Western Governors University Cardiovascular Discussion

THEME OF THE WEEK: ORDERING A CORRECT DIAGNOSTIC WORKUP

You are working in the CVICU on night shift and are asked to come see a patient urgently. Upon entering the room, you see a 62 year old male sitting up in bed appearing anxious. The patient has been admitted from an outside hospital 6 days prior for new onset atrial fibrillation. The patient was started on digoxin (the patient could not be started on amiodarone due to elevated AST/ALT levels.) and has achieved a therapeutic range. The patients was last in normal sinus rhythm, and improving. Cardiology was considering the need for long term anticoagulation and none have been started as of yet. Patient began having nausea and vomiting at shift change and was given ondansetron with minimal relief. Patient is now reporting that his chest does not feel right and he is seeing halos around lights. The nurse reports the patient has been becoming lethargic and bradycardic. The patient had a stat ECG showing bradycardia with a first degree AV block. Vitals are listed below:

Vitals: P-49, RR-22, BP-117/77, O2-95%. Temp-37.5

Write what diagnostics (imaging, labs, procedures) you would order for this patient. Be sure to cover everything that can be a “can’t miss” diagnosis. Explain the justification (“medical decision making”) for each test you are ordering. Also include your most likely diagnosis.