Cardiovascular (CVS) Examination
This is essentially an examination of the patient’s heart; however it is a complex examination which also includes examination of other parts of the body including the hands, face and neck. The CVS examination aims to pick up on any cardiovascular pathology that may be causing a patient’s symptoms e.g. chest pain, breathlessness, heart failure. This examination is performed on every patient that is admitted to hospital and regularly in clinics and general practice.
Like most major examination stations this follows the usual procedure of inspect, palpate, auscultate (look, feel, listen). It is an essential skill to master and is often examined in OSCE’s.
Wash your hands, introduce yourself to the patient and clarify their identity. Explain what you would like to do and obtain consent. A chaperone should be offered for this examination
For this examination the patient should be on the bed with their trunk at 45degrees, they should be exposed from the waist up.
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?
- Are there any clues around the bed such as PCA machines, GTN sprays or an oxygen mask?
Comments should be provided to the examiner on each of these areas.
Take the radial pulse. It is not a suitable pulse for describing the character of the pulsation, but can be used to assess the rate and rhythm. At this point you should also check for a collapsing pulse – a sign of aortic incompetence.
Remembering to check that the patient doesn’t have any problems with their shoulder, locate the radial pulse and place your palm over it, then raise the arm above the patient’s head. A collapsing pulse will present as a knocking on your palm.
* Please note in the picture below, the examiner has incorrectly placed the dorsum of her fingers rather than her palm on the patient’s wrist, when assessing for collapsing pulse.
Examine the extensor aspect of the elbow for any evidence of xanthomata.
At this point you should say to the examiner that you would like to take the blood pressure. They will usually tell you not to and give you the value.
Move to the patient’s neck to assess their jugular venous pressure (JVP).
Ask them to turn their head to look away from you. Look across the neck between the two heads of sternocleidomastoid for a pulsation. If you do see a pulsation you need to determine whether it is the JVP – if it is then the pulsation is non-palpable, obliterable by compressing distal to it, and will be exaggerated by performing the hepatojugular reflex.
Having warned the patient that it may cause some discomfort, press down on the liver. This will cause the JVP to rise further. If you decide the pulsation is due to the JVP, note its vertical height above the sternal angle.
Move the examination to the chest, or precordium*. Start by inspecting the area, particularly looking for any obvious pulsations, abnormalities or scars, remembering to check the axillae as well.
*In some courses, precordium is spelt “praecordium”.
Palpation of the precordium starts by trying to locate the apex beat. Start by doing this with your entire hand and gradually become more specific until it is felt under one finger and describe its location anatomically.
The normal location is in the 5th intercostal space in the mid-clavicular line. However, it is not uncommon to not feel the apex beat at all.
Now palpate for any heaves or thrills. A thrill is a palpable murmur whereas a heave is a sign of left ventricular hypertrophy. A thrill feels like a vibration and a heave feels like an abnormally large beating of the heart. Feel for these all over the precordium.
Auscultation is now performed for all four valves of the heart in the following areas:
- Mitral valve – where the apex beat was felt.
- Tricuspid valve – on the left edge of the sternum in the 4th intercostal space.
- Pulmonary valve – on the left edge of the sternum in the 2nd intercostal space.
- Aortic valve – on the right edge of the sternum in the 2nd intercostal space.
You should listen initially with the diaphragm noting how many heart sounds you can hear:
- Are there any extra to the two normal sounds?
- Are there any murmurs?
- Are the heart sounds normal in character?
- Can you hear any rub?
If you hear any abnormal sounds you should describe them by when they occur and the type of sound they are producing. Feeling the radial pulse at the same time can give a good indication as to when the sound occurs as the pulse occurs at systole. Furthermore, if you suspect a murmur, check if it radiates. Mitral murmurs typically radiate to the left axilla whereas aortic murmurs often radiate to the left carotid artery. You should therefore listen over here for any carotid bruits
You may also wish to listen with the bell of your stethoscope for any low pitched murmurs.
To further check for mitral stenosis you can lay the patient on their left side, ask them to breathe in, then out and hold it out and listen over the apex and axilla with the bell of the stethoscope.
Aortic incompetence can be assessed in a similar way but ask the patient to sit forward, repeat the breathe in, out and hold exercise and listen over the aortic area with the diaphragm.
Finally you should assess for any oedema. Whilst the patient is sat forward, feel the sacrum for oedema and also assess the ankles for the same.
Thank the patient and allow them to dress. Wash your hands and report your findings to the examiner. If you do find any abnormalities you should indicate that you would like to arrange an ECG and an echocardiogram.