Vital signs and General Survey

Vital signs

Measurements of the body's most basic functions and useful in detecting or monitoring medical problems.

What measures are considered to be vital signs?

height, weight, BMI, temperature, oxygen saturation, pulse, respiratory rate, blood pressure

Body Mass Index (BMI)

a measure of body weight relative to height

How many lbs in a kg?

2.2 lbs

Temperature taking methods

oral, tympanic, axillary, rectal, temporal, tactile

Average human temperature

98.6 F (37 C)

Which temperature taking method is the most accurate?

rectal

Hypothermia

abnormally low body temperature (Below 95F or 35C)

Pyrexia

fever (over 100.4 F or 38C)

hyperpyrexia

extremely high body temperature or fever; 106F or 41.1C

When is hyperpyrexia most commonly seen?

Sepsis

oxygen saturation

a clinical measurement of the percentage of hemoglobin that is bound with oxygen in the blood

Normal oxygen saturation

95-100%

Pulse

Beat of the heart as felt through the walls of the arteries.

Pulse rate

the number of pulse beats per minute

How do you take a patient's pulse?

Check for 30 seconds using 2 fingers over the carotid or radial artery, then multiply by 2

Normal Sinus Rythym (NSR)

heart rhythm originating in the sinoatrial node with a rate in patients at rest of 60 to 100 beats per minute

Bradycardia

slow heart rate (less than 60 bpm)

Tachycardia

fast heart rate (over 100 bpm)

Pulse amplitude

the magnitude of the pulse

Pulse amplitude scale

0= absent

1+= weak

2+= normal

3+= bounding

Sinus Arrhythmia

A sinus rhythm in which the rate varies with respiration, causing an irregular rhythm.

Atrial fibrilation

irregularly irregular. rate varies and depends on the conduction rate. no identifiable P waves. Baseline shows fibrillartory waves.

Auscultate

To listen to sounds within an organ with a stethoscope.

Stroke volume

The amount of blood ejected from the heart in one contraction.

What does a bounding pulse mean in regards to stroke volume?

increased stroke volume

How does increased peripheral resistance affect pulse contour?

it makes the pulses smaller and weaker

Respiration rate (RR)

number of breaths per minute

Inspiration

breathing in

Expiration

breathing out

Adult respiration rate

16-20 per minute

Respiration rate of infants to 2 years old

20-40 per minute

Respiration rate of pediatrics over 2 years old

15-25 per minute

Tachypnea

rapid shallow breathing (>20 rpm)

Bradypnea

abnormally slow breathing (<14 rpm)

Hyperventilation

the condition of taking abnormally fast, deep breaths

Hyperpnea

fast deep breathing

Sighing respirations

breathing punctuated with frequent sighs

obstructive breathing

prolonged expiration

Ataxic Breathing (Biot's Breathing)

characterized by unpredictable irregularity. Shallow/deep/apenic periods etc. Caused by respiratory depression and brain damage.

Cheyne-Stokes breathing

a distinct pattern of breathing characterized by quickening and deepening respirations followed by a period of apnea

Kussmaul breathing

gasping, labored breathing, also called air hunger

Blood pressure

the pressure that is exerted by the blood against the walls of blood vessels

What artery is most commonly used for taking blood pressure?

brachial

What unit is BP measured in?

mmHg (millimeters of mercury)

Systolic pressure

Blood pressure in the arteries during contraction of the ventricles.

Diastolic pressure

the pressure in the arteries when the heart is at rest

Pulse pressure

difference between systolic and diastolic pressure

White coat hypertension

BP raises as an anxiety response in clinical setting

Masked hypertension

low clinic blood pressure, but elevated ambulatory/home blood pressure

unequal arm and leg bp

coarctation of the aorta

Hypertension

high blood pressure

General survey

physical appearance, body structure, mobility, behavior