Cardiac Flashcards
most common causes of “chest pain”
musculoskeletal and GI. Well-localized pain associated with point tenderness is more likely to be musculoskeletal in origin.
stable angina
pressure, heaviness, tightness, or constriction in the center or left of the chest that is precipitated by exertion and relieved by rest. Other associated symptoms include provocation with emotional stress or cold, radiation (to the neck, jaw, and shoulder), dyspnea, nausea and vomiting, diaphoresis, presyncope, or palpitations.
MI in elderly, women, dm
dyspnea, weakness, nausea and vomiting, palpitations, or syncope
ACS
MI or unstable angina, have anginal symptoms at rest, new onset angina that is not stable and predictable (eg, with exertion), or progressive symptoms (angina that is more frequent, longer in duration, or occurs with less exertion than previously). These patients should be referred emergently to an emergency department.
Most common cause of MI
Coronary heart disease
acute chest and back pain that is severe, sharp, and may have a ripping or tearing quality. Pain can radiate anywhere in the chest or into the abdomen
Aortic dissection, A variation in pulse (absence of a proximal extremity or carotid pulse) and/or blood pressure (>20 mmHg difference between the right and left arm)
pericarditis
inflammation of the pericardial sac. Patients often complain of pleuritic chest pain that is improved by sitting up and leaning forward. It can be diagnosed based on history, physical examination, and ECG findings. Etiologies include infection, medications, autoimmune disorders, and malignancy. •Positional pain that improves with sitting up suggests pericarditis.
PE
The most common symptoms of pulmonary embolism include dyspnea followed by pleuritic chest pain, cough, and symptoms of deep venous thrombosis
Pneumothorax
Patients with spontaneous pneumothorax present with sudden onset of pleuritic chest pain and dyspnea. Hemodynamic instability suggests a tension pneumothorax, which can be life-threatening. A primary spontaneous pneumothorax usually occurs without a precipitating event in young patients (typically in their twenties) with no clinical lung disease. A secondary spontaneous pneumothorax occurs as a complication of underlying lung disease (eg, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD]). Severity of symptoms depends on the severity of the pneumothorax.
esophageal rupture
Spontaneous perforation of the esophagus (Boerhaave syndrome) results from a sudden increase in intraesophageal pressure usually caused by straining or vomiting. Patients present with excruciating retrosternal chest pain
GERD
Chest pain due to GERD can mimic angina pectoris and may be described as squeezing or burning, located substernally and radiating to the back, neck, jaw, or arms. It can last minutes to hours, and resolves spontaneously or with antacids. It may occur after meals, awaken patients from sleep, and be exacerbated by emotional stress.
Isolated musculoskeletal chest pain syndrome
Patients with isolated musculoskeletal chest pain syndromes have local or regional chest tenderness (table 4) without other symptoms. The most common are costosternal (costochondritis) and lower rib pain syndromes.
Rib pain
Rib fractures are associated with pleuritic chest pain that is localized and reproducible with palpation. Patients often describe an associated injury, though some may occur without trauma.
Panic attack
Chest pain is a common complaint in patients with panic disorder. Panic attacks typically present with spontaneous, discrete episodes of intense fear that begin abruptly and last for several minutes to an hour. In panic disorder, patients experience recurrent panic attacks. Panic disorder may be present in 30 percent or more of patients with chest pain who have no or minimal CHD [7]. Hyperventilation during a panic attack can result in nonanginal chest pain and occasionally ECG changes, particularly nonspecific ST and T wave abnormalities
pleuritic chest pain
Truly pleuritic chest pain is worsened by respiration. Causes of pleuritic chest pain include pericarditis, pulmonary embolism, pneumothorax, pleuritis, and pneumonia