Physical Assessment for COPD : Airway
- Assess and maintain airway
- Do the head tilt, chin lift if necessary
- Use the help of the airway if necessary
- Consider to be referring to the anesthesiologist
Physical Assessment for COPD : Breathing
- Assess oxygen saturation using pulse oximeter
- Do inspection arterial blood gases to assess pH, PaCO2 and PaO2
- If the arterial pH less than 7.2, more profitable patients using non-invasive ventilation (NIV) and references must be made in accordance with local policy
- Control of oxygen therapy to maintain oxygen saturation over 92%
- Strictly monitoring PaCO2
- Record the temperature
- Make checks for signs of:
- cyanosis
- clubbing
- pursed lip breathing
- movement symmetry
- intercostal retractions
- tracheal deviation
- Listen to the:
- wheezing
- crackles
- decrease in airflow
- silent chest
- Make checks to see piston :
- pneumothorax
- consolidation
- signs of heart failure
- If there is evidence of an infection usually caused by bacterial pathogens including :
- streptococcus pneumoniae
- haemophilus influenzae
- moraxella catarrhalis
Physical Assessment for COPD : Circulation
- assess heart rate and rhythm
- record blood pressure
- check ECG
- do intake output, and do a complete blood
- pairing IV access
- fluid restriction did
Physical Assessment for COPD : Disability
- Assess the level of consciousness by using AVPU
- Patients showed a decrease in consciousness needed medical help immediately and treated in ICU.
Physical Assessment for COPD : Exposure
- If the patient is stable and health history examinations do other physical examination.