Dyspnea

Med Clin North Am. 2006 May;90(3):453-79. doi: 10.1016/j.mcna.2005.11.006.

Abstract

When evaluating a dyspneic patient in the office, a quick initial assessment of the airway, breathing, and circulation, while gathering a brief history and focused physical examination are necessary. Most often, an acute cardiopulmonary disorder, such as CHF, cardiac ischemia, pneumonia, asthma, or COPD exacerbation, can be identified and treated. Stable patients who improve can be sent home, but those in acute distress with unstable or impending unstable conditions need to be transferred emergently to definitive care. Because of the difficult logistics involved in attempting to work up an outpatient for new onset of SOB, some patients will need to be transferred to the nearest ED for a definitive diagnosis.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Ambulatory Care
  • Asthma / diagnosis
  • Asthma / therapy
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Dyspnea / diagnosis
  • Dyspnea / etiology*
  • Dyspnea / therapy
  • Electrocardiography
  • Heart Failure / complications
  • Heart Failure / diagnosis
  • Humans
  • Myocardial Infarction / diagnosis
  • Myocardial Infarction / therapy
  • Office Visits
  • Physical Examination
  • Pneumonia / diagnosis
  • Pneumonia / therapy
  • Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / diagnosis
  • Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / therapy
  • Pulmonary Embolism / diagnosis
  • Pulmonary Embolism / therapy
  • Syndrome