Cardiovascular examination

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Cardiovascular examination
Purposeevaluation of the cardiovascular system.

The cardiovascular examination is a portion of the physical examination that involves evaluation of the cardiovascular system. The exact contents of the examination will vary depending on the presenting complaint but a complete examination will involve the heart (cardiac examination), lungs (pulmonary examination), belly (abdominal examination) and the blood vessels (peripheral vascular examination).

Contents

The cardiac examination is based on the different methods of evaluation, comprising the following sections: measurement of vital signs; inspection and palpation, percussion and auscultation, pulmonary examination, abdominal examination and peripheral vascular examination. [1] The evaluation of a real patient will require switching between the different methods and even different organs to save time and keep the patient comfortable: for example, listening to the heart and the lungs of a young child before they get bored. The only materials needed are a sphygmomanometer (blood pressure cuff), a stethoscope and the use of sight, touch, smell and sound.

Measurement of Vital Signs

Cardiac examination

The cardiac examination (also known as the precordial exam), involves examination of a person for signs of diseases of the heart. The chest is the main area that will be examined, but other areas that will be examined include the hands, head and ankles. [4]

Inspection and Palpation

Location of Heart Sounds for Auscultation Location of Heart Sounds for Auscultation.png
Location of Heart Sounds for Auscultation

Percussion and Auscultation

Pulmonary Examination

Abdominal Examination

Peripheral Examination

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Porter S., Robert (July 11, 2011). Merck Manual. Merck. p. 3754. ISBN   978-0911910193 . Retrieved December 28, 2018.
  2. 1 2 Litin, M.D., Scott (May 5, 2018). Mayo Clinic Family Health Book. Mayo Clinic. ISBN   978-1945564024.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Bickley, Lynn S. (September 6, 2016). Bates' Guide to Physical Examination and History Taking (Twelfth ed.). LWW. p. 1064. ISBN   9781469893419 . Retrieved December 28, 2018.
  4. Douglas, Graham; Nicol, Fiona; Robertson, Colin (2013). "The cardiovascular system". Macleod's Clinical Examination (13th ed.). Churchill Livingstone. ISBN   9780702042782.
  5. Cardiovascular examination. Remedica. 2004.