PRESENTING COMPLAINT
- 78-year-old female presents with acute onset of severe, crushing central chest pain radiating to her left arm, accompanied by shortness of breath and profuse sweating, which started approximately 2 hours prior to paramedic arrival.
- Expresses significant anxiety regarding her symptoms, stating "I've never felt anything like this before."
HISTORY OF PRESENTING COMPLAINT
The patient, Mrs. Eleanor Vance, reports that the chest pain began suddenly at rest while watching television. She describes the pain as a 9/10 on a pain scale, constant and unremitting, with a crushing quality. It rapidly radiated down her left arm to her fingers. Concurrently, she experienced significant dyspnoea, feeling unable to catch her breath, and became diaphoretic. She took two doses of her usual GTN spray (0.4mg each, 5 minutes apart) which provided no relief. She denies any preceding strenuous activity or emotional stress. She has a history of stable angina for which she takes prescribed medication, but states this pain is distinctly different and more severe than her usual angina.
SYSTEMS REVIEW
General: Appears acutely distressed, pale, diaphoretic, and gripping her chest. Conscious, alert, and oriented to person, place, and time.
CVS: Heart sounds regular, no murmurs. Peripheral pulses palpable and equal bilaterally. Capillary refill time <2 seconds. BP 98/60 mmHg, HR 110 bpm, SpO2 92% on room air. ECG shows ST elevation in leads II, III, aVF.
Resp: Respirations laboured, 24 breaths per minute. Bilateral breath sounds present with fine crackles noted at lung bases. No wheeze or stridor.
Abdo: Soft, non-tender, non-distended. Bowel sounds present.
Neuro: GCS 15 (E4V5M6). Pupils equal and reactive to light. No focal neurological deficits noted.
MSK: No apparent musculoskeletal abnormalities.
GU: Not assessed due to presenting complaint.
TREATMENT
Oxygen administered via non-rebreather mask at 15 L/min (SpO2 improved to 96%).
Aspirin 300mg oral given.
Glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) 0.4mg sublingual spray administered once.
Morphine 5mg IV administered for pain relief, repeated once after 10 minutes with good effect (pain reduced to 4/10).
Large bore IV access established (left antecubital fossa).
12-lead ECG obtained and transmitted to receiving hospital.
PLAN
Immediate transport to the nearest Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) capable hospital, St. Jude's Hospital. Call made to Dr. Sarah Jenkins, Cardiology Registrar at St. Jude's, providing full clinical handover. Pre-alert activated. Patient's GP is Dr. Thomas Kelly, details provided to receiving hospital. Community nurse follow-up for post-discharge care to be arranged by hospital.
EXCLUSIONS AND RED FLAGS
Acute coronary syndrome highly suspected based on ECG changes, chest pain characteristics, and unresponsiveness to GTN.
No evidence of aortic dissection (no differential limb pulses, no acute limb ischaemia, pain quality consistent with cardiac origin).
No trauma.
RISKS
High risk of cardiac arrest due to suspected myocardial infarction.
Risk of cardiogenic shock due to compromised cardiac function.
Risk of re-infarction.
WORSENING CARE ADVICE and ACTION PLAN
Patient advised that she is having a suspected heart attack and needs urgent hospital treatment. Reassured about ongoing monitoring and care. If pain returns or worsens, or if she feels more breathless, she is to inform paramedics immediately. Documentation including ECG and pre-hospital care record left with the patient for handover to hospital staff.
ALLERGIES
Penicillin (rash)
MEDICAL HISTORY
- Hypertension (diagnosed 10 years ago)
- Hypercholesterolaemia (diagnosed 8 years ago)
- Stable Angina (diagnosed 3 years ago)
- Osteoarthritis (managed with NSAIDs PRN)
- Family history: Mother died of myocardial infarction at age 65.
MEDICATIONS
Amlodipine 5mg OD
Atorvastatin 20mg OD
Isosorbide Mononitrate 20mg BD
GTN spray 0.4mg PRN
Diclofenac 50mg PRN (for osteoarthritis)
SOCIAL HISTORY
Lives alone in a ground floor flat. Independent with all activities of daily living (shopping, cooking, cleaning). Uses a walking stick for longer distances but generally mobile. Receives no formal care. Daughter, Mrs. Helen Vance (07700 900300), lives nearby and is her primary support network. Key safe code: 1234. No pets.
PRESENTING COMPLAINT
- [Detail presenting complaints] (Use as many bullet points as needed to capture the reason for the visit and any associated stressors in detail. Only include if explicitly mentioned in the transcript, contextual notes or clinical note; otherwise omit completely.)
HISTORY OF PRESENTING COMPLAINT
- [Detail the history of the presenting complaint(s) including onset, duration, course, quality and severity of the symptoms or problems] (Write in detailed story form to capture when the symptoms or problem started, the development and course of symptoms. Only include if explicitly mentioned in the transcript, contextual notes or clinical note; otherwise omit completely.)
SYSTEMS REVIEW
General: [General appearance and status] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in the transcript, contextual notes or clinical note; otherwise omit completely.)
CVS: [Cardiovascular examination findings] (Do not start a new line for each finding. Only include if explicitly mentioned in the transcript, contextual notes or clinical note; otherwise omit completely.)
Resp: [Respiratory examination findings] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in the transcript, contextual notes or clinical note; otherwise omit completely.)
Abdo: [Abdominal examination findings] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in the transcript, contextual notes or clinical note; otherwise omit completely.)
Neuro: [Neurological examination findings] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in the transcript, contextual notes or clinical note; otherwise omit completely.)
MSK: [Musculoskeletal examination findings] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in the transcript, contextual notes or clinical note; otherwise omit completely.)
GU: [Gastrourinary examination findings] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in the transcript, contextual notes or clinical note; otherwise omit completely.)
TREATMENT
[Treatment provided] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in the transcript, contextual notes or clinical note; otherwise omit completely.)
PLAN
[Detailed information including GP details, urgent care center, community nurse, referral pathway] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in the transcript, contextual notes or clinical note; otherwise omit completely.)
EXCLUSIONS AND RED FLAGS
[Exclusions and red flags] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in the transcript, contextual notes or clinical note; otherwise omit completely.)
RISKS
[Specific risks associated] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in the transcript, contextual notes or clinical note; otherwise omit completely.)
WORSENING CARE ADVICE and ACTION PLAN
[Advice for ongoing management, advice if clinically deteriorating and steps to take, documentation left with patient] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in the transcript, contextual notes or clinical note; otherwise omit completely.)
ALLERGIES
[Known drug allergies] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in the transcript, contextual notes or clinical note; otherwise omit completely.)
MEDICAL HISTORY
- [Detail personal and family medical history] (Use as many bullet points as needed to capture the patient's medical history and the patient's family medical history. Only include if explicitly mentioned in the transcript, contextual notes or clinical note; otherwise omit completely.)
MEDICATIONS
[Current medications and dosages] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in the transcript, contextual notes or clinical note; otherwise omit completely.)
SOCIAL HISTORY
[Mention relevant social history including shopping, cooking, cleaning, mobility, care received, living arrangements, support network, key safe details etc] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in the transcript, contextual notes or clinical note; otherwise omit completely.)
(Ensure all information discussed in the transcript is included under the relevant heading or sub-heading above, otherwise include it as a bullet-pointed additional note at the end of the note.) (Never come up with your own patient details, assessment, plan, interventions, evaluation, and plan for continuing care - use only the transcript, contextual notes or clinical note as a reference for the information include in your note. If any information related to a placeholder has not been explicitly mentioned in the transcript, contextual notes or clinical note, you must not state the information has not been explicitly mentioned in your output, just leave the relevant placeholder or section blank.) (Ensure all information is super detailed and do not use quotes.)