PRINCIPLES OF THE PHYSICAL EXAMINATION

1
PRINCIPLES OF THE PHYSICAL EXAMINATION
2
GENERAL SURVEY

• Exam begins the minute you first see the patient
• Exam continues throughout your patient interaction

3
OBSERVATION

• WEALTH OF INFORMATION!!!!

4
STATURE
5
HEALTH STATUS
6
WEIGHT
7
PERSONAL HYGIENE
8
SKIN COLOR /LESIONS
9
BREATH/ODOR
10
MOOD/ATTITUDE
11
WHEN WE PERFORM A PHYSICAL EXAM WE USE
12
TECHNIQUES OF THE PHYSICAL EXAMINATION

• VISUAL INSPECTION
• PALPATION
• PERCUSSION
• AUSCULATION

13
VISUAL INSPECTION

• INSPECT CAREFULLY ALL AREAS OF EXAM
• DOCUMENT BOTH NORMAL AND ABNORMAL FINDINGS

14
PALPATION
15
PALPATION

• TEXTURE
• SIZE
• CONSISTENCY
• CREPITUS
• MASSES
• EXAMPLE TAKING A PULSE, HEAD AND NECK EXAM

16
PERCUSSION
17
PERCUSSION

• USE OF THE HANDS AND FINGERS
• STRIKING ONE OBJECT AGAINST ANOTHER

18
AUSCULATION
19
AUSCULATION

• LISTENING FOR SOUNDS PRODUCED BY THE BODY
• BLOOD PRESSURE, INTESTINAL SOUNDS

20
PHYSICAL EXAMINATIN

• MINUTES TO HOURS TO PERFORM
• OBSERVATION TO HANDS ON
• CONTINUE THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE CARE OF THE
  PATIENT
• SYSTEMATIC AND THOROUGH