

• Respiratory exam - University of Florida
• Exam of the chest - University of Florida
• Respiratory exam - Respiratory Exam
• Lung sounds online - Emory University School of Medicine

v • d • e Medicine: physical examination Head Nervous system: Neurology · Mental state · Eyes (Swinging-flashlight test) · Hearing (Weber, Rinne) Circulatory system: Jugular venous pressure · Abdominojugular test Chest Respiratory system (Respiratory sounds) · Precordium (Heart sounds, Apex beat) Abdomen/pelvis Abdomen (Liver span) · Intimate (Pelvic, Rectal) · Hip Limbs Knee · GALS screen · Peripheral vascular (Ankle brachial pressure index) General Inspection · Auscultation · Palpation · Percussion

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