CHEST PAIN: Life-Threatening/Non-Life-Threatening

CHEST PAIN: Life-Threatening / Non-Life-Threatening Chest Pain (Potentially) Life-Threatening New pain, often severe with sudden onset May have abnormal vital signs (often multiple) Common Causes: Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) New/worsening anginal symptoms Pulmonary Embolism Dyspnea, pleuritic pain, cough Symptoms of DVT Cardiac Arrhythmia Palpitations, dyspnea, presyncope/syncope Uncommon Causes: Aortic Dissection Abrupt chest/back pain (sharp, tearing, ripping) Tension Pneumothorax Dyspnea, pleuritic pain More common in major trauma Acute Cardiac Tamponade Beck’s Triad More common in major trauma Non-Life-Threatening Often gradual onset or can be chronic Often normal vital signs All are common Examples: GERD Burning, squeezing pain Positional Triggered by food Chest Wall Pain Reproducible with palpation Muscle strain, Costochondritis Anxiety/Panic Known anxiety disorder Often will have an identifiable stressor Stable Angina Known CAD with predictable pain pattern Pneumonia Fever, cough, dyspnea, tachypnea May occasionally be life-threatening