Rhythm Disturbances

Question 1

What acronym is used when assessing patient’s pain and what do the letters stand for?

Answer 1

SOCRATES
Site- can you point to where it is?
Origin- when did it first start?
Character- how would you describe it?
Radiation- does it radiate? does it move anywhere?
Associated symptoms- have you noticed any other symptoms alongside it?
Time- how long does it last/is it ongoing?
Exacerbations- does it ever flare up?
Severity- can you rank it on a scale of 1-10?
NOTE: the patient may have already answered some of these questions e.g. they may have presented to you in hospital due to an exacerbation

Question 2

What is typical chest pain?

Answer 2

Chest Pain that satisfies all 3 categories:
Substernal chest pain
Worse on exertion
Relieved by rest

Question 3

What is atypical chest pain?

Answer 3

Chest Pain that satisfies 2 of 3 catagories:
Substernal chest pain
Worse on exertion
Relieved by rest

Question 4

What is non specific chest pain?

Answer 4

Chest pain that satisfies 1 or less of the catagories?
Substernal chest pain
Worse on exertion
Relieved by rest

Question 5

What are the 3 types of chest pain?

Answer 5

Typical
Atypical
Non specific

Question 6

What are the 3 categories for the classes of chest pain?

Answer 6

Substernal pain
Pain is worse on exertion
Pain is relieved by rest

Question 7

What is a useful way to look at an ECG and figure out if the p waves and qrs complexes are regular or irregular?

Answer 7

Draw lines through them and then count the no of squares between them (see if the no if squares is consistent or not), this also helps you see if there is a relationship between the p waves and qrs complexes