Anesthesia Key

Key Points Print Section Listen Consider acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in the initial assessment of all patients presenting with chest pain and/or difficulty breathing. Atypical presentations are common, especially in…

Key Points Print Section Listen Respiratory infections are responsible for most acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Beta-adrenergic agonists and anticholinergic drugs remain the primary bronchodilators and are…

Key Points Print Section Listen Consider pulmonary embolism (PE) in patients with complaints of dyspnea, chest pain, hemoptysis, or syncope. Dyspnea, pleuritic chest pain, or tachypnea is present in 92%…

Key Points Print Section Listen A normal ejection fraction does not exclude congestive heart failure (CHF), as CHF can occur secondary to either systolic or diastolic dysfunction. Nitroglycerin is the…

Key Points Print Section Listen Determine whether an immediate life threat is present. Answer 3 key questions when approaching patients in moderate to severe respiratory distress. Diagnose causes of dyspnea…

Key Points Print Section Listen Tension pneumothorax is a clinical diagnosis that should be considered in any patient with shock and respiratory distress. Treatment should not be delayed for radiologic…

Key Points Print Section Listen Place all patients with syncope on a cardiac monitor, obtain a STAT bedside glucose level, and check continuous pulse oximetry. Obtain a detailed history of…

Key Points Print Section Listen Hypertension is a very common finding in emergency department patients. Evidence of acute end-organ dysfunction in the setting of hypertension is rare but requires emergent…

Key Points Print Section Listen Focus on diagnosing pneumonia early. Identify risk factors that influence treatment decisions (eg, antibiotic choice and disposition). Blood cultures and empiric antibiotics should be started…

Key Points Print Section Listen The ability to access the central venous circulation is an imperative skill for emergency physicians and is often needed for life-saving measures. The central venous…