Tips & Tricks of Bedside Cardiology

This book is a unique compilation of case-records from heart patients, who were diagnosed at the bedside by adopting the conventional clinical approach rather than utilizing modern sophisticated technology. Each case description opens with the medical history, includes the findings on physical examination and concludes with the illustration of an ECG, ECHO or X-ray. Presents a harmonious blend of the time-honored clinical approach with the modern technical approach, towards the diagnosis of heart disease. The book is formatted as clinical cases, giving the reader an opportunity to mentally construct a plausible diagnosis from symptoms and signs. The electrocardiogram (ECG), chest skiagram (X-RAY) and echocardiogram (ECHO) are simple yet informative diagnostic modalities that have withstood the test of time. They elegantly compliment the information gathered from medical history and physical examination and they are cost- effective investigations in resource sensitive settings. Moreover, since the equipment for these tests is portable, the tests can be conveniently performed at the patients bedside and the results interpreted in the light of clinical data. A plausible clinical diagnosis is then mentally constructed based upon these simple pieces of information. This is followed by a practical discussion of the differential diagnosis and some useful take-home clinical pearls. The book provides a wealth of clinical material on the importance of symptoms, physical signs and auscultatory findings, formatted in a concise and readable form. These tips & tricks will be ideal for cardiology students preparing for exams, resident doctors working in cardiac-care units and physicians dealing first-hand with heart patients. TABLE OF CONTENTS: 1. Hypertension, Headaches, Dizzy Spells, 2. Exertional Angina, Fainting Episodes, 3. Young Hypertensive, Exertional Fatigue, 4. Thin and Tall Male, Early Diastolic Murmur, 5. Severe Chest Pain, Cold and Blue Hand, 6. Sudden Chest Pain, Continuous Murmur, 7. Palpitation, Dyspnoea, Mid-diastolic Murmur, 8. Hyperdynamic Precordium, Pansystolic Murmur, 9. Episodic Palpitation, Vague Chest Discomfort, 10. Exertional Fatiguability, Syncopal Episodes, 11. Stiffback, Redeye, Exertional Dyspnoea, 12. Sudden Breathlessness, Systolic Murmur, 13. Collapsing Pulse, Early-diastolic Murmur, 14. Anaemia, Dyspnoea, Soft Systolic Murmur, 15. Incidentally Detected Pansystolic Murmur, 16. Bounding Pulse, Systolo-diastolic Murmur, 17. Squatting Attacks, Blue Lips and Fingers, 18. Rapid JVP Descent, Pansystolic Murmur, 19. Prominent A Waves, Ejection Systolic Murmur, 20. Flu-like Syndrome, Fatigue and Orthopnoea, 21. Fever, Sore-throat, Joint-pains and Rash, 22. Weak Pulse, Raised JVP, Basilar Rales, 23. Raised JVP, No Murmur, 24. Angina, Syncope, Double Pulse and Apex-beat, 25. Fever, Aches, Chest Pain on Inspiration, 26. Low BP, Raised JVP, Silent Precordium, 27. Raised JVP, Ankle Oedema, Distended Abdomen, 28. Dyspnoea, Cough, Purulent Sputum, Wheeze, 29. Chest Pain and Dyspnoea after Air-travel, 30. Exertional Dyspnoea, Cyanosis, Fainting Spells, 31. Fever with Chills, Petechiae in Nails and Eyes, 32. High Fever, Drug Abuse, Systolic Murmur, 33. Malaise and Arthralgias, Cold and Cyanosed Hand, 34. Exertional Dyspnoea and Fatigue, Sudden Hemiparesis, 35. Displaced, Diffuse and Double Apical Impulse, 36. Retrosternal Discomfort with Suffocation on Walking, 37. Recent Increase in Angina Frequency and Severity, 38. Sever Chest Pain with Sweating and Sinking, 39. Myocardial Infarction, Orthopnoea, New Murmur, 40. Myocardial Infarction, Thrombolysis, Sudden Worsening.