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Respiratory Exam
 
 
Respiratory Exam
Through inspecting, palpating, percussing and auscultating the chest, it is possible to comprehensively assess for respiratory pathology.
The Patient
Hands
Arms
Face
Neck
Chest Inspection
Chest Palpation
Chest Percussion
Chest Auscultation
 

Respiratory Rate

 
 
On this page:
Tachypnoea
Bradypnoea

Overview

    • How to Measure

      • Count the patient's breaths over 30 seconds to one minute while ostensibly measuring the pulse.

      • Normal Range

      • 12 - 20 breaths per minute

    • Significance

      • The diaphragm has both somatic and autonomic innervation, and thus the respiratory rate can be altered both voluntarily and and involuntarily in response to physiologic or pathologic stimuli.

Tachypnoea

  • Respiratory rate greater then 20 breathes per minute.

    • Causes of Tachypnoea

    • Physiologic - during exercise or at high altitude
    • Anxiety
    • Metabolic acidosis - abdominal pathology, sepsis
    • Pulmonary embolism
    • Pneumonia
    • Asthma
    • Respiratory failure

Bradypnoea

  • Respiratory rate less than 12 breaths per minute.

    • Causes of Bradypnoea

    • Respiratory suppression
    • Drugs - opioids
    • Respiratory failure
    • Hypothyroidism
    • Raised intracranial pressure
Last updated on January 24th, 2020
 
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Associated Diseases
BETA

Pulmonary Embolus
Hypothyroidism
Metabolic Acidosis
Asthma
Community-Acquired Pneumonia
High Altitude Sickness

Associated Drugs
BETA

Inhalational General Anaesthetics
Opioids
Thyroxine
 
 

Read More...

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