Chief complaint: Dyspnea Flashcards
Related medical problems:
Asthma
COPD
With HPI, focus on:
1) context (C)
2) associated symptoms (A)
3) palliation (P)
4) onset/duration (T)
Like what we need to CAPTure !
Common medications used at home:
Albuterol
Provair
Nebulizer
Prednisone
These are all inhalers!
Common associated symptoms:
Chest pain, cough, fever
If a pt. has chest pain, it is important to specify whether it’s related to SOB or not
PE:
What are the contradictory abnormal exam findings related to each normal exam?
1) CTAB (clear to auscultation BL ((clear lung sounds)))
2) No respiratory distress (aka patient breathing normally)
3) Good Air Exchange
1)
A) faint (inspiratory/expiratory) wheezes
B) diffuse wheezes heard throughout bases BL
C) Rhonchi “
D) Crackles “
E) Rales “
2) Tachypneic (aka when a pt is breathing harder or RR is 20 and above)
3) diminished breath sounds
Dr. Barriac likes to state whether ___ ____ were used
Accessory muscles
Be sure to:
Record pulse ox accurately. Remember that 94% below is abnormal on RA
Chest X-ray : doctors will usually order a chest x ray to visualize the lungs
Common findings:
1) no infiltrate (substances that sneak in or # of infiltrating cells
2) No Pneumothorax (PTX)
3) No effusions (a buildup of fluid between the tissues that line the lungs and chest)
MDM: common treatments used for dyspnea:
1) Neb treatment
2) SoluMedrol
3) Albuterol
4) Non-rebreather mask
5) Prednisone
Common ddx:
1) asthma exacerbation
2) COPD
3) dyspnea
4) hypoxia