Emergency Medicine Doctor
34-year-old female
Chief Complaint:
Acute onset of severe, crushing chest pain radiating to the left arm, accompanied by shortness of breath.
History of Present Illness:
Patient presented to the emergency department via ambulance after experiencing sudden onset of severe, substernal chest pain approximately 2 hours prior to arrival. The pain is described as a 9/10 crushing sensation, radiating down her left arm and into her jaw. She reports associated shortness of breath, diaphoresis, and nausea without vomiting. She denies any recent trauma or heavy exertion. This is the first time she has experienced chest pain of this severity. She has no recent visits or hospital admissions for similar complaints.
No previous occurrences of current symptoms. No related visits, investigations, management, or diagnoses for chest pain.
She has not taken any medications for this episode prior to arrival.
Associated symptoms include diaphoresis, nausea, and mild lightheadedness.
Patient works as an office administrator, denies illicit drug use, and states she leads a moderately active lifestyle.
Past Medical History (not comprehensive):
- Hypertension (diagnosed 2 years ago, controlled with medication)
- Hyperlipidaemia (diagnosed 1 year ago, on statin therapy)
- Family history: Father had a myocardial infarction at age 55; mother has type 2 diabetes.
- Social history: Smokes 5 cigarettes per day for 15 years, occasional alcohol consumption (2 units per week), denies recreational drug use.
Medications (not comprehensive):
- Amlodipine 5mg once daily
- Atorvastatin 20mg once daily
Allergies:
- Penicillin (rash)
Review of Systems:
Cardiovascular: Positive for chest pain, radiation to left arm and jaw, palpitations. Negative for oedema.
Respiratory: Positive for shortness of breath. Negative for cough, wheeze, sputum.
Gastrointestinal: Positive for nausea. Negative for vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation.
Neurological: Positive for mild lightheadedness. Negative for syncope, focal weakness, paraesthesia.
Physical Examination:
- General Appearance: Acutely distressed female, pale and diaphoretic, clutching her chest.
- Vital Signs: Temperature 36.8°C, Blood pressure 148/92 mmHg, Heart rate 110 bpm (regular), Respiratory rate 22 breaths per minute, Oxygen saturation 94% on room air.
- HEENT: Normocephalic, atraumatic. Pupils equal, round, reactive to light. Sclerae anicteric. Oropharynx clear.
- Respiratory: Symmetrical chest expansion. Clear breath sounds bilaterally, no crackles or wheeze. Good air entry throughout.
- Cardiac: Tachycardic, S1S2 audible, no murmurs, rubs, or gallops. Capillary refill <2 seconds.
- Abdominal: Soft, non-tender to palpation in all quadrants. No organomegaly or masses.
- Skin: Pale, clammy, no rashes or lesions observed.
- Other: Peripheral pulses 2+ and symmetrical in all four limbs.
Side Room Investigations:
- HGT: 6.2 mmol/L
- Haemoglobin: 13.5 g/dL
Assessment:
- Acute Myocardial Infarction
- Differential Diagnoses:
1. Aortic Dissection
2. Pulmonary Embolism
3. Pericarditis
Plan:
- Overall plan: Immediate cardiac workup. Administer aspirin, nitroglycerin, and morphine. Consult cardiology. Prepare for potential primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Admit to Coronary Care Unit (CCU).
- Recommended medications: Aspirin 300mg chewable stat, Glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) spray 2 puffs sublingually, Morphine 2-4mg IV as needed for pain, Ticagrelor 180mg loading dose, Heparin infusion as per protocol.
- General patient care advice: Advise patient to remain calm, limit movement, and report any changes in symptoms immediately. Provide emotional support.
- Danger signs that would prompt a return to the emergency department: Worsening chest pain despite medication, increasing shortness of breath, new onset of confusion or weakness, collapse.
- Follow-up recommendations: Cardiology follow-up post-discharge, lifestyle modifications including smoking cessation and dietary changes, cardiac rehabilitation programme referral.
Investigations:
- Results of basic blood work: Trop I 0.8 ng/mL (elevated), CK-MB 120 U/L (elevated), FBC, U&Es, LFTs within normal limits.
- Results of any imaging performed: Chest X-ray – clear lung fields, normal cardiac silhouette. No evidence of pneumothorax or pleural effusion.
- Electrocardiogram findings: ST elevation in leads II, III, aVF (inferior MI).
Final/Working Diagnosis:
- Final diagnosis
- Primary diagnosis: Acute Inferior Myocardial Infarction with supporting rationale of classic symptoms (crushing chest pain radiating to left arm), elevated cardiac biomarkers (Trop I, CK-MB), and characteristic ECG changes (ST elevation in inferior leads).
[Patient age and sex] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes, or clinical note, else omit section entirely.)
Chief Complaint:
[Presenting complaint including primary symptom and affected area] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes, or clinical note, else omit section entirely.)
History of Present Illness:
[Detailed narrative of symptoms and relevant history including pertinent negatives, risk factors, and exposure] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes, or clinical note, else omit section entirely.)
[Previous occurrences of current symptoms or issues including recent visits, assessments, and hospital admissions in the last year] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes, or clinical note, else omit section entirely.)
[Related visits, investigations, management, and any diagnoses] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes, or clinical note, else omit section entirely.)
[Medications taken and the patient's response to them] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes, or clinical note, else omit section entirely.)
[Associated symptoms accompanying the presenting complaint] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes, or clinical note, else omit section entirely.)
[Other relevant history pertaining to the presenting complaint] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes, or clinical note, else omit section entirely.)
Past Medical History (not comprehensive):
- [List of past medical conditions] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes, or clinical note, else omit section entirely.)
- [Family history including relevant hereditary or familial conditions] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes, or clinical note, else omit section entirely.)
- [Social history including smoking, alcohol consumption, and drug use habits] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes, or clinical note, else omit section entirely.)
Medications (not comprehensive):
- [Current medications including name, dose, and frequency] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes, or clinical note, else omit section entirely.)
Allergies:
- [Known allergies and associated reactions] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes, or clinical note, else omit section entirely.)
Review of Systems:
[Summary of pertinent positive and negative findings from a review of systems] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes, or clinical note, else omit section entirely. Write as bullet points or in a paragraph as appropriate.)
Physical Examination:
- General Appearance: [Brief description of general appearance and level of distress] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes, or clinical note, else omit section entirely.)
- Vital Signs: [Temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, and any other vital signs] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes, or clinical note, else omit section entirely.)
- HEENT: [Findings related to head, eyes, ears, nose, and throat] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes, or clinical note, else omit section entirely.)
- Respiratory: [Findings related to the respiratory system including air entry, crackles, or wheeze] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes, or clinical note, else omit section entirely.)
- Cardiac: [Findings related to the cardiovascular system including heart sounds and murmurs] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes, or clinical note, else omit section entirely.)
- Abdominal: [Findings from abdominal examination including palpation and tenderness] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes, or clinical note, else omit section entirely.)
- Skin: [Findings related to skin including rashes and other dermatological features] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes, or clinical note, else omit section entirely.)
- Other: [Any other physical examination findings] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes, or clinical note, else omit section entirely.)
Side Room Investigations:
- HGT: [Result of HGT blood glucose test] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes, or clinical note, else omit section entirely.)
- Haemoglobin: [Result of haemoglobin test] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes, or clinical note, else omit section entirely.)
Assessment:
- [Primary diagnosis] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes, or clinical note, else omit section entirely. Do not invent or infer a diagnosis.)
- Differential Diagnoses:
1. [First differential diagnosis] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes, or clinical note, else omit section entirely. Do not invent or infer a diagnosis.)
2. [Second differential diagnosis] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes, or clinical note, else omit section entirely. Do not invent or infer a diagnosis.)
3. [Third differential diagnosis] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes, or clinical note, else omit section entirely. Do not invent or infer a diagnosis.)
Plan:
- [Overall plan for further assessment, diagnosis, and management in the emergency department and post-discharge] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes, or clinical note, else omit section entirely.)
- [Recommended medications and dosage] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes, or clinical note, else omit section entirely.)
- [General patient care advice] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes, or clinical note, else omit section entirely.)
- [Danger signs that would prompt a return to the emergency department] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes, or clinical note, else omit section entirely.)
- [Follow-up recommendations] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes, or clinical note, else omit section entirely.)
Investigations:
- [Results of basic blood work] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes, or clinical note, else omit section entirely.)
- [Results of any imaging performed] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes, or clinical note, else omit section entirely.)
- [Electrocardiogram findings] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes, or clinical note, else omit section entirely.)
Final/Working Diagnosis:
- [Whether this represents a final or working diagnosis] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes, or clinical note, else omit section entirely. Do not invent or infer a diagnosis.)
- [Primary diagnosis with supporting rationale] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes, or clinical note, else omit section entirely. Do not invent or infer a diagnosis.)