This hot case can be divided into two broad problems:
Previous hot cases with this sort of theme to them can be found below.
The standard introductionAsk examiners about turning up the lights The environment
The physical examinationThe details of this section can be seen in the opposite column. The obs and investigationsThe Presentation |
The Physical Examination in Brief DetailAsk the examiners to sit the patient up Ask the examiners about any language barriers
Ask examiners to lay the patient flat.
Sit the patient back up again |
A pacing box?
Sensitivity and pacing threshold may not be relevant.
One can ask the examiners the following questions:
One should ask about the following parameters:
One should ask to look at the pressure-volume loops.
The obese patient may require a larger tidal volume, but it should still be calculated according to the predicted body weight, not the actual body weight.
A higher PEEP is to be expected.
Additionally, a home CPAP device may be nested somewhere among the equipment.
There may be surgical drains (what is in them? How much of it?). Asking how much has been coming out may be relevant in a hot case which focuses on the diagnosis of a shock state.
The pleural catheters are also interesting. One should make a mental note of whether the ICCs are on free drainage or on suction. The content of these drains could be informative, especially if one notices blood or chyle.
A CVVHDF or SLEDD process may be in progress. The savvy candidate may wish to ask the following questions:
The patient you are examining may have some sort of extra gadget hooked up. If ECMO is in progress, one may wish to ask about the following parameters:
If IABP counterpulsation is in progress, it raises additional questions. One may wish to ask the examiners whether one may be able to switch it to 1:2, to assess the efficacy of augmentation.
This stage is critically important. The drug and fluid infusions which are currently in progress give a clue as to what problem is currently being addressed. One should not neglect the labelled bags; the choice of antibiotics gives one some idea of where the source of sepsis is thought to be.
Insulin is an important thing to notice; specifically, the rate of infusion. This gives on insight regarding the extent of insulin resistance.
One should observe the following features of an EVD:
Ideally, one should get the patient sitting up to 30-45°. This may not be possible. However, one should still ask for it.
Ideally, the patient should be exposed from the waist up. The candidate can then stand back and look for anything externally obvious:
It would be important to notice a Cushingoid appearance at this stage.
Performing the GCS should be the first step, unless you notice that a neuromuscular junction blocker is among the infusions. The level of consciousness then determines how you go about examining the rest of the patient.
A traditionalist, who is examining Mr Bloggs, would approach the GCS in the following manner:
One has just performed a GCS assessment; one is still holding the hands.
Now, time to look at them more closely.
First, one should spent a second assessing whether they are warm or cold.
Then, one can focus on the nails. Nail signs are numerous and deserve their own page.
In brief, the nail signs one could look for are as follows:
Clubbing Leukonychia
Nail lines:
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Onycholysis Koilonychia Splinter haemorrhages Nicotine stains Vertical nail ridges Horisontal nail ridges |
Done with the nails, one may want to briefly consider (and maybe even comment upon) the presence of any sort of characteristic deformities, eg. assymetrical wasting of the small muscles, or the joint changes of rheumatoid arthritis.
Small tapered fingers may be a feature of Prader Willi syndrome.
Next comes the pulse. While one still has both of the patient's hands, one ought to try to compare the radial pulses. It would be worthwhile to look up at the arterial line trace at this stage; abnormalities such as the widened pulse pressure of aortic regurgitation may not have been noticed until this stage.
Tone of the upper limbs
Move up from the hands. While you are still holding the hands, you can perform a sort of gross examination of tone by pronating and supinating the wrists, and by flexing and extending the elbows.
Hypotonia may be a feature of Prader Willi syndrome.
Asterixis
In the conscious patient, it may be possible to assess asterixis by asking the patient to hold both their arms up with the wrists dorsiflexed.
Cubital fossa
Examine the cubital fossa for
One should then palpate the axillary lymph nodes.
Skin folds should be assessed for intertrigo- the "fold rash" associated with being large and sweaty.
Pressure areas may be present under NIBP cuffs or generally under the large heavy limbs.
Palpate the neck:
The obese patient may not have any interesting cranial nerve signs (noe associated with obesity, anyway) but this examination should not be omitted.
This section can be divided into three broad groups:
The paralysed patient | The unconscious patient | The awake patient |
Light reflex | ||
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A Snellen chart is ideal, but probably will not be available.
The extubated patient should be able to read the time on the clock in the room.
One performs this test with each eye individually.
This tests CN II.
Ask the examiners to dim the room lights.
Open both eyes. Each eye is exposed to light. The opposite pupil should constrict consensually.
This tests CN II (afferent) and CN III (efferent).
The cornea (not the sclera) is touched lightly with a moistened corner of a piece of gauze.
A normal reflex is to blink.
This tests CN V (afferent) and CN VII (efferent)
The conscious patient will be able to follow the tip of the candidate's finger.
The pattern of movements should be tracing the six cardinal points: superior left, inferior left, superior center, inferior center, superior right, inferior right.
This tests CNs II, IV and VI.
Strabismus ("crossed eyes") may be a feature of Prader Willi syndrome.
Typically, this is performed by putting some pressure on the superior orbital notch.
The patient should either open their eyes or localise.
This tests CN V.
The conscious patient will be able to perform a series of grimaces to assess the bilateral motor control of facial muscles:
In the comatose patient, as the head is moved from left to right, the eyes should move in the opposite direction. A fixed unchanging gaze is a negative test; the reflex is not working.
This tests CNs III, IV, VI, and most importantly VIII.
Cold water is funneled into the patient's ear. A positive reflex consists of the eyes turning towards the chilled ear. This is a more potent stimulus for CN VIII than the oculocephalic reflex.
Now that one has finished with the upper cranial nerves, one can move on to the mouth, airway, and swallowing apparatus.
The Yankeur sucker is used to probe the posterior pharynx, on both sides. A gag reaction should result from this.
This collectively tests CN X and IX.
While on the subject of CN X, one may test the cough reflex by suctioning the trachea.
This tests CN X.
This is also a convenient time to ask about the volume and character of the secretions.
The conscious patient is asked to protrude their tongue, and move it from side to side.
This tests CN XII.
The uvula deviates away from the lesion.
This tests CN X and IX.
The conscious patient is asked to shrug their shoulders against resistance.
This tests CN XI.
During the cranial nerve examination, one will inevitably end up tripping over the endotracheal tube. One should note whether there is anything unusual there; for instance, is there a dual-lumen tube, or a bronchial blocker?
The obese patient may have been a difficult intubation. It is important to ask about the grade of laryngoscopy, and to ascertain whether traumatic intubation has caused any complications.
Palpation:
One puts both their hands on the chest to assess the symmetry of chest expansion.
Gynaecomastia should be palpated for, and the eaminers should be aware that this has been performed.
Percussion:
One might wish to percuss the chest. In the bariatric patient, this may not be fruitful.
Changes in percussion resonance may be worth commenting on.
Auscultation:
One may begin by auscultating the apices anteriorly. Then, one should auscultate as posteriorly as possible. The money is in the bases, but one may not be able to get to them. One should ask for assistance to elevate at least one side at a time; this assistance may be denied.
Palpation:
The clever candidate will make a big show of palpating both the apex and the right sternal edge.
Auscultation:
One should auscultate in the following sequence:
The various clicks and murmurs one encounters are discussed elsewhere.
For this, one should ask to lay the patient flat.
Abdominal observation
Striae may be present.
Abdominal palpation
Abdominal percussion
Abdominal auscultation
The pelvic content would have been palpated during the abdominal examination.
The more important part of this examination is the groin.
At this stage, the patient should be re-draped - cover them from the waist up, and uncover their legs.
Observation and palpation of the pelvis:
Examination of the lines
Examination of the genitals and rectum
Once one is finished with the pelvis, one should cover it again, so that only the legs are sticking out.
One should ask to remove TEDs and compression stockings.
Leg muscle tone
The best way to test muscle tone is by holding the knee. Roll the knee gently to distract the patient; then try to lift it off the bed. In the presence of increased tone, the leg will remain straight and the whole thing will lift up; with normal or decreased tone, only the knee will bend
Calf tenderness
In the conscious patient, one might be able to assess whether a gentle calf squeeze produces the characteristic pain which suggests a DVT may be present.
This brings one to the feet, and to the beginning of the neurological examination.
The feet would have already been palpated to assess their temperature, and to look for pitting oedema.
Observation of the feet
One should look specifically for changes suggestive of chronic diabetic foot disease, or chronically poor vascular supply.
In the obese patient, looking for signs of diabetic foot disease is especially important.
Palpation of the feet
This should consist of palpating the dorsalis pedis and posterior tibial pulse.
Babinsky reflex
One should test the Babinsky bilaterally.
Clonus
One should attempt to assess clonus in both feet.
Now is the time to properly start the neurological examination of this patient.
Power of the muscle groups may be tested in the following sequence:
The patient has spent most of this time flat and supine. Time to sit them back up again.
Power of the upper muscle groups may be tested in the following sequence:
Now that one is back to the upper limb, one may as well start their reflex tests there.
The reflexes may be tested in the following order:
After testing the ankle jerk reflex, one is again back to the feet.
At this stage, with a conscious patient, one may wish to test light touch sensation.
The following order (with corresponding dermatomes) is suggested:
The examination of the obese patient does not routinely demand the interrogation of the cerebellum. If one is for some reason compelled to proceed with it, it may take the following shape:
This would have become apparent during the testing of the eye movements.
This would have become apparent during the test for nystagmus
This is an assessment of coordination. The patient is asked to alternate between touching their nose and touching the finger of the candidate, who keeps changing its position.
The patient is asked to run the heel of one foot along the shin of the opposite leg.
Ask to see the obs chart. If it is not allowed, ask for the following:
One may also wish do demonstrate an interest in the trends of any sort of advanced haemodynamic monitoring, eg. cardiac index as measured by PAC or PiCCO
One needs to show an interest in the following labs:
One should always ask for the following:
You sometimes want to see the following:
"Mr Bloggs is suffering from [insert critical illness diagnosis here], which is complicated by morbid obesity."
"The major complications of this critical illness are [blah]".
"I have come to this conclusion on the basis of the following findings: [insert clinical findings here]"
"I would like to confirm my diagnosis with the following investigations: [insert appropriate investigations]"
"Additionally, this patient is suffering from the following complications of obesity [insert list of findings]"
"These complications put Mr Bloggs at risk of [DVT, hyperglycaemia, difficult intubation, pressure areas, problematic IV access etc etc].
"The current management issues are as follows: [a brief list of management priorities]"
"I would approach the management of these issues in the following manner: [list of management strategies; it helps to organise this into an A,B,C,D,E approach if one has a complex multisystem problem to manage]"
"My management of the complications of Mr Bloggs' obesity would include the following strategies: [vigilant pressure area care, DVT prophylaxis, physiotherapy, appropriate nutrition, glucose control, etc]"
"Mr Bloggs's critical illness is complicated by morbid obesity."
”This is a complex case and I’m unable to establish a single aetiology to explain all of my findings."
"The major complications of this critical illness are [blah]". Or:
"I have identified the following organ system dysfunctions: [discuss organ systems]"
"I have come to this conclusion on the basis of the following findings: [insert clinical findings here]"
"The possible aetiologies responsible for this presentation could include [list of differentials]"
"In order to discriminate between these differentials, I would like to perform the following investigations: [list of investigations]"
"Furthermore, I would like to enlist the help of the following specialties [insert list of consults], for whom I will have the following specific requests/questions: [what questions will you ask these specialist teams]"
"My management of the complications of Mr Bloggs' obesity would include the following strategies: [vigilant pressure area care, DVT prophylaxis, physiotherapy, appropriate nutrition, glucose control, etc]"
Number of previous hot cases in this topic: 5
Unspecified hospital in Adelaide |
72-year-old male, day 1 ICU with respiratory failure following a respiratory illness for five days. Findings on examination included morbid obesity, signs of obstructive sleep apnoea and left pleural effusion with ICC Candidates were directed to assess his current status and make a management plan. Discussion points included management of underwater seal drain and interpretation of pleural fluid biochemistry. |
Prince of Wales Hospital |
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Westmead Hospital |
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Royal Brisbane Hospital |
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Unspecified hospital |
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