Constance Barn: A Comprehensive i-Human Case Study of a 70-Year-Old Female with Chronic
Dyspnea, Syncope, and Bilateral Edema Secondary to Severe Calcific Aortic Stenosis with
Hypertension and Osteoporosis (August 2026)
, PART 1: PATIENT DEMOGRAPHICS & ENCOUNTER DATA
• Name: Constance Barn
• Age: 70 years
• Sex: Female
• Date of encounter: June 2026 (2025/2026 academic edition)
• Setting: Outpatient cardiology/primary care clinic
• Chief Complaint (CC): “Shortness of breath” / chronic dyspneastuvia
PART 2: HISTORY OF PRESENT ILLNESS (HPI) – DETAILED
Onset and progression
• Dyspnea began several years ago, first noticed when walking up hilly streets in San
Francisco while visiting her children.
• Initially attributed to “being out of shape,” but symptoms have progressively worsened,
especially over the past year.
• Now gets short of breath climbing one flight of stairs and must stop halfway.
• Also dyspneic with prolonged walking and grocery shopping; no dyspnea at rest.
Character and associated symptoms
• Describes breathlessness as difficulty catching her breath, worse with exertion.
• No chest pain, no pressure, no tightness.
• No orthopnea and no paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea; sleeps with one pillow as usual.
• No cough, no wheeze, no sputum, no hemoptysis.
• Reports mild fatigue (“perhaps a little”) and bilateral ankle/foot swelling by the end of
the day.
Syncope / near-syncope
• One episode 2 months ago while chasing her grandson; described as a “vagal spell” or
fainting episode.
Dyspnea, Syncope, and Bilateral Edema Secondary to Severe Calcific Aortic Stenosis with
Hypertension and Osteoporosis (August 2026)
, PART 1: PATIENT DEMOGRAPHICS & ENCOUNTER DATA
• Name: Constance Barn
• Age: 70 years
• Sex: Female
• Date of encounter: June 2026 (2025/2026 academic edition)
• Setting: Outpatient cardiology/primary care clinic
• Chief Complaint (CC): “Shortness of breath” / chronic dyspneastuvia
PART 2: HISTORY OF PRESENT ILLNESS (HPI) – DETAILED
Onset and progression
• Dyspnea began several years ago, first noticed when walking up hilly streets in San
Francisco while visiting her children.
• Initially attributed to “being out of shape,” but symptoms have progressively worsened,
especially over the past year.
• Now gets short of breath climbing one flight of stairs and must stop halfway.
• Also dyspneic with prolonged walking and grocery shopping; no dyspnea at rest.
Character and associated symptoms
• Describes breathlessness as difficulty catching her breath, worse with exertion.
• No chest pain, no pressure, no tightness.
• No orthopnea and no paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea; sleeps with one pillow as usual.
• No cough, no wheeze, no sputum, no hemoptysis.
• Reports mild fatigue (“perhaps a little”) and bilateral ankle/foot swelling by the end of
the day.
Syncope / near-syncope
• One episode 2 months ago while chasing her grandson; described as a “vagal spell” or
fainting episode.
