Case 14
Recent chest pain
Preview:
Please login, activate your subscription,
or explore access solutions.
Brief History
The patient was a middle-aged Caucasian man with a history of hypertension who was seen recently for extensive cardiac workup after complaints of chest discomfort.
Work-up was negative.
He complained the night before death of some possible chest tightness.
He woke up in the morning, went to the bathroom, was observed to be short of breath and collapsed.
Paramedics were called.
The patient received advanced life support measures, including intubation, but died.
Discussion Questions
1. What’s the differential diagnosis for sudden onset of shortness of breath followed by collapse (see history)?
2. What’s the differential diagnosis of the patient’s collapse based on the complete history?
3. How do you interpret the negative work-up after presenting recently with chest pain?
4. You are the treating provider. Your patient presents with a complaint of chest tightness. What do you include in your work-up?
5. You are the treating provider. Your patient with chest tightness has a “negative” work-up. What next steps would you take?