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.
Investigation:
• 12 lead ECG: within 10 minutes of ED arrival and interpreted by ER doctor. Serial ECGs for
persistent pain or changes in pain. Focus on ECG changes like T wave changes, ST segment
changes of >0.5 mm, pathological Q waves, new or presumably new bundle branch block
or sustained Ventricular tachycardia.
• Chest X- ray to assess wide mediastinum indication aortic dissection or consolidation for
pneumonia.
• Point of care echocardiography– if available
APPROACH TO ECG INTERPRETATION
1. Wide vs narrow
2. Fast vs slow
3. Regular vs irregular
4. Ischaemia
5. Rhythm
6. Axis
7. Intervals
Steps 1-3: identify fatal arrhythmias
Step 4: identify MI or cardiac ischemia
Steps 5-7: provide hints of underlying cardiac etiologies
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