Acute Chest Discomfort Flashcards
Stable Angina
Precipitated by exertion, cold or stress
2-10 min
Unstable Angina
Increasing pattern or at rest
Myocardial Infarction
> 30 mins
Quality of pain in M.I
pressure, tightness, squeezing, heaviness, burning
Location of pain in M.I
retrosternal
radiation - neck, jaw, shoulders or arms
Associated features of M.I
S4 gallop or mitral regurgitation during pain
S3 or rales if severe ischemia
Pericarditis
variable; hrs - days; may be episodic
Quality of pain in pericarditis
pleuritic, sharp
Location of pain in pericarditis
retrosternal or toward the cardiac apex
radiation - L shoulder
Associated features of pericarditis
relieved by sitting up and leaning forward
pericardial friction rub
Acute Aortic Syndrome
sudden onset of unrelenting pain
Quality of pain in Acute Aortic Syndrome
tearing or ripping; knifelike
Location of pain in Acute Aortic Syndrome
anterior chest
radiation - back b/w shoulder blades
Associated features of Acute Aortic Syndrome
hypertension
underlying CT disorder
murmur (aortic insufficiency)
loss of peripheral pulses
Pulmonary Embolism
sudden onset
Quality of pain in Pulmonary Embolism
pleuritic
heaviness (massive PE)
Location of pain in Pulmonary Embolism
lateral (on the side of the embolism)
Associated features of Pulmonary Embolism
dyspnea, tachypnea, tachycardia and hypotension
Pulmonary Hypertension
variable (often exertional)
Quality of pain in Pulmonary Hypertension
pressure
Location of pain in Pulmonary Hypertension
substernal
Associated features of Pulmonary Hypertension
dyspnea, signs of increased venous pressure
Pneumonia or Pleuritis
variable
Quality of pain in Pneumonia or Pleuritis
pleuritic
Location of pain in Pneumonia or Pleuritis
unilateral (localized)
Associated features of Pneumonia or Pleuritis
dyspnea cough fever rales occasional rub
Spontaneous Pneumothorax
sudden onset
Quality of pain in Spontaneous Pneumothorax
pleuritic
Location of pain in Spontaneous Pneumothorax
lateral to side of pneumothorax
Associated features of Spontaneous Pneumothorax
dyspnea
decreased breath sounds on side of pneumothorax
Esophageal reflux
10-60 min
Quality of pain in Esophageal reflux
burning
Location of pain in Esophageal reflux
substernal, epigastric
Associated features of Esophageal reflux
worsened by postprandial recumbency
relieved by antacids
Esophageal spasm
2-30 min
Quality of pain in Esophageal spasm
pressure, tightness, burning