general inspection
Last reviewed 01/2018
Observe the following:
- evidence of respiratory distress:
- dyspnoea
- tachypnoea
- use of accessory muscles of respiration
- wheezing or stridor
- signs of respiratory failure:
- reduced level of consciousness
- central cyanosis
- asterixis
- chest wall:
- hyperexpanded in airways obstruction
- kyphosis or scoliosis
- pectus carinatum or pectus excavatum
- asymetric expansion
- surgical scars, possible tracking mesothelioma
- cold abscesses from underlying TB
- Harrison's sulcus and intercostal recession
- pattern of respiration
- lymphadenopathy, especially supraclavicular
- superior vena cava obstruction:
- puffy face
- engorged neck, chest and arm veins
- hoarse voice
- Horner's syndrome
- signs in the hands:
- nicotine on fingers and nails
- coal dust ingrained in fingers and nails
- clubbing
- wasting of small muscles
- yellow nails in the yellow nail syndrome
accessory muscles of respiration