Care Fusion 3100B Pocket Manual page 22

Patient assessment
Patient assessment should be done every two hours and should include the following:
1. Chest wiggle factor (CWF): Visible vibration noted from the shoulder to mid thigh
and bilateral. This check ensures movement of air through the airway structure
and lung.
a. Check for the degree of vibration noted and symmetry.
b. Question changes in CWF, for example:
– Increase with improvement in compliance.
– Decrease with worsening in compliance or presence of secretions.
– Noted only on one side of the chest due to ET tube slipping down main
bronchus or presence of a pneumothoraces.
2. Auscultation: Breath sounds cannot be heard; however, you may denote changes
in the intensity of the piston sounds.
3. Heart and GI sounds: Stop piston temporarily, lung inflation will be maintained.
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