UWE Bristol

Respiratory Examination

Anna Neary

Respiratory ExaminationIntroduction This activity looks at a systematic approach to respiratory examination. You will need to have completed learning activities consultation models and history taking before undertaking this learning activity.

In this activity, you will:

Discover the anatomy of the thorax and lungsConsider a systematic approach to respiratory examination including inspection, palpation and auscultationConsider the elements of a general surveyIdentify some normal and abnormal breath sounds

Respiratory ExaminationAnatomyThe respiratory system consists of the airways, lungs, bony thorax and respiratory muscles all working together . The Lungs are covered in a lining called the visceral pleura. There are three lobes on the right side of the chest (upper, middle and lower). There are two lobes on the left side of the chest (upper and lower) to accommodate the heart.

The lower airways start with the trachea and then sub divide into the right and left main bronchi. These bronchi divide into lobar bronchi, then secondary bronchi, tertiary bronchi, terminal bronchioles , respiratory bronchioles and finally alveolar ducts. The bronchioles sub divide into several alveolar ducts, which in turn will have a number of alveolar sacs. The alveoli consists of alveolar cells, which are simple squamous epithelial cells, this is the main site for gas exchange.

Anatomy of the chest wall, the chest consists of 12 ribs with intercostal spaces, a sternal angle adjacent to 2nd rib, costal cartilage from rib 1-7 articulate with sternum. Ribs 8-10 articulate with the costal cartilage just above them and ribs 11 and 12 have no anterior attachments.

Respiratory ExaminationAnterior axillary lineMid clavicular lineSternal lineAnterior axillary lineMid-axillary linePosterior axillary lineVertebral lineLeft scapular lineUse the vertical anatomical lines as shown above to describe your findings.

Respiratory ExaminationInspiration and expiration

Normal inspiration uses the diaphragm that goes down and flattens, this is an active process. The intercostal muscles raise the sternum and ribs and in turn air enters the lungs. Negative alveolar pressure is created. Air moves into the lungs until the pressures are equal.

Expiration is a passive process where the intercostal muscles and diaphragm relax. The lungs recoil to their resting size and position. Positive alveolar pressure is created and the air moves out of the lungs.

Respiratory ExaminationSystematic Examination

There are three aspects to consider when carrying out a systematic examination:

LOOK:inspect

FEEL:palpate and percuss

LISTEN:auscultate

Respiratory ExaminationGeneral SurveyFirst you need to take time to look at your patients overall appearance, remembering the importance of basic assessment i.e. airway, breathing, circulation, disability and exposure and move on only when there is no immediate intervention in these areas. Also consider whether your patient appears to be alert or confused or aggressive. You will need to check their blood pressure in both arms, heart rate, respiratory rate and pulse. Look at hands, check for signs of cyanosis and any nail deformities.

Does you patient look pale, sweaty are there any signs of cyanosis, are there signs of any shortness of breath? Examining the hands is very important in patients with respiratory disease as there are many abnormalities that can be found such as finger clubbing, peripheral cyanosis, tobacco staining and CO2 retention.

Other signs and symptoms of a respiratory condition include, shortness of breath, anxious or distressed, pallor, cough, wheezing, confusion, stridor, cyanosis of lips and peripheral cyanosis, chest pain, tripod sitting position, clubbing of finger nails, fine hand tremor when asked to place hands out in front of them for 20-30 seconds.

Respiratory ExaminationInspection

Check the patients rate, rhythm and depth/work of breathing.

Check position of trachea, is it midline?

Look at the patients chest (anterior and posterior), does the shape appear normal?

Is there swelling, bruising or scarring on the chest wall?

Can you hear any abnormal noises (without stethoscope) i.e. grunting, wheeze, stridor?

Inspect Sputum.

Respiratory ExaminationSputumThere are four main types of sputum;

Serous- This is clear and watery although can be frothy and pink in colour. It can indicate acute pulmonary oedema and can be a sign of alveolar cell cancer.

Mucoid- This is clear grey or white in colour and is viscid in texture. It can indicate the presence of chronic bronchitis, COPD or asthma.

Purulent- This is usually yellow or green in colour. The yellow purulent sputum indicates acute bronchopulmonary infection and /or asthma. Green purulent sputum indicates a long standing infection such as pneumonia, bronchiectasis or cystic fibrosis or the presence of a lung abscess

Rusty- This is as the name suggests rusty red in colour and indicates the presence of pneumoccal pneumonia.

Respiratory ExaminationPalpate the anterior and posterior chest wall, check for tenderness.

Respiratory ExaminationChest Expansion

it is important when examining the chest to check for symmetry when the patient is breathing.

To do this place your hands at the level of the 10th rib as shown in the photograph.

Ask the patient to breath in deeply, watch your thumbs move apart, this should be equal.

Also feel the rib cage expand and contract.

This can be done on the anterior of the chest or the posterior

Respiratory ExaminationTactile Fremitus

Fremitus refers to the palpable vibrations transmitted through the bronchopulmonary tree to the chest wall when the patient speaks. To detect tactile fremitus you need to place either the ball or bony aspect of your hand or the ulna border of your hand in certain places on the chest and ask the patient to say 99. You will feel the vibrations through the lungs as air is transmitted. You should perform this anteriorly and posteriorly.

Intense vibrations can indicate consolidation in tissue.Faint or absent vibrations can indicate obstruction or fluid filled pleural space.

Respiratory Examination

Hand positioning for tactile fremitus

Respiratory ExaminationPercussionPercussion is performed to establish whether the lungs are filled with air, fluid or solid material and to establish lung boundaries.

Percuss in the rib spaces, place your middle finger flat in the space and using your dominant hand tap the middle finger with the tip of your finger. Use a systematic approach comparing sides as shown in the picture.

Normal percussion sound is resonant, long and loud, low pitched and hollow.

A solid area will sound dull and thud-like.

Hyperinflated lung as in pneumothorax will sound hyperresonant, very loud and lower pitched.

Respiratory ExaminationAuscultation

The sound heard through the stethoscope when you are listening to the chest are different depending on where you are listening.Vesicular sounds are heard over most of the lung fields, this is soft and of a low pitch.

Bronchovesicular sounds are heard over the lower trachea and left and right main bronchi, this sound is intermediate in intensity and pitch.

Bronchial sounds are heard over the trachea in the neck and they are loud and high pitch.

You should listen to the chest in the same pattern as when you percussed the chest, ensuring you compare sides.There are many breath sounds that can indicate abnormalities within the lungs. Click on the link and then listen to both recordings of lung sounds.

Respiratory ExaminationSummary

You have now reached the end of this activity. Here is a summary of the key points:

It is important to know the anatomy of the thorax and lungs prior to any examination of the respiratory system.

When you examine the chest use a systematic approach i.e. general survey, inspection, palpation and auscultation.

It is important that you have an understanding of the normal sounds when percussing the chest and the normal breath sounds when ausultating, and normal vibrations when performing tactile fremitus.

Respiratory ExaminationReferences Douglas, G, Nicol, F and Robertson, C (2009) Macleods Clinical Examination. Churchill Livingstone

Hogan-Quigley, B, Louise Palm, M, Bickley, L (2012) Bates Nursing Guide to Physical Examination and History Taking. First Edition. Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins.

Rushforth, H (2009) Assessment made incredibly easy. First UK Edition. Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins

Tortora, G and Derrickson, B (2010) Essentials of anatomy and physiology. Wiley Plus

Respiratory ExaminationGuided learning (Duration: 2 hours)

Identify a patient in practice and under the supervision of an Advanced Nurse Practitioner or doctor, watch a respiratory examination and then perform a respiratory examination. Use the templates provided as an aid memoir.

Discuss your findings with the ANP or doctor.

Research common respiratory conditions such as:COPDAsthmaThe British Thoracic website will help your research.

Write a reflective piece of work about a patient you have seen and the guidelines you have learnt.

You will also be able to attend a day long face to face skills workshop to complement this learning activity.