| Organ |
Clinically |
Investigation |
| Cardiac |
- Exercise tolerance (distance walked without stopping due to pain or dyspnoea)
- Degree of ankle/leg swelling
- Blood pressure
- Respiratory rate
- Oxygen saturation
- Gallop rhythm
- Lung crepitations
- Need for supplemental oxygen
- Ability to speak comfortably
|
- Mechanical – Echocardiogram, ventriculography, cardiac output monitoring (Swan-Ganz/Pulmonary artery catheter)
- Electrical – ECG monitoring, 12 lead ECG, ellectrophysiological study
|
| Vascular |
- Exercise tolerance (distance walked without stopping due to pain)
- Volume and extent of peripheral pulses
- Capillary refill
- Skin/hair changes
|
- Doppler ultrasound, arteriography
|
| Respiratory |
- Exercise tolerance (distance walked without stopping due to dyspnoea)
- Need for supplemental oxygen
- Bronchodilator usage (if airways disease)
- Respiratory rate
- Oxygen saturation
- Ability to speak comfortably
- Degree of air entry
|
- Gas exchange – Oxygen saturation, Arterial blood gas
- Respiratory mechanics – Spirometry, Pressure-Volume measurment
- Diffusion capacity – DLCO
|
| GIT |
- Dry mucous membranes
- BP, PR, cap refill, urine output (shock)
- Weight loss
- Pallor (anaemia)
- Hair and nail strength
- Ascites and oedema (severe protein malnutrition)
|
- Motility – oesophageal motility, sphincter tone measurements
- Digestion / Absorption – digestive enzyme assays, recovered dietary substrates
|
| Hepato-biliary |
- Jaundice
- Bruising
- Ascites
- Encephalopathy
- Hepatic flap
|
- General – bilirubin
- Hepatocellular – AST, ALT
- Cholestatic – ALP, GGT
- Synthetic – albumin, globulin, INR, clotting studies
- Metabolic – Ammonia
- Excretory – ERCP, nuclear scan
|
| Haematology Immunology |
- Pallor (anaemia)
- Bruising
|
- Formed elements – FBC, bone marrow biopsy
- Clotting function – INR, APTT
- Immunological function – WCC, IgG, complement, T & B Cells
|
| Renal |
|
- Glomerulo-tubular function – Urine output, creatinine
- Synthetic – Vitamin D, Haemoglobin (i.e. erythropoetin)
- Endocrine – hypertension
- Renal excretion – intravenous pyelogram, CT (with IV contrast)
|
| Urinary |
- Bladder emptying (hesitancy, flow, dribbling)
|
- Bladder empyting – bladder ultrasound, urodynamic studies
|
| Endocrine |
|
|
