Chest pain resident survival guide: Difference between revisions
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Rim Halaby (talk | contribs) No edit summary |
Rim Halaby (talk | contribs) |
||
Line 10: | Line 10: | ||
Immediate life threatening causes are conditions which result in immediate death or disability if left untreated. | Immediate life threatening causes are conditions which result in immediate death or disability if left untreated. | ||
* [[Aortic dissection]] | * [[Aortic dissection]] | ||
* [[Myocardial infarction]] | * [[Myocardial infarction]] | ||
* [[Pericardial tamponade]] | * [[Pericardial tamponade]] |
Revision as of 13:38, 19 July 2013
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor-In-Chief: Rim Halaby
Definition
Chest pain is discomfort or pain that is felt anywhere along the front of the body between the neck and the upper abdomen.
Causes
Immediate Life Threatening Causes
Immediate life threatening causes are conditions which result in immediate death or disability if left untreated.
- Aortic dissection
- Myocardial infarction
- Pericardial tamponade
- Pneumothorax
- Pulmonary embolism
- Unstable angina
Other Common Causes
- Biliary colic
- Costochondritis
- Cocaine induced coronary vasospasm
- Esophageal spasm
- GERD
- Myocardial infarction
- Panic attacks
- Pneumonia
- Stable angina
Management
Please find below an algorithm that summarizes the approach to chest pain.
Check vital signs Stabilize the patient Order an EKG Concise history and physical exam | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Assess EKG | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
EKG consistent with ACS | EKG not consistent with ACS | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Order a CXR | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
STEMI Revascularization | NSTEMI Risk stratification | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pneumothorax | Aortic dissection | No significant findings on CXR | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Control BP Obtain a CT scan Emergent surgery consult | Assess the pretest probability for pulmonary embolism | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||