Respiratory Examination and Assessment

Read the illustrated guides to respiratory examination and assessment on ClinicalSkills.net below: 

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Start by looking at the basics of respiratory assessment here:

Respiratory Assessment in Adults

Respiratory Assessment of Infants, Children and Young People

For deeper understanding and knowledge, including some of the more advanced skills used as part of a full respiratory examination (palpation, percussion and auscultation), read the guide to respiratory examination here: 

Respiratory Examination

You may also find it useful to read more about measuring Peak Expiratory Flow, as this may form a useful part of a respiratory assessment, depending on the patient and their condition. You can read about this in the guide from ClinicalSkills.net here: 

Measuring Peak Expiratory Flow

Peak Expiratory Flow is measured in litres per minute and should be between 400 and 700 litres per minute in adults, but varies according to age and height. Further information, including the range of normal values for adults can be viewed on the visual scale on this page: PeakFlow.com - Adult normal values. For children, Peak Expiratory Flow predicted normal expected values vary according to height. The table on this page illustrates this: PeakFlow.com - Paediatric normal values 

For further information on oxygen administration and therapy, please access the Oxygen Therapy page.

To learn about chest auscultation in more detail, please visit the Chest Auscultation page.

If you'd like more detailed in depth information about Peak Flow And Spirometry, including how to interpret the reading, watch the video below from Oxford Medical Education:

Click on the button below to navigate to the 'Take a Test' area of ClinicalSkills.net. Please make sure you're logged into ClinicalSkills.net already, otherwise you may not be able to open and take the test. Once you have reached the 'Take a Test' area, select 'Local Tests' and then click on the test called 'Assessment of Respiration', 'Respiratory Examination", and 'Measuring Peak Expiratory Flow' to begin. You will need to score 80% or more to pass. Make sure you've read the ClinicalSkills.net procedure thoroughly before taking the test as many of the answers will be found within there!

Click on the following buttons to open the printable checklists:

Clinical Assessment and Monitoring in children

ProQuest Ebook Central - Reader 

Respiratory examination- Geeky medics

www.geekymedics.com/respiratory-examination-2/

Date reviewed: 

Next review: August 2023