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