Cardiology in emergency room

APPROACH TO A PATIENT WITH CHEST PAIN

• Initial approach
• Prompt triage
• Place on cardiac monitor on patient with visceral type of chest pain (discomfort,
• heaviness, or aching), abnormal vital signs, and dyspnoea.
• ECG performed within 10 minutes of ER visit.
• Establish IV line and supplemental oxygen if SpO2< 93 %
• Focus on immediate life threat and stabilize airway, breathing and circulation
• Take focused history concerning on character of pain, presence of associated symptoms,
• and history of other cardiopulmonary conditions.
• Be aware of atypical chest pain like radiation to right arm, epigastric pain, chest wall
• tenderness, dyspepsia.
• Rule out other life-threatening conditions like aortic dissection, pulmonary embolism,
• pneumothorax, pericarditis, pericardial tamponade, pneumonia and oesophageal
• rupture.