cardiovascular assessment techniques

1. CARDIOVASCULAR (CVS) ASSESMENT
CARDINAL TECHNIQUE 1
INSPECTION
PRESENTED BY,
PRAKRUTHI

2. HISTORY COLLECTION

3. Step 02
The patient should be on the bed with their trunk at 45 degrees,
and they should be exposed from the waist up.
Step 01
Wash your hands, introduce yourself to the patient and clarify
their identity.
Step 03
Begin by observing the patient from the end of the bed.
You should note whether the patient looks comfortable.
•Are they cyanosed or flushed?
•Is their respiration rate normal?
Explain what you would like to do and
obtain consent.

4. Step 04
Inspect the patient’s hands. Initially note how warm they
feel as this gives an indication of how well perfused they
are.
Particular signs which you should be looking for are:
•Nail clubbing
•Splinter hemorrhages
•Palmar erythema
•Janeway lesions
•Osler’s nodes
•Tobacco staining
CARDIAC ASSOCIATION
Infective endocarditis
Splinter haemorrhages
Tobacco staining

5. CLUBBING

6. Capillary refill

7. Step 05
Take the radial pulse.
Step 06
Examine the extensor aspect of the elbow for any
evidence of xanthomata.
xanthomata.

8. Step 07
Move up to the face. Look in the eyes for any signs of:
•Jaundice (particularly in the sclera beneath the upper eyelid)
•Anaemia (in the conjunctiva beneath the lower eyelid).
•Corneal arcus.
•xanthelasma.
Cardiac association
Hyperlipidemia
xanthelasma.
Corneal arcus.

9. Step 08
Whilst looking at the face, check for any malar facies:
•Look in the mouth for any signs of anaemia such as glossitis.
•Check the colour of the tongue for any cyanosis.
•Check around the mouth for any angular stomatitis – another
sign of anaemia.

10. Pectus excavatum is a congenital deformity of
the chest wall that causes several ribs and the
breastbone (sternum) to grow in an inward direction.
Usually, the ribs and sternum go outward at the front
of the chest. With pectus excavatum, the sternum
goes inward to form a depression in the chest.
Pectus carinatum is a genetic disorder of the chest
wall. It makes the chest jut out. The bulging gives
the chest a birdlike appearance. That's why the
condition is sometimes called pigeon breast or
pigeon chest
Pectus carinatum

11. Severe cases of thoracic kyphosis can also limit
the amount of space in the chest and cause
cardiac and pulmonary problems leading
to chest pain or shortness of breath with
eventual pulmonary and/or heart failure.
kyphosis or the kyphotic curve by which the
spine is bent forward.
•Lung and heart damage. In severe scoliosis, the rib
cage may press against the lungs and heart, making it
more difficult to breathe and harder for the heart to
pump.
Kyphosis
scoliosis

12. Frank's sign is a diagonal crease in the ear lobe
correlates with a myriad of cardiovascular diseases such
as coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease, and
peripheral vascular disease.