Chest Pain Flashcards
Mnemonic to guide chest pain history
OLDCARTS
What is the first thing to check on all chest pain pts?
Triage note, Vitals, and EKG
What are the six deadly “can’t miss”chest pain diseases?
PETMAC
PE, Esophageal rupture, Tension Pneumothorax, MI, Aortic dissection, Cardiac Tamponade
5 physical exam finding to always look for in Chest pain pts?
Volume status, pitting edema HF Murmurs (aortic stenosis) Abdomen and Back for AAA Calfs for no putting edema (DVT, PE) Asymmetric pulses/ BP (Aortic Dissection)
Workup in every single CP pt
EKG and CXR
Chest Pain + Neuro or Motor sxs =
Aortic Dissection
Chest Pain + any unrelated complaint =
Aortic Dissection
What is Beck’s Triad and what does it indicate?
Muffled heart sounds, JVD, Hypotension
Indicates cardiac Tamponade
Chest Pain + Narrow pulse pressure =
Cardiac Tamponade
5 risk factors of esophageal rupture
Free air on CXR Peritonitis on AB exam Forceful vomiting Alcoholic Recent endoscopy
4 Aortic dissection risk factors
Ripping/ tearing chest pain
HTN
Pregnancy
Connective tissue disorders
3 cardiac Tamponade risk factors
CA
ESRD
Trauma
Labs in general MI workup
EKG CXR CBC - anemia Chem 10 Coags - in case need to anticoagulate Enzymes - troponin, BNP, CK-MB, CK
Meds for possible MI chest pain pts
ASA
NTG
Morphine + Zofran if still pain after NTG
When is troponin first detected in blood and how long will it stay elevated?
4-6 hrs
3-5 days
When is CK first detected in blood and how long does it stay elevated?
6-8 hrs
1-2 days
Dose of ASA in chest pain
325mg chewed, even if on Coumadin, unless full strength taken w/in 24 hrs
Dose of NTG in CP pts
0.4mg SL q5min x 3
When do you hold NTG in CP pts?
If CP free, systolic <100
If males on Viagra or Levitra w/in 24 hrs, or sialis w/in 72 hrs.
Check EKG for posterior MI
General Workup for pleuritic chest pain (possible PE)
EKG CXR CBC Chem10 Coags incase you need to abnticoagulate
When do you need CT angio?
If Gestalt says intermediate or High risk
If Pleuritic chest pain and low risk for PE what do you do?
PERC
What is the PERC?
BREATHS
Blood in sputum (hemoptysis) Room air sat < 95% Estrogen or OCP use Age > 50 Thrombosis in past (PE or DVT) Heart rate > 100 Surgery w/in last 4 weeks
CP pt low risk for PE + neg PERC =
No more PE workup needed