CC: CHEST PAIN – SAEM
CC: CHEST PAIN – SAEM EXAM QUESTIONS
WITH SOLVED SOLUTIONS.
What are the top three common causes of severe undifferentiated chest pain?
answers >>>> ACS, pulmonary embolism, and aortic dissection.
What are the key historical features of acute coronary syndrome? answers >>>>
Chest pain, weakness, nausea, fatigue.
What are the possible variable symptoms of acute coronary syndrome? answers
>>>> Diaphoresis, ill appearance, rales.
What are the key historical features of pulmonary embolism? answers >>>>
Pleuritic chest pain, shortness of breath, PE risk factors.
What are the key exam features of pulmonary embolism? answers >>>>
Tachycardia, clear lungs, unilateral leg swelling.
What are the key historical features of aortic dissection? answers >>>> Sudden
onset severe ripping pain to back with paresthesia or paralysis.
What are the key exam features of aortic dissection? answers >>>> Unequal
blood pressures, abnormal pulses, neurologic deficits.
, CC: CHEST PAIN – SAEM
What are the key historical features of tension pneumothorax? answers >>>>
Sudden onset severe unilateral pleuritic chest pain.
What are the key exam features of tension pneumothorax? answers >>>>
Hypotension, unequal breath sounds, tracheal deviation (rare).
What are the key historical features of esophageal rupture? answers >>>>
Intense substernal chest pain after vomiting or endoscopic procedure.
What are the key exam features of esophageal rupture? answers >>>>
Hamman’s crunch (crackle sound heard or felt in time with heartbeat).
What are the key historical features of pericarditis/tamponade? answers >>>>
Pleuritic chest pain and dyspnea.
What are the key exam features of pericarditis/tamponade? answers >>>>
Muffled heart sound, distended neck veins, hypotension.
What should high-risk patients with undifferentiated chest pain receive within 5-
10 minutes of arriving to the emergency department? answers >>>> ECG.
What is the purpose of a rapid ECG screen in patients with undifferentiated chest
pain? answers >>>> To look for STEMI/ischemia and arrhythmia.
Why are serial ECGs important in patients with ongoing chest pain? answers
>>>> To improve sensitivity for STEMI.
CC: CHEST PAIN – SAEM EXAM QUESTIONS
WITH SOLVED SOLUTIONS.
What are the top three common causes of severe undifferentiated chest pain?
answers >>>> ACS, pulmonary embolism, and aortic dissection.
What are the key historical features of acute coronary syndrome? answers >>>>
Chest pain, weakness, nausea, fatigue.
What are the possible variable symptoms of acute coronary syndrome? answers
>>>> Diaphoresis, ill appearance, rales.
What are the key historical features of pulmonary embolism? answers >>>>
Pleuritic chest pain, shortness of breath, PE risk factors.
What are the key exam features of pulmonary embolism? answers >>>>
Tachycardia, clear lungs, unilateral leg swelling.
What are the key historical features of aortic dissection? answers >>>> Sudden
onset severe ripping pain to back with paresthesia or paralysis.
What are the key exam features of aortic dissection? answers >>>> Unequal
blood pressures, abnormal pulses, neurologic deficits.
, CC: CHEST PAIN – SAEM
What are the key historical features of tension pneumothorax? answers >>>>
Sudden onset severe unilateral pleuritic chest pain.
What are the key exam features of tension pneumothorax? answers >>>>
Hypotension, unequal breath sounds, tracheal deviation (rare).
What are the key historical features of esophageal rupture? answers >>>>
Intense substernal chest pain after vomiting or endoscopic procedure.
What are the key exam features of esophageal rupture? answers >>>>
Hamman’s crunch (crackle sound heard or felt in time with heartbeat).
What are the key historical features of pericarditis/tamponade? answers >>>>
Pleuritic chest pain and dyspnea.
What are the key exam features of pericarditis/tamponade? answers >>>>
Muffled heart sound, distended neck veins, hypotension.
What should high-risk patients with undifferentiated chest pain receive within 5-
10 minutes of arriving to the emergency department? answers >>>> ECG.
What is the purpose of a rapid ECG screen in patients with undifferentiated chest
pain? answers >>>> To look for STEMI/ischemia and arrhythmia.
Why are serial ECGs important in patients with ongoing chest pain? answers
>>>> To improve sensitivity for STEMI.
