Generalized weakness and SOB

LACoGurneyjockey

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You respond code 3 for difficulty breathing to find a 71 year old male sitting in his recliner at home. The patients daughter meets you at the door to tell you her father can't breath and is extremely weak. She came to check on him this morning after he hasn't been feeling well for 2 days. When she tried to get him out of bed, he defecated on himself and was unable to support his own weight. She dragged him out to the living room recliner where you find him. She says he has diabetes, high blood pressure, and hyperthyroidism.
The patient states he feels mostly fine, just can't catch his breath. He tells you this is just because of the heat, and repeats that he is fine. It is a comfortable room temperature inside, and about 70-80 degrees outside. He is oriented but slow to respond, and whispers very quietly whenever he speaks, which per the daughter is not his normal. You notice he is breathing about 40/min and shallow. He is extremely pale, with cool moist skin. He consents to treatment and you obtain vital signs. His blood pressure is 154/92, pulse is 70 and irregular, and spo2 is 95% on room air. Blood glucose is 128 and he shows a-fib on the monitor. He denies any history of a-fib or any cardiac hx. A 12 lead is attached.
What more would you like to know about his history? What are your priorities of treatments, if any? You have an 8 bed community hospital with very limited capability 5-10min away, and a large trauma/stemi/stroke capable hospital a little over an hour away. What's your destination decision and why? What's your differential diagnosis?
 

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NomadicMedic

I know a guy who knows a guy.
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What's his temperature. What's capnography look like? What's his detailed history and meds.
 

VentMonkey

Family Guy
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Call for the helicopter because the CAH will wind up calling for them anyhow (we both know this). Given the co-morbidities, and NOS arrhythmia I vote for the SRC.

Also, more info please...and thank you.
 

SpecialK

Forum Captain
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I need no further information to decide he (a) requires immediate referral to ED and (b) ambulance transport is appropriate.

People who have no history of AF shouldn't be in AF.

I perhaps spy maybe 1 mm of ST depression in V4-6 so let's do a posterior ECG to make sure it's not a posterior STEMI.

I wouldn't provide him with any specific treatment at this stage.

Also, why does his ECG have "not for diagnosis" written on it? I've never seen that before. What on earth else are you supposed to do with it?
 

MonkeyArrow

Forum Asst. Chief
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He's diabetic and the 12 lead is concerning for hyperkalemia with peaked T-waves and a non-specific interventricular conduction delay.
 
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LACoGurneyjockey

LACoGurneyjockey

Forum Asst. Chief
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Lung sounds are clear in all fields and equal bilaterally. Temp is normal, with etco2 in the 20-25 range and unremarkable waveform. Been taking his meds, and shows you a bag of metformin, lisinopril, metoprolol and synthroid. Neither he nor his daughter can say much more about his history, other than that he sees his primary doctor regularly and "hasn't had any wrong for a while".
Any more specific info? Differentials?
 

CALEMT

The Other Guy/ Paramaybe?
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New onset of A-Fib with left axis deviation and a left anterior fascicular block. Some ST elevation in lead 1 and AVL and a little depression in V5 and V6. Either way I don't like it, still going to a STEMI center.
 

DrParasite

The fire extinguisher is not just for show
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So many acronyms... o_O CAH? NOS? SRC?
too many TLA for me to understand either.
[QUOTE="LACoGurneyjockey, post: 649703, member: 18785"Blood glucose is 128 and he shows a-fib on the monitor. He denies any history of a-fib or any cardiac hx. A 12 lead is attached.[/QUOTE]Agree with @SpecialK. New onset of Afib is not a good sign, and warrants a trip to the ER, preferably one with cardiac resources (I guess we are taking the ride to the STEMI hospital).

D/D: dehydration, thyroid issue, new onset A-Fib... either way, probably a nice easy ride to the ER with IV access established, and maybe some fluid if I'm thinking dehydration
 

RocketMedic

Californian, Lost in Texas
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How's urine output? The timeline here is actually driving me towards renal failure or sepsis, as is the ECG and breathing. I don't like the a-fib, but it's perfusing, so meh. Ventilate, IV, fluids and calcium, rapid trip to good hospital.
 
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LACoGurneyjockey

LACoGurneyjockey

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He hasn't been able to get out of bed for over 24hrs and has not urinated on himself.
About 30 minutes after first making contact, his mental status began to rapidly deteriorate. He became hypotensive at 70/40, a fib in the 120 range with no other EKG changes, and can no longer make appropriate words.
Wound up with new onset renal failure, a K of 8.9, and was intubated at the receiving facility, with a levo and epi drip, awaiting dialysis when we cleared.
 

Tigger

Dodges Pucks
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To me that EKG combined with the history makes me think me think HyperK. Those T waves are ugly.
 
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