Approach to
Breathlessness
1. Pulmonary Embolism
2. Deep Vein Thromboembolism
3. Bronchial Asthma
4. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
,What is Dyspnea?
● Dyspnea, commonly referred to as shortness of breath, is the subjective
sensation of uncomfortable breathing
● It is a common symptom and maybe the primary manifestation for respiratory,
cardiac, neuromuscular, psychogenic, systemic illness, or a combination of
these
● Dyspnea can be either acute or chronic with acute occurring over hours to
days and chronic occurring for more than 4 to 8 weeks
,Etiology Of Dyspnea
Respiratory AEBA, AECOPD, Pneumonia, PE, Lung Malignancy, Aspiration,
Pneumothorax, Haemothorax
Cardiac Congestive Heart Failure, Pulmonary Edema, Cardiac Tamponade,
Pulmonary Hypertension, Cardiac Arrhythmia, Pericarditis
Neuromuscular Chest Trauma with flail chest or rib fracture, Massive Obesity,
Kyphoscoliosis, Phrenic Nerve Paralysis
Psychogenic Hyperventilation Syndrome, Psychogenic Dyspnea
Systemic Illness Anemia, Acute renal failure, Severe metabolic acidosis, Acute liver
failure, Thyrotoxicosis, Anaphylaxis, Sepsis
, History Taking
Start with open question ‘Why come here today’?
‘SOCRATES’
1. Site
2. Onset
3. Characteristic
4. Relieving Factor
5. Associated Symptoms
6. Time/Duration - Acute or Chronic
7. Exaggerating Factors
8. Severity
Breathlessness
1. Pulmonary Embolism
2. Deep Vein Thromboembolism
3. Bronchial Asthma
4. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
,What is Dyspnea?
● Dyspnea, commonly referred to as shortness of breath, is the subjective
sensation of uncomfortable breathing
● It is a common symptom and maybe the primary manifestation for respiratory,
cardiac, neuromuscular, psychogenic, systemic illness, or a combination of
these
● Dyspnea can be either acute or chronic with acute occurring over hours to
days and chronic occurring for more than 4 to 8 weeks
,Etiology Of Dyspnea
Respiratory AEBA, AECOPD, Pneumonia, PE, Lung Malignancy, Aspiration,
Pneumothorax, Haemothorax
Cardiac Congestive Heart Failure, Pulmonary Edema, Cardiac Tamponade,
Pulmonary Hypertension, Cardiac Arrhythmia, Pericarditis
Neuromuscular Chest Trauma with flail chest or rib fracture, Massive Obesity,
Kyphoscoliosis, Phrenic Nerve Paralysis
Psychogenic Hyperventilation Syndrome, Psychogenic Dyspnea
Systemic Illness Anemia, Acute renal failure, Severe metabolic acidosis, Acute liver
failure, Thyrotoxicosis, Anaphylaxis, Sepsis
, History Taking
Start with open question ‘Why come here today’?
‘SOCRATES’
1. Site
2. Onset
3. Characteristic
4. Relieving Factor
5. Associated Symptoms
6. Time/Duration - Acute or Chronic
7. Exaggerating Factors
8. Severity
