Cardiovascular exam
This is the general instructions on how to do a cardiovascular exam Before you start you would like to: Wash hands Introduce yourself and gain consent Position the patient at 45 degrees General inspection Look for paraphernalia General state Colour Short of breath? Any scars Make a general statement such as 'Mr X looks alert, well perfused and comfortable at rest Hands Tobacco staining Peripheral cyanosis Capillary refill time . Nails - clubbing Splinter haemorrhages (can be sign of IE) Nailbed pulsation ( a sign of aortic regurgitation (Quinke's sign)) Tendon xanthomata Janeway lesions (painless) (PROXIMAL IS PAINLESS) Osler nodes (painful) (both signs of IE) Arm Pulse Radio-radial delay Radiofemoral delay (can indicate coarctation of aorta or aortic arch aneurysm) Collapsing pulse or waterhammer (check for pain in arm)(if positive, sign of aortic regurgitation) Can check brachial pulse Will give cha