Dyspnea
Resources to Review Prior to Conference

Goals and Objectives
Goals
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Trainee will demonstrate competence in the initial evaluation and basic management of adults with dyspnea and respiratory distress
Objectives
Trainee will be able to:
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List and describe common acute life-threatening causes of dyspnea
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Acute coronary syndrome
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Arrhythmia
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Asthma
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Cardiac tamponade
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CHF / Pulmonary edema
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COPD
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Pneumonia
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Pneumothorax
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Pulmonary embolus
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Describe presenting features of common acute life-threatening causes of dyspnea
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List and discuss the rationale for initial diagnostic interventions for patients with dyspnea
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Auscultation
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Pulse oximetry
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ECG
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CXR
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Peak flow
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Ultrasound
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Volume status assessment
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List and discuss the rationale for initial therapeutic interventions for patients with dyspnea and their indications
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Oxygen
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NIPPV
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Endotracheal intubation
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Nebulized medications
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Steroids
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Nitroglycerin
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Additional Resources
Acute Coronary Syndromes
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See: Acute Coronary Syndromes (EM Fundamentals)
Asthma
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General
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Asthma (IBCC 2017)
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Ventilator Management
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Vent Management in Asthma (EM-in-5 2013)
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Cardiac Tamponade
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Acute Myopericardial Syndromes (EM:RAP 2021)
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Cardiac Tamponade (Eur Heart J Acute Cardiovasc Care 2020)
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Pericarditis and Tamponade (EM:RAP 2011)
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Ultrasound
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Pericardial Effusion vs. Tamponade (ALiEM 2019)​
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Pericardiocentesis
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Pericardiocentesis (HighlandEM US 2019)
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Pericardiocentesis (EM-in-5 2016)
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Pericardiocentesis (Ultrasound Podcast 2013)
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CHF / Pulmonary Edema
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Sympathetic Crashing Acute Pulmonary Edema (EMCrit 2009/2017)
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Acute Heart Failure Syndromes (ACEP Clinical Policy 2007) (pdf)
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COPD
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Acute COPD Exacerbation (emDocs 2018)
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Acute Exacerbations of COPD (EB Medicine 2017)
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Pneumonia
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Diagnosis and Treatment of Community-Acquired Pneumonia (Am J Resp Crit Care Med 2019) (pdf)
Pneumothorax
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General
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Pneumothorax (CDEM 2019)
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Pneumothorax (Postgrad Med J 2007) (pdf)
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Ultrasound
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US for Pneumothorax (REBEL EM 2014)
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Decompression
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Needle Decompression for Tension Pneumothorax (EPMonthly 2014)
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Pulmonary Embolism
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Suspected Acute Venous Thromboembolic Disease (ACEP Clinical Policy 2018) (pdf)
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Acute Management of Pulmonary Embolism (ACC 2017)
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PE Treatment Options (EMCrit 2014)
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When the PERC Rule Fails (ALIEM 2014)
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D-Dimer Testing
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Age-adjusted D-dimer (MD Calc)
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Ultrasound​
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RV Strain (ACEP US 2018)​
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Thrombolysis
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Thrombolysis for Submassive PE (LITFL 2016)​
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Volume Status Assessment
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US Assessment of Volume Status (EMCrit 2017)
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IVC US (LITFL 2020)
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Airway Management
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See: Airway Management (EM Fundamentals)