Cardio
A patient presents with bradycardia, hypotension, and pale, cool skin. The ECG shows a regular rhythm with absent P waves. What rhythm is this?
Junctional escape rhythm
A COPD patient is on a 28% Venturi mask and has O2 sat of 85%. What is the priority intervention?
Increase oxygen delivery while avoiding hypercapnia
A patient with liver disease presents with abdominal distension, hypotension, and vomiting blood. What condition should you suspect?
Acute gastrointestinal bleed (esophageal varices)
A patient is slurring words, confused, and has one-sided weakness. What condition should you suspect first?
Cerebrovascular accident (stroke)
You arrive at a patient who is pale, diaphoretic, and clutching their chest. They have a history of coronary artery disease. What condition should you suspect?
Acute myocardial infarction (heart attack)
A patient has chest pain, diaphoresis, and nausea. ECG shows ST elevation in leads II, III, and aVF. Which coronary artery is most likely involved?
Right coronary artery
A patient presents with fever, productive cough, tachypnea, and left lower lobe crackles. What condition should you suspect?
Pneumonia
A patient has severe diffuse abdominal pain, distension, vomiting, hypotension, and absent bowel sounds. Which condition is MOST concerning?
Bowel infarction or obstruction with hypovolemic shock
A patient with a history of diabetes is sweaty, confused, and tachycardic. Fingerstick glucose is 42 mg/dL. What condition is this?
Hypoglycemia
A 68-year-old patient reports sudden swelling in both legs, shortness of breath, and difficulty lying flat. What condition should you suspect?
Congestive heart failure (CHF)
A post-MI patient develops irregular, chaotic ventricular contractions with no pulse. What is the MOST immediate treatment?
Defibrillation
A patient with a history of asthma presents with audible wheezing, accessory muscle use, and O2 sat of 88%. Which drug class is first-line?
Beta-2 agonist (e.g., albuterol)
Sudden severe epigastric pain radiating to the back with hypotension may indicate?
Acute pancreatitis or ruptured abdominal aneurysm
A patient with a history of hypothyroidism missed their medication for several days. You would MOST likely observe?
Hypothermia, bradycardia, lethargy (myxedema)
A patient presents with fever, generalized fatigue, dark urine, and yellowing of the eyes and skin. Labs show elevated bilirubin. What condition should you suspect?
Acute hepatitis / liver dysfunction
You see a patient with complete AV dissociation on ECG, slow heart rate, and hypotension. Which rhythm is this?
Third-degree (complete) heart block
You arrive at a patient with sudden dyspnea, hypotension, and unilateral absent breath sounds. What life-threatening condition is this?
Tension pneumothorax
A patient presents with sudden, severe right upper quadrant pain radiating to the right shoulder, nausea, vomiting, and mild jaundice. Vitals show low-grade fever and tachycardia. Which condition should you suspect?
Acute cholecystitis
A patient presents with polyuria, polydipsia, and polyphagia. Which condition should you suspect?
Hyperglycemia / uncontrolled diabetes mellitus
A patient reports sudden-onset, severe flank pain radiating to the groin, nausea, and hematuria. Vitals show mild tachycardia. What condition should you suspect?
Kidney stone / renal colic
A patient develops a rapid, narrow-complex tachycardia and is diaphoretic but alert. Vagal maneuvers fail. What is the next step?
Synchronized cardioversion or adenosine (depending on stability)
A patient presents with tripod positioning, pursed-lip breathing, and severe hypoxemia. What is the pathophysiology causing hypoxemia?
V/Q mismatch and alveolar hypoventilation
You arrive at a patient with diffuse abdominal pain that initially started around the umbilicus but has now localized to the left lower quadrant. The patient has a low-grade fever, nausea, and constipation. Which condition should you suspect?
Diverticulitis
A patient presents with fever of 104°F, severe tachycardia, profuse sweating, anxiety, and tremors. The patient has a history of hyperthyroidism and recently missed their medication. What condition should you suspect?
Thyroid storm
You are called to a patient who completed an intense workout and now complains of severe muscle pain, swelling, and weakness in their thighs. Their urine is dark brown. Labs later show elevated creatine kinase (CK). What condition should you suspect?
Rhabdomyolysis