Endocarditis physical examination
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editors-in-Chief: Cafer Zorkun, M.D., Ph.D. [2]
Overview
Common signs on physical examination of endocarditis include fever, presence of a new or changing heart murmur, rigors, Osler's nodes, Janeway lesions and evidence of embolization.[1] Aortic insufficiency with a wide pulse pressure, mitral regurgitation or tricuspid regurgitation may be present depending upon the valve that is infected.[1][2]
Vital Signs
- A fever will likely be present.
- Rigors may be present.
- Some patients may have a wide pulse pressure due to aortic insufficiency. If the pulse pressure narrows, this may be a sign of left ventricular failure due to earlier closure of the mitral valve and a more rapid rise in the left ventricular end diastolic pressure which will in turn raise the diastolic pressure.
Skin
- Petechiae are present in 10% to 40% of patients
- Splinter hemorrhages are present in 5% to 15% of patients
- Osler's nodes which are tender subcutaneous nodules in pulp of digits are present in 7% to 10% of patients
- Janeway lesions which are erythematous, nontender lesions on palm or sole are present in 6% to 10% of patients
| Petechiae | 
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| Splinter hemorrhages | 
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| Osler's nodes | .jpg)
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| Janeway lesions | 
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Oral Cavity
Examine the oral cavity:
- Poor oral hygiene[3]
- Teeth looking for periodontitis, plaque and calculus[3]
- Gingiva looking for gingivitis[3]
- Recent dental procedure
Eyes
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Ear Nose and Throat
Bobbing of the uvula may be present among patients with new onset aortic regurgitation.
Heart
- Heart Murmur(s) are present in 80% to 85% of patients including that of aortic insufficiency, tricuspid regurgitation and mitral regurgitation.
Lungs
- Signs of heart failure such as rales may present
Abdomen
- Abdominal pain may be present due to mesenteric embolization or ileus both of which may manifest as reduced bowel sounds
- Splenomegaly may be present in 15% to 30% patients.
- Left upper quadrant pain (LUQ pain) may be present as a result of a splenic infarct from embolization.
- Flank pain may be present as a result of an embolus to the kidney
Extremities
- Janeway lesions (painless hemorrhagic cutaneous lesions on the palms and soles)
- Gangrene of fingers may occur
- The fingers may show splinter haemorrhages
- Osler's nodes (painful subcutaneous lesions in the distal fingers)
Neurologic
- Septic emboli may result in stroke and focal neurologic findings
- Seizures may be present
- Intracranial hemorrhage may occur
- Signs of a brain abscess may be present
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Infective endocarditis. Wikipedia (2015). URL=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infective_endocarditis#Pathogenesis Accessed on September 23, 2015
- ↑ Baddour, LM.; Wilson, WR.; Bayer, AS.; Fowler, VG.; Bolger, AF.; Levison, ME.; Ferrieri, P.; Gerber, MA.; Tani, LY. (2005). "Infective endocarditis: diagnosis, antimicrobial therapy, and management of complications: a statement for healthcare professionals from the Committee on Rheumatic Fever, Endocarditis, and Kawasaki Disease, Council on Cardiovascular Disease in the Young, and the Councils on Clinical Cardiology, Stroke, and Cardiovascular Surgery and Anesthesia, American Heart Association: endorsed by the Infectious Diseases Society of America". Circulation. 111 (23): e394–434. doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.105.165564. PMID 15956145. Unknown parameter
|month=ignored (help) - ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Lockhart PB, Brennan MT, Thornhill M, Michalowicz BS, Noll J, Bahrani-Mougeot FK; et al. (2009). "Poor oral hygiene as a risk factor for infective endocarditis-related bacteremia". J Am Dent Assoc. 140 (10): 1238–44. PMC 2770162. PMID 19797553.