CARDIO-RESPIRATORY ASSESSSMENT

Before starting any treatment for a patient with a chest condition, the Physiotherapist should carry out an Assessment.

[I] GENERAL ASSESSMENT

§  MEDICAL NOTES  

Name ----      Age ----          Sex ----           Occupation ----

§  SOCIAL HISTORY 

Married / Unmarried ----            Hobbies -----

§  FAMILY HISTORY

Allergy ----   Hay fever----           Skin problems----

§  MEDICAL HISTORY

Ø  PAST

§  Operations

§  Accidents

§  Rheumatic fever

§  Pulmonary TB

Ø  PRESENT

§  Current Medications

[II] SPECIFIC ASSESSMENT

§  Dyspnea        [  ]      

§  Orthopnoea [  ]

§  Wheeze         [  ]      

§  Cough            [  ]

§  Sputum         [  ]                  

§  Pain                [  ]

[III] CHEST ASSESSMENT

§  Deformities

Ø  Congenital

§  Pectus Carinatum

§  Pectus Excavatum

Ø  Acquired

§  Scoliosis

§  Kyphosis

§  Barrel Chest

§  Skeletal Mobility

Ø  Cervical Spine Mobility

Ø  Thoracic Spine Mobility

Ø  Shoulder girdle Mobility

§  Respiratory Muscles

Ø  Primary

Ø  Accessory

§  Respiratory Pattern

Ø  Upper costal

Ø  Lower costal

Ø  Thoracic

Ø  Abdominal

[IV] OTHER ASSESSMENT

Ø  Anemia                     [  ]                  

Ø  Cyanosis                   [  ]

Ø  Clubbing                   [  ]                  

Ø  Edema                       [  ]      

Ø  Auscultation            [  ]      

[V] MEDICAL INVESTIGATIONS

§  Vital signs:

Ø  BP

Ø  Temperature

Ø  Pulse

Ø  Respiration

§  X-Ray Chest

§  Pulmonary Function Test                        

§  Blood Analysis:

§  WBC

§  Hemoglobin

§  Platelet

§  Prothrombin Time

§  Sodium    

§  Potassium

§  Urea

§  Creatinine

§  Blood Gases (pa o2 / pa co2)

PLEXIMETRY (PERCUSSION)

It consists of setting up vibrations in the chest wall by means of a sharp tap.

METHOD

The middle finger of left hand [pleximeter] is placed in close contact with chest wall in the intercostals space.

A firm sharp tap is then made by middle finger of right hand [plexor].

NOTE

1: All areas of chest are percussed (Front / Back / Both Axillae).

2: The Essence of percussion is to compare the “note” with the corresponding part of chest on opposite side.