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Pulmonary Embolism
  • Three types of pulmonary embolism
    • “Massive”
      • Hypotension or severe bradycardia
        • Treat with tPA or thrombectomy
    • “Submassive”
      • Normotensive but with Right Heart Strain
      • S1Q3T3 on EKG
      • Elevated BNP
      • Elevated troponin
      • Dilation of RV on ultrasound
        • Treat with heparin/lovenox and admit
    • “Low Risk”
      • Treat with anticoagulation
      • Outpatient vs inpatient treatment
  • Testing
    • CTA of the Chest
      • If severe contrast allergy or other contraindication
        • Ventilation/Perfusion (V/Q) Scan
Inferior STEMI
  • EKG shows ST elevation in 2, 3, aVF
  • Can involve AV node (bradycardia)
    • Avoid beta blockers
    • Treat with atropine
  • Can involve RV (preload dependent)
    • Avoid nitroglycerine
    • Treat with fluids
Common to Nitroglycerine
  • Hypotension
  • Current sildenafil usage
Aortic Dissection
  • Type A (ascending) Dissection
    • Surgical emergency
  • Type B (descending) Dissection
    • Medical management
  • Testing
    • CTA of the chest
    • Chest X-Ray SOMETIMES shows a widened mediastinum
  • Treatment
    • Esmolol (decrease heart rate)
    • Labetelol (decrease blood pressure)
  • PEARL: Aortic dissection can cause STEMI
Heart Failure
  • Treatment
    • Diuresis
    • Nitroglycerin
    • BiPAP
  • If patient needs fluids
    • Decrease size of fluid bolus
COPD
  • Treatments
    • Albuterol/Ipratropium
    • Antibiotics
    • Steroids
    • BiPAP
Pneumonia
  • If alcoholic/homeless/dementia/parkinson’s
    • Treat for aspiration (anaerobes)
  • If recent hospitalization/ventilator
    • Treat for pseudomonas and MRSA
  • If pneumonia PLUS atypical symptoms
    • Treat for legionella
  • If recent influenza
    • Treat for MRSA
Additional Reading