UMEM Educational Pearls

Category: Cardiology

Title: symptoms and signs of ACS

Keywords: acute coronary syndromes, diaphoresis (PubMed Search)

Posted: 3/14/2010 by Amal Mattu, MD (Updated: 4/25/2024)
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A recent study of nearly 800 patients with chest pain evaluated symptoms and signs that are most predictive of ruling in for ACS. The following characteristics made acute MI more likely (likelihood ratios in parentheses): observed diaphoresis (5.18), central location of chest pain (3.29), associated vomiting (3.50), radiation of the pain to bilateral arms (2.69), and radiation of pain to the right arm (2.23).

As we've said before, if your patient sweats, it ought to make YOU sweat!

[BodyR, et al. Resuscitation 2010;81:281-286.]