Course #2 Flashcards
Associated symptoms
Specific symptoms that raise the physicians suspicion for a particular DDx (differential diagnosis)
Pertinent negatives
Specific symptoms that are not present which lower physician’s suspicions for a particular DDx
Key symptoms of MI
Chest pain/pressure (CP), diaphoresis (sweating), shortness of breath (SOB), nausea/vomiting
Key symptoms of CAD
CP and SOB; improved with nitroglycerin (NTG)
Define coronary artery disease
Plaque build up to the coronary arteries leading to poor blood flow to the chest. Causes chronic chest pain (angina)
Define myocardial infarction
Heart muscle death caused by a blockage of a coronary artery
What disease make up the “triple threat?”
HTN, HLD, DM
Key symptoms of CHF
SOB, orthopnea (SOB worse when lying down at night), bilateral lower extremity swelling
Key symptom of AFib
Palpitations
Key symptoms of PE
Chest pain; worse with deep breaths (pleuritic), SOB, and patients are often hypoxic (low oxygen saturation) and tachycardic (elevated HR)
Key symptoms of COPD
SOB, wheezing, cough, chest tightness; worse when sick
Key symptoms of asthma
SOB, cough, wheezing, and chest tightness when triggered; improved with breathing treatments
Key symptoms of PNA
Productive cough, SOB, fever, CP
Define Focal neurological deficits
An area of the brain dysfunctioning leading to specific loss of functions throughout the body such as one sided weakness/numbness, speech and visual issues, loss of coordination
Key symptoms of ischemic CVA
Unilateral focal neurological deficits (one sided weakness/numbness or changes in speech/vision)
Key symptoms of hemorrhagic CVA
Severe, sudden onset headache, focal neurological deficit (FND)
Key symptoms of transient ischemic attack (TIA)
Transient (short lived) FND
Key symptoms of meningitis
Headache, neck pain/stiffness, fever, altered mental status (AMS)
Why is NTG given in the ED?
It is a vasodilator- used to improve blood flow to heart for CAD and MI
What is Acetylsalicylic Acid?
Aspirin or ASA
Why is ASA given in the ED?
It is an anticoagulant used to prevent a blockage in the coronary arteries to prevent MI
Why is tPA given?
It is a thrombolytic used to break up clots in the brain during an ischemic stroke
Ischemic CVA vs. hemorrhagic CVA
Ischemic- poor blood flow to the brain due to a clot
Hemorrhagic- brain bleed due to a ruptured blood vessel
What is Murphys sign and what does it indicate?
Area of tenderness in the RUQ on abdominal exam indicating cholecystisis (inflammation of the gallbladder)
