APPROACH TO DYSPNEA

Goals and Objectives

Goals

  • Resident will be comfortable with initial evaluation and basic management of patients with dyspnea and respiratory distress

Learning Objectives
  • Resident will be able to list and describe common acute life-threatening causes of dyspnea
    • Acute Coronary Syndrome
    • Arrhythmia
    • Asthma
    • COPD
    • Pneumonia
    • Pneumothorax
    • Pulmonary Edema (e.g. CHF exacerbation)
    • Pulmonary Embolus
    • Tamponade, Cardiac
  • Resident will be able to describe presenting features of common acute life-threatening causes of dyspnea
  • Resident will be able to list initial diagnostic interventions for patients with dyspnea
    • Auscultation
    • Pulse oximetry 
    • ECG
    • CXR
    • Peak Flow
    • Ultrasound
    • Volume Status Assessment
  • Resident will be able to list initial therapeutic interventions for patients with dyspnea and their indications
    • Oxygen Therapy
    • NIPPV
    • Endotracheal Intubation
    • Nebulized Medications
    • Steroids
    • Nitroglycerin
Recommended Resources

Prior to Conference

Additional Resources


Acute Coronary Syndromes

Asthma

COPD


Pulmonary Embolism

Tamponade, Cardiac

Airway Management










Original Post by Eric Shappell on 12/01/2014
Reviewed by James Ahn on 12/01/2014
Last Updated by Eric Shappell on 06/09/2016 Contact / Feedback