Course 2: Pathophysiology Chief Complaint

Question 1

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD): Chief Complaint?

Answer 1

Chest pain or chest pressure. Worse with exertion. Improved by rest or NTG

Question 2

Myocardial Infarction (MI) STEMI/non-STEMI: Chief Complaint?

Answer 2

Chest pain or chest pressure

Question 3

Congestive Heart Failure (CHF): Chief Complaint? (3)

Answer 3

SOB – worse while lying flat (orthopnea), paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea (PND) (at night due to pressure of fluid), dyspnea on exertion (DOE)

Question 4

Atrial Fibrillation (A-Fib): Chief Complaint?

Answer 4

Palpitations (fast, pounding, irregular)

Question 5

Pulmonary Embolism (PE): Chief Complaint?

Answer 5

SOB or pleuritic CP (worse with deep breaths)

Question 6

Pneumonia (PNA): Chief Complaint?

Answer 6

SOB or productive cough

Question 7

Pneumothorax (PTX): Chief Complaint? (2)

Answer 7

SOB and one-sided CP; sudden onset, often trauma patients

Question 8

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): Chief Complaint?

Answer 8

SOB

Question 9

Reactive Airway Disease (RAD): Chief Complaint? (2)

Answer 9

SOB/Wheezing

Improved by nebulizer breathing treatments (bronchodilators)

Question 10

Ischemic CVA: Chief Complaint?

Answer 10

Unilateral focal neurological deficits: one sided weakness/numbness or changes in speech/vision

Question 11

Hemorrhagic CVA (Brain Bleed): Chief Complaint?

Answer 11

HA, sudden onset (thunderclap, worst of life)

Question 12

Meningitis- Bacterial v Viral: Chief Complaint? (2)

Answer 12

HA and neck pain

Question 13

Spinal Cord Injury: Chief Complaint? (2)

Answer 13

Neck pain or back pain, bilateral extremity weakness

Question 14

Seizure (Sz): Chief Complaint? (2)

Answer 14

Sz activity, syncope

Question 15

Bells Palsy: Chief Complaint?

Answer 15

Facial droop, sudden onset

Question 16

Headache (HA) – Cephalgia: Chief Complaint?

Answer 16

HA (gradual onset), pressure, throbbing

Question 17

Syncope (Fainting): Chief Complaint?

Answer 17

Passing out v about to pass out (near syncope)

Question 18

Vertigo (Room Spinning): Chief Complaint?

Answer 18

Room-spinning, feeling off balance (disequilibrium) – worsened with head movement

Question 19

Appendicitis (APPY): Chief Complaint?

Answer 19

RLQ pain, gradual onset, constant, worsened with movement

Question 20

Small Bowel Obstruction (SBO): Chief Complaint? (3)

Answer 20

Abdominal pain, vomiting, constipation

Question 21

Gallstones (Cholelithiasis, Cholecystitis): Chief Complaint?

Answer 21

RUQ pain – sharp, worsened with eating, deep breaths, and palpitation

Question 22

Diverticulitis: CC?

Answer 22

LLQ pain

Question 23

Pancreatitis: CC? (2)

Answer 23

LUQ, epigastric pain

Question 24

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD): CC?

Answer 24

Epigastric pain, burning, improved with antacids

Question 25

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI): CC?

Answer 25

Dysuria

Question 26

Pyelonephritis: CC?

Answer 26

Flank pain with dysuria

Question 27

Kidney Stone (Nephrolithiasis): CC?

Answer 27

Flank pain, sudden onset, radiating to groin

Question 28

Ectopic Pregnancy: CC?

Answer 28

Lower abdominal pain or vaginal bleeding while pregnant

Question 29

Ovarian Torsion: CC?

Answer 29

Lower abdominal pain (RLQ or LLQ)

Question 30

Testicular Torsion: CC?

Answer 30

Testicular pain

Question 31

Upper Respiratory Infection (URI): CC? (2)

Answer 31

Cough, congestion

Question 32

Streptococcal Pharyngitis (Strep Throat): CC?

Answer 32

Sore throat

Question 33

Otitis Media (Middle Ear Infection): CC? (2)

Answer 33

Ear pain, ear pulling

Question 34

Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye): CC?

Answer 34

Eye redness, irritation, or pain

Question 35

Epistaxis (Nosebleed): CC?

Answer 35

Nose bleed

Question 36

Musculoskeletal Back Pain: CC?

Answer 36

Back pain, most commonly low back (lumbar) pain

Question 37

Extremity Injury: CC?

Answer 37

Extremity pain

Question 38

Aortic Dissection: CC?

Answer 38

Chest pain radiating to the back, ripping or tearing

Question 39

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA): CC?

Answer 39

Midline abdominal pain

Question 40

Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT): CC?

Answer 40

Extremity pain and swelling (atraumatic), usually located in a lower extremity

Question 41

Abscess (Cellulitis with Fluctuance): CC?

Answer 41

Red, swollen, and painful lump

Question 42

Cellulitis: CC?

Answer 42

Red, swollen, painful, and sometimes warm area of the skin

Question 43

Rash: CC?

Answer 43

Rash- red, itchy (pruritic) or painful

Question 44

Allergic Reaction: CC?

Answer 44

Rash, swelling, itching, or SOB

Question 45

Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA): CC?

Answer 45

Persistent vomiting with a Hx of DM

Question 46

Psychological Disorder: Possible CC? (6)

Answer 46

Suicidal ideation (SI), homicidal ideation (HI), hallucinations (auditory or visual), substance abuse, self injury, overdose

Question 47

Trauma: CC? (3)

Answer 47

Motor vehicle accident (MVA), fall, gun shot wound (GSW)

Question 48

Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA): Chief Complaint?

Answer 48

Transient focal neurological deficit (changes in speech, vision, strength, or sensation)

Question 49

Altered Mental Status (AMS): Chief Complaint? (3)

Answer 49

Confusion, decreased responsiveness, unresponsive

Question 50

Gastointestinal Bleed (GI Bleed): CC? (4)

Answer 50

Hematemesis (upper tract), coffee ground emesis, hemtochezia (lower tract) – bloody stool, melena (upper tract)