Supraventricular Tachycardia: Examination

A comprehensive clinical examination is the basis for selecting further diagnostic steps:

  • Assessment of consciousness using the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS).
  • General physical examination – including blood pressure, pulse, body weight, height; furthermore:
    • Inspection (viewing).
      • Skin and the mucous membranes
      • Neck vein congestion?
      • Central cyanosis? (bluish discoloration of skin and central mucous membranes, e.g., tongue).
      • Abdomen (abdomen)
        • Shape of the abdomen?
        • Skin color? Skin texture?
        • Efflorescences (skin changes)?
        • Pulsations? Bowel movements?
        • Visible vessels?
        • Scars? Hernias (fractures)?
    • Auscultation (listening) of the heart [tachycardia (too fast heartbeat: > 100 beats per minute); due topossible sequelae: heart failure (cardiac insufficiency)].
    • Auscultation of the lungs [respiratory arrest?]
    • Palpation (palpation) of the abdomen (abdomen) (tenderness?, knocking pain?, coughing pain?, defensive tension?, hernial orifices?, renal bearing knocking pain?)

Square brackets [ ] indicate possible pathological (pathological) physical findings.Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) – scale for estimating a disorder of consciousness.

Criterion Score
Eye opening spontaneous 4
on request 3
on pain stimulus 2
no reaction 1
Verbal communication conversational, oriented 5
conversational, disoriented (confused) 4
incoherent words 3
unintelligible sounds 2
no verbal reaction 1
Motor response Follows prompts 6
Targeted pain defense 5
untargeted pain defense 4
on pain stimulus flexion synergisms 3
on pain stimulus stretching synergisms 2
No response to pain stimulus 1

Assessment

  • Points are awarded for each category separately and then added together. The maximum score is 15, the minimum 3 points.
  • If the score is 8 or less, a very severe brain dysfunction is assumed and the there is a risk of life-threatening respiratory disorders.
  • With a GCS ≤ 8, securing the airway by endotracheal intubation (insertion of a tube (hollow probe) through the mouth or nose between the vocal folds of the larynx into the trachea) must be considered.