Common Chief Complaints Flashcards
Common chief complaints
CP, SOB, abd pain, HA, back pain, flank pain, AMS, MVC
CP body systems
heart/CV, lungs/respiratory, esophagus/GI system
CP DDx
MI, PE, pleurisy and costochondritis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), angina, atypical chest pain, pneumonia
CP necessary HPI components
location, severity, quality, assoc sx (radiation), context, mod factors, relevant PMH, PSH, FHx
CP necessary HPI components: location
Locations: left, right, central. NO lower (it’s epigastric in abd)
CP necessary HPI components: severity and quality
description of the pain, such as “crushing,” “elephant on chest”
CP necessary HPI components: associated signs and symptoms
radiation: if the pain spreads to neck, left arm or abd. n/v/d, SOB, palpitations
CP necessary HPI components: context
what pt was doing: exercising, resting, alwwpinf
CP necessary HPI components: modifying factors
any medication, position or action that improves, worsens or has no effect on sx
CP necessary HPI components: relevant hx
medical, surgical, social and family histories.
CP drugs are…
aspirin (ASA) and nitroglycerin
CP drugs: aspirin
antiplatelet agent. early tx (w/in 24 hrs of onset) can help
CP drugs: nitroglycerin
vasodilator. can treat angina. can be tablets, transdermal patches, ointments, IV or sublingual
CP PEx
chest wall tenderness, HR, heart sound, breath sounds, level of distress, diaphoresis
common test for CP
heart enzymes (blood test): CK, CK-MB, troponin EKG: MI and arrhythmia CXR: pneumonia, pneumothorax, congestive heart failure (CHF), cardiomegaly, rib fx D-Dimer (blood test): pulmonary embolism, DVT
SOB body systems
lungs/respiratory system, heart/CV system
SOB DDx
pnuemonia, bronchitis, upper respiratory infection, pneumothroax, PE, CHF, COPD, asthma, pleurisy In PEDs: croup (barky cough)
SOB: pneumothorax
“collapsed lung.” air between the lung and the spaces around lung. most often after injury to the chest wall. may be spontaneous in tall, skinny young white males
SOB necessary HPI components: timing
timing (onset)is very important
SOB necessary HPI components: duration
length of time as well as “sudden” or “gradual”, continuous, intermittent, etc.
SOB necessary HPI components: associated signs and symptoms
cough, congestion, fever, chest pain
SOB necessary HPI components: context
during exertion? birth control pills (BCP) a long car or plane ride?
SOB HPI components: relevant histories
CHF, COPD, asthma, PE, MI
SOB PEx
did the pt exhibit chest wall tenderness? heart sounds (murmurs, gallops, rubs) breath sounds (wheezes, rhonchi, rales, stridor) level of respiratory distress is the pt exhibiting retractions? skin color (normal, pale, cyanotic)
common tests for SOB
heart enzymes: CK, CK-MB, troponin EKG: MI, arrhythmia CXR: pneumonia, pneumothorax, CHF, rib fx D-Dimer: PE and DVT
Abd pain body systems
appendix, stomach, small intestine, colon, gallbladder (GB), spleen, liver
Abd pain DDx
appendicitis, cholecystitis and cholelithiasis (gall stone), small bowl obstruction, diverticulitis (outcropping of intestine inflammed) and diverticulosis (presence of diverticulum), gastroenteritis (vomit+diarrhea), GERD, AAA, ascites, constipation, UTI
Abd pain necessary HPI components
location, PMH and PSH, assoc sx,
Abd pain necessary HPI components: location
4 quad + epigastric + suprapubic appendix is RLQ gallbladder is RUQ
Abd pain necessary HPI components: PMH
any similar sx in the past and # of episodes. eaten recently? what and when (fatty food assoc with GB)
Abd pain necessary HPI components: PSH
past surgical histories of -ectomies can rule out dx. appendectomy (appendix) and cholecystectomy (GB). Hysterectomy (uterus). hermia repair