Cardio/ Resp

Question 1

Conditions that present with chest pain

Answer 1

Anxiety
Cardio
1. ACS (unstable: occurs at rest, MI: radiates to left side)
2. Stable angina (occur on exertion and lasts short periods of time)
3. Aortic Dissection (abrupt)
4. Pericarditis (sharp, stabbing)
Resp
1. Asthma (wheezing, chest tightness)
2. COPD (smoker, mucus)
3. PE (post travel, post surgery, swollen legs)
4. Pneumonia (cough with green/yellow mucus, fever)
Gastro
1. Heartburn/GORD (after food, relieved after gaviscon)
2. Mallory-Weiss tear (after alcohol)

Question 2

Associated symptoms for cardio-resp conditions

Answer 2

1. Short of breath
2. Palpitations
3. Orthopnea
4. Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnoea
5. Haemoptysis
6. Sputum production (COPD, allergies, bronchitis, CF)
7. Calf swelling (PE)

Question 3

Risk Factors for heart disease

Answer 3

1. High blood pressure
2. High cholesterol
3. Diabetes
4. Family history of cardiac disease
5. Previous heart disease
6. Recent cardiac interventions

Question 4

Risk factors for VTE

Answer 4

1. Recent surgery
2. Long haul flights
3. Past history of VTE
4. Family history of clotting disorders
5. History of malignancy

Question 5

Questions on haememtesis

Answer 5

1. Volume?
2. Number of episodes?
3. Fresh? or clots
4. In pain during?
5. Is progression getting worse or better?

Question 6

Question for suspected TB

Answer 6

1. Questions on haememtesis
2. Associated symptoms (fever, rigours, weight loss, night sweats, vomiting)
3. Associated cardio-resp symptoms
4. Risk factors for VTE
5. Risk for heart disease
6. Recent travel to exotic country or contact with infectious people
7. If vaccinated against TB with BCG vaccine
8. Previous episodes?

Question 7

Questions for SOB

Answer 7

1. Triggers: orthopnea/ positional? exertional? paroxysmal nocturnal? at rest?
2. Progression: worsening or improving
3. Severity: exercise/ activity intolerance? what are they able to do/ not do anymore?
4. Factors that relieve SOB? e.g. inhaler, rest , medication, fresh air
5. Cardio-resp symptoms e.g. palpitations, chest pain, haememtesis, sputum
6. Associated systemic symptoms: fever, weight loss, rigours, night sweats, vomiting
7. Risk factors for VTE: medication, long haul flights, clotting disorders in family, recent surgery, malignancy
8. Risk factors for heart diseases: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, family history, previous heart disease

Question 8

Conditions that present with haememtesis

Answer 8

Gastric
1. Oesophageal varices
2. Mallory-weiss tear
3. Peptic/ duodenal ulcer
Resp
1. Chest infection: TB (weight loss, 3 months+, low grade fever with evening rise), Pneumonia (fever, 2-3 days), Bronchitis (wheezing)
2. Lung cancer (weight loss, history of smoking, non specific fever)
Differentiate between them with CT for confirmed diagnosis