Dyspnea resident survival guide
| Dyspnea Resident Survival Guide Microchapters |
|---|
| Overview |
| Causes |
| FIRE |
| Diagnosis |
| Treatment |
| Do's |
| Don'ts |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Milan C. Mathew, M.D., M.P.H. [2]
Overview
Dyspnea is the uncomfortable awareness of one's own breathing. It is a common symptom of numerous medical disorders.
Causes
Life Threatening Causes
Life-threatening causes include conditions which may result in death or permanent disability within 24 hours if left untreated.
- Acute heart failure
- Acute coronary syndrome
- Acute papillary muscle rupture
- Acute respiratory distress syndrome
- Anaphylaxis
- Aortic dissection
- Bronchospasm
- Cardiac tamponade
- Foreign body aspiration
- Glottic edema
- Pneumothorax
- Pulmonary embolism
- Pulmonary edema
Common Causes
- Acute heart failure
- Acute coronary syndrome
- Asthma
- Anemia
- COPD
- Interstitial lung disease
- Pulmonary embolism
- Pneumonia
- Respiratory tract infection
Click here for the complete list of causes.
FIRE: Focused Initial Rapid Evaluation
A Focused Initial Rapid Evaluation (FIRE) should be performed to identify patients in need of immediate intervention.
Rapid assessment ❑ Circulation ❑ Airway ❑ Breathing | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Is the patient in acute cardiopulmonary arrest | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No | Yes | Activate ACLS algorithm | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Does the patient have any of the following signs and symptoms that require urgent management ❑ Altered mental status
❑ Wheezes ❑ Crackles ❑ Jugular venous distension ❑ Stridor ❑ Tracheal deviation ❑ Absent breath sounds ❑ Distant heart sounds | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Yes | No | Continue with complete diagnostic approach below | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Order stat tests ❑ CBC ❑ CMP ❑ D-dimer ❑ Cardiac enzymes ❑ NT-proBNP ❑ ABG ❑ Blood Cultures (fever) ❑ CXR ❑ EKG | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Complete Diagnostic Approach
A complete diagnostic approach should be carried out after a focused initial rapid evaluation is conducted and following initiation of any urgent intervention