Red Flags Flashcards
Patient complains of severe deep back or abdominal pain that radiates to the groin, has increased BP after walking back to the exam room.
Red flag - call physician suspect AAA
Patient had an MI 2 months ago and presents to PT with a blood pressure of 80/55. Normal baseline for this patient at last visit was 120/70.
Red Flag - call physician bc it can indicate poor left ventricular function at rest
Patient shows up to outpatient PT with a hangover from a big football party last night.
Yellow Flag: Patient maybe dehydrated and physiological response may be exaggerated. Watch vitals closely and progress slowly.
Patient has an increased weight gain of greater than 3 pounds, no noticeable edema and no problems with breathing or vital signs. Patient has no history of heart problems and is 36 years old.
Yellow Flag: Weight gain maybe related high sodium meal, menstruation, kidney problems or medications. Monitor vitals for a possible undiagnosed cardiac condition especially related to exertion.
You go to a patient’s home, and she complains of general unwellness. BP is 80/40 and HR 48 bpm.
Red Flag: Call 911. Patient maybe having pacemaker problem, this should be checked out immediately.
Patient arrived to physical therapy after indulging at an all you can eat lunch.
Yellow Flag: Workload of the heart will be increased while digesting a big meal. Exercise responses maybe exaggerated, watch vital closely.
68-year-old female with a history of pulmonary edema and congestive heart failure, currently stable.
Yellow Flag: Watch for symptoms or unstable vitals. If patient becomes symptomatic, call physician.
While on a treadmill, patient experiences sharp sudden chest pain that is not relieved by rest or nitroglycerin x 3.
Red Flag: Call 911, Patient may be having an acute MI
Patient reports that his blood glucose level is 468 mg/dL and that he had Ketones present in his urine this am.
Red Flag: Call physician, no exercise. Patient could be going into a ketoacidosis, may need to call 911
Patient underwent a CABG 2 days ago and presents with incisional pain and difficulty coughing and clearing secretions.
Green Flag: Normal response following surgery. Monitor vital due to the history.
Patient states that he has an acute pericarditis with a fever and pain with respiration.
Red Flag: Call physician. With an acute disease with fever, no physical therapy until cleared by physician.
Patient had an acute MI 2 months ago and presents to outpatient physical therapy with a resting HR of 90 bpm that increased to 125 during a 6-minute walk test.
Green Flag: Normal response of deconditioning. May need to progress slowly and monitor closely.
Patient complains of right calf pain following a TKR. Patient’s calf in red, swollen and is complaining of some increasing dyspnea.
Red flag: Call Physician. Patient may need to go to the hospital for Doppler test. Call 911 if PE suspected.
While taking the patient’s heart rate you notice a very irregular rhythm and rapid greater than 130 bpm at rest and complains of dizziness.
Red Flag: Call physician. Patient may have a rapid ventricular response to a fib or flutter. No exercise.
Patient with h/o angina has angina while walking on the treadmill that stops as soon as he rests. No Nitro taken. HR stabilized to baseline with 3 minutes.
Depending on history, patient need to follow-up with physician. Close monitoring of exercise vitals. Check to see if patient has had a stress test.