Course of diagnosis
Associated symptoms
Specific symptoms that raise the physician’s suspicion for a particular differential diagnosis
Pertinent negatives
Specific symptoms that are not present which lower the physician’s suspicion for a particular differential diagnosis
The Triple Threat
Hypertension (HTN), Hyperlipidemia (HLD), Diabetes Mellitus (DM)
Effects of chronically high blood glucose
Cerebrovascular accident, diabetic retinopathy, cardiac disease, renal failure, peripheral vascular disease, neuropathy
Effects of chronically high blood pressure
Cerebrovascular accident, retinopathy, cardiac disease, congestive heart failure, renal failure
Effects of chronically high cholesterol
Cerebrovascular accident, cardiac disease, pancreatitis
Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) Etiology
Narrowing of the coronary arteries causing reduced blood flow to the heart muscle
Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) Risk Factors
HTN, HLD, DM, Smoking, Family history of CAD/MI < 55 years old
Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) Chief Complaint
Angina: Exertional chest pain or chest pressure
Modifying Factors: Worse with exertion, Improved with rest and/or nitroglycerin
Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) Associated Symptoms
Shortness of breath
Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) Medications
Nitroglycerin (NTG) to manage angina; Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) to decrease the chance of a blockage
Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) Method of Diagnosis
Cardiac catheterization (CAD cannot be diagnosed in the ED)
Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) Pertinent Scribe Information
A patient has CAD if they have a past medical history of angina, MI, CABG, cardiac stents, or angioplasty
Myocardial Infarction (MI) Etiology
Acute blockage of the coronary arteries causing ischemia or infarct to the heart muscle
Myocardial Infarction (MI) Risk Factors
CAD, HTN, HLD, DM, Smoking, Family history of CAD < 55 years old
Myocardial Infarction (MI) Chief Complaint
Chest pain or chest pressure
Modifying Factors: Worse with exertion, Improved with rest and/or nitroglycerin
Myocardial Infarction (MI) Associated Symptoms
Diaphoresis, nausea/vomiting, shortness of breath
Myocardial Infarction (MI) Medications
Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), Nitroglycerin (NTG), Thrombolytic (Heparin)
Myocardial Infarction (MI) Method of Diagnosis
STEMI: Diagnosed by EKG (may also have elevated troponin)
Non-STEMI: Diagnosed by elevated troponin
Myocardial Infarction (MI) Pertinent Scribe Information
Document ED arrival time, EKG time, ASA time, cath lab departure time; STEMI patients must get to the cath lab within 90 minutes of arrival
Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) Etiology
The heart becomes enlarged, inefficient, and congested with excess fluid
Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) Risk Factors
History of CHF, HTN, HLD, DM, Kidney disease, Smoking
Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) Chief Complaint
Shortness of breath
Modifying Factors: Worse with lying flat (orthopnea), Worse with exertion - Dyspnea on Exertion (DOE), Episodically worse at night - Paroxysmal Nocturnal Dyspnea (PND)