General inspection
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
Related pages
- Breathlessness
- Tachypnoea
- Accessory muscles of respiration
- Wheeze
- Stridor
- Cyanosis (central)
- Asterixis
- Hyperinflated chest
- Kyphosis
- Scoliosis
- Pigeon chest
- Funnel chest
- Harrison's sulcus
- Recession
- Patterns of respiration
- Supraclavicular lymph nodes
- Superior vena cava obstruction
- Hoarseness
- Horner's syndrome
- Clubbing
- Brachial plexus lesion (lower)
- Yellow nails
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