Palpitations can be caused by the cardio-respiratory systems (a primary arrhythmia or secondary to other causes), systemic causes and exposures.

A

B: CHEST: palpitation from hypoxia

• Collapse
• Hyperinflate: COPD (also associated MAT)
• Effusion
• Sick pneumonia
• Tumour

C: CARDIOVASCULAR:

• Cardiac arrhythmia: Heart rate (brady/tach) E (PR short/long, long QT) A R Tension (valvular) ST changes (PE, MI)
• Around heart: pericarditis/myocarditis
• RV strain: PE
• Dysfunctional LV: MI
• Incompetent valve
• Outflow dissection
• Volume depletion
• Abdominal bleed
• Soft tissue bleed
• Child-bearing ectopic
• Urticaria anaphylaxis
• Lactate sepsis
• Addisonian
• Rx

D

E: ENDO

• Electrolye: hypoglycemia
• Normothermia: hyperthermia
• Ormones: hyperthyroid, pheo

F

G

H: HEME

• Hgb: ANEMIA

I: INTOX

• Ingest: caffeine, etoh, marijuana, cocaine, ecstasy
• N
• Treatment: ventolin
• O
• X poison: carbon monoxide

J

Putting this together:

• A
• B: check oxygen, listen to lungs
• C: check HR/BP, get ECG, do cardiac/abdo EDE, assess/treat cardiovascular conditions
• D
• E: check glucose/temp, consider hormones
• F
• G
• H: check Hgb
• I: asses exposures