View source for Medicine:Cardiac examination

{{more citations|date=April 2021}}

In [[Medicine:Medicine|medicine]], the '''cardiac examination''', also '''precordial exam''', is performed as part of a physical examination, or when a patient presents with [[Medicine:Chest pain|chest pain]] suggestive of a cardiovascular [[Biology:Pathology|pathology]]. It would typically be modified depending on the [[Medicine:Indication|indication]] and integrated with other examinations especially the [[Medicine:Respiratory examination|respiratory examination]].

Like all medical examinations, the cardiac examination follows the standard structure of inspection, palpation and auscultation.

==Positioning==
The patient is positioned in the [[Biology:Supine position|supine position]] tilted up at 45 degrees if the patient can tolerate this. The head should rest on a pillow and the arms by their sides. The level of the jugular venous pressure (JVP) should only be commented on in this position as flatter or steeper angles lead to artificially elevated or reduced level respectively. Also, left ventricular failure leads to [[Medicine:Pulmonary edema|pulmonary edema]] which increases and may impede breathing if the patient is laid flat.

Lighting should be adjusted so that it is not obscured by the examiner who will approach from the right hand side of the patient as is medical custom.

The torso and neck should be fully exposed and access should be available to the legs.

==Inspection==
General Inspection:
* Inspect the patient status whether he or she is comfortable at rest or obviously short of breath.<ref>250 cases in clinical medicine 3rd edition. R. R. Baliga</ref>
* Inspect the neck for increased jugular venous pressure (JVP) or abnormal waves.<ref>250 cases in clinical medicine 3rd edition. R. R. Baliga</ref>
* Any abnormal movements such as head bobbing.
* There are specific signs associated with cardiac illness and abnormality however, during inspection any noticed cutaneous sign should be noted.

Inspect the hands for:
* Temperature – described as warm or cool, clammy or dry
* Skin turgor for hydration
* [[Medicine:Janeway lesion|Janeway lesion]]
* Osler's node
* At the nails Splinter hemorrhage and Quincke's pulsation should be looked for as well as any deformity of the nail such as [[Medicine:Beau's lines|Beau's lines]], clubbing or [[Medicine:Cyanosis#Peripheral cyanosis|peripheral cyanosis]].

Inspect the head for:
* Cheeks for the malar flush of [[Medicine:Mitral stenosis|mitral stenosis]].
* The eyes for corneal arcus and surrounding tissue for xanthalasma.
* Conjunctiva pallor a sign of anemia.
* The mouth for hygiene.
* The mucosa for hydration and pallor or central [[Medicine:Cyanosis|cyanosis]].
* The ear lobes for [[Medicine:Frank's sign|Frank's sign]].

Then inspect the precordium for:
* visible pulsations
* [[Medicine:Apex beat|apex beat]]
* masses
* scars
* lesions
* signs of trauma and previous surgery (e.g. median sternotomy)
* any signs of previously-implanted cardiac hardware such as pacemakers or implated cardiac defibrillators
* precordial bulge

==Palpation==
The pulses should be palpated, first the radial pulse commenting on rate and rhythm then the brachial pulse commenting on character and finally the carotid pulse again for character.
The pulses may be:
* Bounding as in large pulse pressure found in [[Medicine:Aortic regurgitation|aortic regurgitation]] or [[Medicine:Hypercapnia|{{CO2}} retention]].
* And the rhythm should be assessed as regular, regularly irregular or irregularly irregular.
* Consistency of the strength to assess for Pulsus alternans.
* Slow rising as found in [[Medicine:Aortic stenosis|aortic stenosis]] known as parvus et tardus
* Jerky as found in HOCM
* Pulses can also be auscultated for features like [[Medicine:Aortic insufficiency#Physical examination|Traube's pistol shot femoral pulse]].

===Palpation of the precordium===
The valve areas are palpated for abnormal pulsations (palpable [[Physics:Heart murmur|heart murmur]]s known as ''thrills'') and precordial movements (known as ''heaves'').  Heaves are best felt with the heel of the hand at the sternal border.

===Palpation of the apex beat===
The [[Medicine:Apex beat|apex beat]] is found approximately in the fifth left intercostal space in the mid-clavicular line. It can be impalpable for a variety of reasons including obesity, emphysema, [[Physics:Effusion|effusion]] and rarely [[Medicine:Dextrocardia|dextrocardia]]. The apex beat is assessed for size, amplitude, location, impulse and duration. There are specific terms to describe the sensation such as tapping, heaving and thrusting.

Often the apex beat is felt diffusely over a large area, in this case the most inferior and lateral position it can be felt in should be described as well as the location of the largest amplitude.

Finally the [[Biology:Sacrum|sacrum]] and ankles are checked for pitting edema which is caused by [[Medicine:Heart failure#Right-sided failure|right ventricular failure]] in isolation or as part of congestive cardiac failure.

==Auscultation==
One should comment on
* S1 and S2 – if the splitting is abnormal or louder than usual.
* S3 – the emphasis and timing of the syllables in the word ''Kentucky'' is similar to the pattern of sounds in a precordial S3.
* S4 – the emphasis and timing of the syllables in the word ''Tennessee'' is similar to the pattern of sounds in a precordial S4.
* If S4 S1 S2 S3 Also known as a [[Medicine:Gallop rhythm|gallop rhythm]].
* diastolic murmurs (e.g. [[Medicine:Aortic regurgitation|aortic regurgitation]], [[Medicine:Mitral stenosis|mitral stenosis]])
* systolic murmurs (e.g. [[Medicine:Aortic stenosis|aortic stenosis]], [[Medicine:Mitral regurgitation|mitral regurgitation]])
* pericardial rub (suggestive of [[Medicine:Pericarditis|pericarditis]])
* The base of the lungs should be auscultated for signs of pulmonary oedema due to a cardiac cause such as bilateral basal crepitations.

==Completion of examination==
To complete the exam blood pressure should be checked, an ECG recorded, funduscopy performed to assess for Roth spots or papilledema. A full peripheral circulation exam should be performed.

==See also==
* [[Medicine:Heart sounds|Heart sounds]]
* Physical examination
* [[Medicine:Precordial thump|Precordial thump]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100204130149/http://www.mediscuss.org/examination-cardiac-apex-beat-44.html Examination of Cardiac Apex Beat]

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[[Category:Cardiology]]

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