PubMed HealthSearch

SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Percussion”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Percussion of the chest re-visited: a comparison of the diagnostic value of ausculatory and conventional chest percussion.

Percussion of the chest is thought to be insensitive in detecting small or deeply situated chest lesions. A newer technique, ausculatory percussion, has been reported as having a far higher sensitivity. In a controlled blind study the diagnostic value of conventional chest percussion compared with ausculatory percussion was defined using the chest x-ray as a gold standard. The prevalence of disease in 100 lung fields was 26%. The majority of lesions were not detected by either technique resulting in very low sensitivities of 15.4% for conventional percussion and 19.2% for ausculatory percussion. A positive result with ausculatory percussion was twice as likely to be false as true (positive predictive value 31.2%). The technique did not add to the diagnostic value of conventional percussion. Both techniques have major limitations. Patients with suspected lung disease still require chest x-ray examination if percussion is normal.

Auscultation

Biomechanical aspects of a fluid percussion model of brain injury.

The fluid percussion model is in widespread use for the study of brain injury. However, the tissue deformation characteristics of the model have not been determined. Studies have suggested that at high levels of fluid percussion, the fluid percussion model is primarily a model of brainstem injury. It was proposed that this occurs as a direct result of the volume influx to the cranial vault at the moment of impact. This study examines the biomechanical deformation produced by the fluid percussion model. The purpose of this investigation was to describe the regional strain distribution in brain tissue at the moment of impact and to determine the effect of volume efflux produced by the percussion device. A cat skull was sectioned parasagittally and filled with an optically transparent gel. A grid pattern was painted in the midsagittal plane and was used to record the surrogate brain tissue deformation in response to fluid percussion loading. Motion of the grid pattern at low and high levels of fluid percussion loading was recorded using a high-speed camera, and a series of photographs developed from the high-speed film were analyzed to determine the intracranial strain distribution at these loading levels. The results of these studies indicated that the maximum site of strain was located in the region of the lower brainstem and that deformations were negligible in other regions of the brain. These studies provide an explanation for the pathophysiologic results obtained in a parallel series of experiments from which it was concluded that high-level fluid percussion is predominantly a model of lower brainstem injury.

Animals

Consistency of sternal percussion performed manually and with mechanical thumper.

Auscultatory percussion is a technique that is potentially useful to study the acoustic behaviour of the chest. However, finger percussion, as used in this technique, has not been previously assessed for consistency. We calculated the intrasubject variability and short-term reproducibility of this technique in 10 healthy subjects. We examined several indices of the output sound of two series of sternal percussion manoeuvres performed one hour apart by the same examiner. The results were compared to those obtained during sternal percussion performed by a mechanical thumper. Consistency for both finger and thumper percussion varied from 4.8-20.6 (coefficients of variation) for various acoustic indices. For thumper percussion, the average results were not significantly different from those of finger percussion. We conclude that finger percussion of the sternum is sufficiently consistent to be used as a tool to investigate the acoustic behaviour of the chest.

Acoustics

Accuracy of precordial percussion in detecting cardiomegaly.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To assess the value of precordial percussion in detecting cardiomegaly, and to compare it with palpation of the apical impulse. DESIGN: Descriptive study. SETTING: Hospitals and clinics of a university medical center. PATIENTS: Light indirect percussion of the precordium was performed on 72 inpatients and 28 outpatients. All patients had a posteroanterior radiograph of the chest. Percussors were unaware of the clinical history and of chest roentgenogram results. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Thirty-six patients (36%) had cardiomegaly, defined as a cardiothoracic ratio of greater than 0.5 on chest roentgenogram. The cardiothoracic ratio was significantly correlated with percussion distance from the midsternal line in the left fourth (r = 0.35, p less than 0.0006), fifth (r = 0.65, p less than 0.00001), and sixth (r = 0.40, p less than 0.0001) intercostal spaces. After adjustment for clinical symptoms and systolic and diastolic blood pressures, percussion distance in the left fifth intercostal space remained a significant independent predictor of the cardiothoracic ratio. Percussion distance in the left fifth interspace discriminated cardiomegaly with a receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) area of 0.95. Percussion dullness more than 10.5 cm from the midsternal line in the left fifth interspace had a sensitivity of 94.4% (95% confidence interval [CI], 79.9% to 99.0%) and a specificity of 67.2% (CI, 54.2% to 78.1%). Distance of the apical impulse from the midsternal line discriminated with an ROC area of 0.95, but an impulse was palpated in only 40% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: Percussion in the left fifth intercostal space accurately discriminates patients with and without cardiomegaly, and adds information beyond that obtainable from the history and other parts of the physical examination.

Adolescent

Accuracy of percussion of the left cardiac border.

UNLABELLED: The purpose of this study was to determine the accuracy of percussion of the left cardiac border. Sixty-six adult patients were studied. The left cardiac border as determined by percussion and marked with a calibrated lead marker was compared with that obtained by a chest X-ray. The error in locating the left cardiac border by percussion ranged from underestimating by 5.0 cm to overestimating by 5.5 cm. The mean absolute error was 1.6 cm (SD = 1.6 cm). In 74% (49/66) and 85% (56/66) of the patients the percussed border was within 1.0 and 2.0 cm, respectively, of that established by X-ray. In 24 of the 66 cases, a second examiner also independently percussed the left cardiac border. The differences between the location determined by the two observers ranged from 0 to 4 cm with a mean difference of 1.2 cm (SD = 1.0 cm). CONCLUSION: Percussion can accurately locate the left cardiac border in the adult patient and is a reproducible technique.

Adult

Evaluation of chest percussion in the treatment of patients with copious sputum production.

The effect of manual chest percussion was studied in nine patients with copious sputum production. Treatment consisting of postural drainage (PD) and the forced expiration technique (FET) produced sputum at the rate of 0.831 g min-1. When percussion was included in the treatment regimen, the rate of sputum production was significantly greater (P less than 0.05), being 1.231 g min-1 for fast percussion and 1.040 g min-1 for slow percussion. Pulmonary function and oxygen saturation were unaffected by any of the treatment regimens. This study demonstrates that manual chest percussion is a useful adjunct to PD and FET in the treatment of patients with copious sputum production.

Adult

Non-penetrative percussion stunning of sheep and calves.

Attempts were made to stun lambs, adult sheep and calves by a non-penetrative percussive method. Using an adapted Cash pistol, with a concave padded impact head, impulses were produced which effectively stunned 96% of lambs but induced brain haemorrhages in up to 7% of the animals. The signs and duration of an effective percussive stun were observed and recorded. Calves were readily stunned by percussive methods but brain haemorrhages frequently occurred. Impulses sufficiently large to stun adult sheep, with a non-penetrating impact head, were produced from an adapted Hantover pneumatic cattle stunner. Comparative trials, using electrical and percussive stunners, demonstrated a significant decrease in the prevalence of blood splash in lambs stunned by percussion.

Abattoirs

[Reflex response of the masseter muscle after percussion of the chin and electrical stimulation of the upper lip in patients with central motor disorders].

In 23 patients with central motor disorders (spastic hemiparesis, pseudobulbar syndrome and parkinsonism) reflex responses in both masseters were evoked during their relaxation and contraction by percussion with a reflex hammer on the chin and by electric stimulation of the upper lip. For recording of the reflex responses the electromyographic method was used. On the side of the spastic hemiparesis, as compared with the finding on the non-paretic side, the author found changes in the short-, medium and late-latency excitation and inhibition segments of the reflex response. In patients with parkinsonism the medium-latency portion of the reflex response after percussion of the chin from above as well as from below was satisfactory. The late latency excitation response after percussion of the chin from below was greater than its corresponding part evoked by percussion of the chin from above. In patients with the pseudobulbar syndrome the inhibitory parts of the reflex responses after percussion of the chin were weak. The results of the examination provided thus more detailed information on disorders of supranuclear control of masseter muscles.

Cerebrovascular Disorders

Contour maps of auscultatory percussion in healthy subjects and patients with large intrapulmonary lesions.

Auscultatory percussion of the chest is a clinical examination method that has been purported to detect intrapulmonary masses by their effect on transmission of the percussion note to the posterior chest. Recent findings from this laboratory suggested that the sound of sternal percussion may actually travel through the chest cage and not the lung parenchyma. To investigate this possibility further, we recorded the sound produced by sternal percussion at 63 evenly spaced points over the posterior chest wall of 3 healthy subjects and 4 patients with large, discrete intrathoracic lesions in the right upper lobe (2 patients), left lower lobe, and left upper lobe (1 patient each). We constructed 3-dimensional contour maps of the indices of sound amplitude and frequency to view graphically the pattern of distribution of the sound. Examination of the maps revealed areas of increased amplitude in the zones of projection of some osseous structures, especially the scapulae, both in the healthy subjects and patients. No disturbances in the pattern reflecting the presence of mediastinal structures or intrathoracic lesions were found despite the existence of deeply situated lung masses as large as 10 cm in diameter. These findings support the argument that the sound of sternal percussion travels to the posterior chest predominantly through chest wall structures.

Auscultation

Splenic enlargement and Traube's space: how useful is percussion?

PURPOSE: The utility of Traube's space percussion in the bedside assessment of splenic enlargement was evaluated. The influence of meals and obesity on this sign were also assessed, because both are believed to interfere with the results of abdominal percussion. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The inpatient population of a tertiary care hospital was studied where cases and controls were selected according to the results of abdominal ultrasonographic examinations. RESULTS: Traube's space percussion exhibited a sensitivity of 0.62 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.51 to 0.71) and a specificity of 0.72 (95% CI, 0.65 to 0.80) when classifying tympanitic examinations as negative. False-positive examinations were reduced by assessing patients more than two hours after mealtime. Obese patients were a source of false-negative examinations. CONCLUSION: Traube's space percussion compares favorably with other commonly used clinical maneuvers and diagnostic tests. When performed alone in a selected patient population, it adds useful clinical information but is not sufficiently sensitive or specific to obviate the need for further diagnostic testing.

Adult

Duration patterns of percussion sound in healthy and periodontally affected teeth.

Ten periodontally affected subjects and 10 healthy subjects were selected in order to examine the duration patterns of percussion sounds in all upper teeth, excluding the 8's. Probing depth, loss of attachment, tooth mobility by 'Periotest', bone loss and percussion sound duration via occlusal sound analyser were recorded during the pretreatment period. The following results were obtained from the study: (i) the normal duration of percussion sounds ranged from 4.40-5.33 ms; (ii) percussion sound values of periodontal patients were of longer duration than those of healthy subjects; (iii) a close correlation between duration and other individual parameters was found in all upper teeth, with the exception of molars.

Acoustics

Mobility and percussion sound of healthy upper incisors and canines.

In order to evaluate the correlation between mobility and percussion sound, 126 upper incisors and canines in 21 student volunteers were measured by means of the Periotest (Siemens), by evaluating the percussion sound subjectively and by analyzing its spectrum. The attenuation time and frequency of the sound were measured for each tooth. A logical mobility and percussion sound existed in accordance with the sizes of the teeth. Spearman correlation coefficients close to 1.00 were noted in individual cases between the Periotest and the three other tests describing the percussion sounds.

Adult

Clapping or percussion causes atelectasis in dogs and influences gas exchange.

We examined the effects of 10 min of lower lateral chest wall percussion with a mechanical percussor or hand clapping in groups of anesthetized, paralyzed, and ventilated supine dogs. Mechanical percussion was applied at 10-16 Hz and caused an esophageal pressure swing (delta Pes) of 10-17 cmH2O. Hand clapping was applied at 4-7 Hz and caused a delta Pes of 6-17 cmH2O. At necropsy there were large reddened areas on the lateral surface of the underlying lung as well as smaller reddened areas on the hilar surfaces of both lungs and on the lateral surface of the opposite lung. These reddened regions were demonstrated to be atelectatic by postmortem lung inflation (which caused the reddened areas to disappear) and by microscopic examination. Despite the atelectasis, gas exchange improved toward the end of the percussion or clapping period. In four dogs that were ventilated for an additional 20 min after percussion, there was a tendency for gas exchange initially to worsen and then to gradually improve.

Animals

[Effect of lateral position and chest percussion on pulmonary gas exchange in patients with decreased level of consciousness].

The purpose of this study is to verify the effect of lateral position and chest percussion on gas exchange in the decreased level of conscious patients. The Subjects for this study were 21 patients 'admitted in ICU of CNUH from Dec 18th, 1989 to Aug 4th, 1990. The Data was analyzed by paired t-test. The results of this study as follows: 1) In comparison of supine position, good-lung dependent position and good-lung dependent with chest percussion, the difference of PaO. was statistically significant (P less than 0.05). 2) In comparison of supine position, good-lung dependent position and good-lung dependent with chest percussion, the difference of A-a Do. was statistically significant (p less than 0.05). In conclusion, the use of good-lung dependent position and chest percussion was effective nursing intervention on decreased level of conscious patients in ICU.

Consciousness

Traumatic brain injury in the rat: characterization of a lateral fluid-percussion model.

Experimental fluid-percussion models produce brain injury by rapidly injecting saline into the closed cranium. In the present study we characterize the physiological, histopathological and neurological responses to mechanical brain injury in the rat produced by lateral fluid-percussion injury of graded severity. Physiological experiments (n = 105) demonstrated that all levels of injury produced an acute and transient systemic hypertension and bradycardia. Acute hypertension followed by significant hypotension occurred at higher magnitudes of injury. Post-injury suppression of electroencephalographic amplitude was related to the severity of injury. An increase in slow wave (delta/theta) electroencephalographic activity with a concomitant decrease in alpha/beta electroencephalographic activity were observed only at moderate and high magnitude of injury and were correlated with a worsened neurological outcome (r = 0.84; P less than 0.05) and increased mortality (r = 0.66; P less than 0.05). Alterations in brainstem auditory-evoked potentials were also observed only at the higher levels of injury. Histopathological analysis revealed that the extent of post-injury hemorrhage, cavitation and vascular disruption (as measured by extravasation of Evans Blue dye) was greater at the higher magnitudes of injury. Neurological scoring performed over a 4-week post-injury period demonstrated that lateral fluid-percussion brain injury produces a chronic neurological deficit that is directly related to the severity of injury. Survival was also significantly reduced at the higher magnitudes of injury. These data demonstrate that the lateral model of fluid-percussion injury in the rat reproduces many of the features of head injury observed in other models and species and may therefore be a useful experimental model for the study of the pathophysiology of traumatic brain injury.

Animals

Abdominal examination: role of percussion and auscultation.

Clinicians should not minimize or overlook the importance of percussion of the liver and the spleen and of auscultation over the liver as routine parts of abdominal examination. Splenic percussion can be used to detect splenomegaly even before the spleen becomes palpable. The span of liver dullness on percussion can be compared with established normal standards to detect hepatomegaly or alterations caused by cirrhosis. A systolic bruit, a friction rub, or a venous hum detected by auscultation over the liver is an important sign of liver disease.

Abdomen

Transmission of sound generated by sternal percussion.

We indirectly determined the transmission path of sound generated by sternal percussion in five healthy subjects. We percussed the sternum of each subject while recording the output audio signal at the posterior left and right upper and lower lung zones. Sound measurements were done during apnea at functional residual capacity, total lung capacity, and residual volume both with the lungs filled with air and with an 80% He-20% O2 (heliox) gas mixture. Three acoustic indexes were calculated from the output sound pulse: the peak-to-peak amplitude, the peak frequency, and the mid-power frequency. We found that the average values of all indexes tended to be greater in the upper than in the ipsilateral lower lung zones. In the upper zones, peak-to-peak amplitude was greater at total lung capacity and residual volume than at functional residual capacity. Replacing air with heliox did not change these results. These experiments, together with others performed during Mueller and Valsalva maneuvers, suggest that resonance of the chest cage is the predominant factor determining the transmission of sternal percussion sounds to the posterior chest wall. The transmission seems to be only minimally affected by the acoustic characteristics of the lung parenchyma.

Adult

Two new methods of percussion.

Existing methods of percussion have been reviewed and their drawbacks enumerated. Two new methods of percussion, single hand, and four methods have been described. It has been claimed that the new methods of percussion are better than the existing methods.

Humans