Cardiovascular Examination | OSCE Guide | UKMLA | CPSA | PLAB 2

Summary

In this video, a final-year medical student, Hassan, performs a thorough cardiovascular examination on a 30-year-old male patient, Olle Walker. The process includes checking the patient's pulse, observing physical signs, listening to heart sounds, and assessing breath and neck conditions. Throughout the examination, the student checks for any signs of infection or irregularities while carefully monitoring the patient's response. The examination concludes with a normal cardiovascular result, with suggestions for further tests, including a full peripheral vascular exam, blood pressure check, and an ECG. The video also promotes an educational platform for practicing clinical skills.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker is a final year medical student performing a cardiovascular examination on a patient named Olle Walker.
• 😀 The patient is a 30-year-old male with no reported pain or discomfort during the examination.
• 😀 The examination involves inspection, palpation, and auscultation of the chest and related areas.
• 😀 The speaker first checks the patient's hands, assessing their temperature and pulse at the wrists, elbows, and neck.
• 😀 The patient is asked to raise both arms for a closer examination of the chest and to feel for the heartbeat.
• 😀 The speaker checks for any signs of discomfort in the patient's neck, face, and tummy, and performs further palpation.
• 😀 The cardiovascular examination includes listening to the heart sounds, which are noted as normal with no added sounds.
• 😀 The examination proceeds with further auscultation, including listening to the neck and chest while the patient breathes deeply.
• 😀 The patient is asked to roll onto their left side to continue with the examination of heart and lung sounds.
• 😀 The speaker finishes by assessing the patient's legs and ankles, checking for any abnormalities and pressing firmly on the areas.
• 😀 The final assessment indicates that Olle's cardiovascular examination is normal, with regular pulses, normal heart and breath sounds, and no signs of infective endocarditis.

Q & A

What is the purpose of the cardiovascular examination performed in this script?

The purpose of the cardiovascular examination in this script is to assess the patient's heart function and overall cardiovascular health through visual inspection, palpation, and auscultation.

Why is the examiner asking the patient, Ollie, to remove his T-shirt?

The examiner asks Ollie to remove his T-shirt to properly conduct a physical examination of his chest, ensuring a clear view for inspection, palpation, and auscultation.

What does the examiner assess when inspecting the patient's hands?

The examiner assesses the temperature of Ollie's hands, the pulse in his wrists, and checks for any abnormal signs like peripheral stigmata of infective endocarditis.

What is the significance of checking pulses at multiple locations, including wrists, elbows, neck, and chest?

Checking pulses at multiple locations helps assess circulation and can reveal abnormalities in the cardiovascular system, such as blockages or irregularities in blood flow.

Why does the examiner press on Ollie's tummy during the cardiovascular exam?

The examiner presses on Ollie's tummy to check for any abdominal tenderness or signs of underlying issues that could affect cardiovascular health, such as aortic aneurysms.

What does the examiner listen for when auscultating Ollie's heart?

The examiner listens for heart sounds, including heart sounds one and two, and checks for any added sounds, such as murmurs or abnormal heart rhythms, which may indicate cardiovascular problems.

What does the examiner do after listening to the heart sounds during the examination?

After listening to the heart sounds, the examiner asks Ollie to sit forward, takes a closer look at his back, and continues with auscultation to check for any abnormal breath sounds or signs of heart failure.

Why is Ollie asked to take deep breaths during the cardiovascular examination?

Ollie is asked to take deep breaths to assess his lung function and check for any signs of heart failure or other cardiovascular issues that may affect breathing or lung sounds.

What is the significance of checking Ollie's legs and ankles during the examination?

Checking the legs and ankles helps assess for signs of peripheral edema or circulation problems, which are important indicators of heart failure or other cardiovascular conditions.

What additional tests would the examiner perform to complete the cardiovascular assessment?

To complete the cardiovascular assessment, the examiner would perform a full peripheral vascular examination, check vital signs including blood pressure, and obtain a 12-lead ECG to evaluate the heart's electrical activity.