Case of a Patient With Dyspnea and Other Symptoms Essay

What is the Chief Complaint?

The patient’s chief complaint is shortness of breath. The patient also noted the presence of other symptoms, such as unproductive cough, fatigue, and obstruction of breathing at night. She denies other symptoms that can be associated with shortness of breath or cough, such as chest pain, nausea, and sweating.

Based on the Subjective and Objective Information Provided What are Your 3 Top Differential Diagnosis Listing the Presumptive Final Diagnosis First?

The patient’s complaints are consistent with three diseases, including left-sided heart failure (hypertensive heart disease), cardiogenic pulmonary edema (CPE), and myocardial infarction with systolic dysfunction.

Hypertensive heart disease is a cardiovascular condition associated with high blood pressure. According to Díez (2013), it “can be defined as the cardiomyopathy that results from the response of the myocardium to the biomechanical stress imposed on the left ventricle by the progressively increasing blood pressure” (para. 1). Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) associated with high blood pressure is the key indicator of hypertensive heart disease. The disease can also feature increased ventricular stiffness, arrhythmia, and systolic dysfunction (Angeli et al., 2018).Case of a Patient With Dyspnea and Other Symptoms Essay

CPE is specified as an acute condition, which is based on the pathological accumulation of extravascular fluid in the lung tissue and alveoli, leading to a decrease in lung functional capacity. The increase in hydrostatic pressure of the system of the small circle of blood circulation and permeability of the capillary wall is two characteristic mechanisms of CPE. Dyspnea noted by the patient is characteristic of the given diagnosis and also accompanied by swelling and increased frequency of respiratory movements increases per minute. Shortness of breath and non-productive cough strengthen in the prone position. Therefore, despite the severity of the condition, patients tend to adopt a sitting position with fixation of the shoulder girdle likewise the given patient tried to sleep in her recliner. Case of a Patient With Dyspnea and Other Symptoms Essay

What Treatment Plan Would You Consider Utilizing Current Evidence-Based Practice Guidelines?

As per the American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association (ACCF/AHA), it is crucial to produce a final diagnosis using further diagnostic procedures. The patient should be referred for echocardiography and electrocardiography to determine the presence of HHD indicators such as LVH and ventricular stiffness.Case of a Patient With Dyspnea and Other Symptoms Essay