Approach to a patient with acute onset breathlessness: case-based discussion
Interactive morning session presenting a complex case of acute breathlessness with differential diagnosis, investigation strategy, and management.
A 55-year-old hypertensive male presented to the emergency department with sudden onset severe breathlessness, orthopnoea, and leg swelling for 2 days.
The morning session walked through:
• Systematic approach to acute breathlessness
• Clinical differentiation of cardiac vs. respiratory causes
• ECG interpretation: atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular response
• Echocardiographic findings: dilated cardiomyopathy with EF 25%
• Management of acute decompensated heart failure: diuresis, afterload reduction, rate control
• Discussion of long-term heart failure management and device therapy
The session was led by Dr. Nazmul Hasan with active participation from fourth and fifth year students.
The morning session walked through:
• Systematic approach to acute breathlessness
• Clinical differentiation of cardiac vs. respiratory causes
• ECG interpretation: atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular response
• Echocardiographic findings: dilated cardiomyopathy with EF 25%
• Management of acute decompensated heart failure: diuresis, afterload reduction, rate control
• Discussion of long-term heart failure management and device therapy
The session was led by Dr. Nazmul Hasan with active participation from fourth and fifth year students.
