Podcast
Questions and Answers
A 75 year old woman presents to her family physician with a 24-hour history of rapid, irregular palpitations accompanied by fatigue. In an elderly patient, what is the most likely cause of palpitations?
A 75 year old woman presents to her family physician with a 24-hour history of rapid, irregular palpitations accompanied by fatigue. In an elderly patient, what is the most likely cause of palpitations?
- Atrial ectopic (premature) beats
- Atrial fibrillation (correct)
- Supraventricular tachycardia
- Ventricular ectopic (premature) beats
Which of the following pathologies can be associated with an early diastolic murmur?
Which of the following pathologies can be associated with an early diastolic murmur?
- Long QT syndrome type 1
- Marfan’s syndrome (correct)
- Mitral valve prolapse
- Wolff–Parkinson–White syndrome
A 56 year old man presents with a history of headache. He is noted to have a loud second heart sound on auscultation. Which of the following pathologies could explain this finding?
A 56 year old man presents with a history of headache. He is noted to have a loud second heart sound on auscultation. Which of the following pathologies could explain this finding?
- Aortic incompetence
- Essential hypertension (correct)
- Postural hypotension
- Mechanical mitral valve replacement
An 80 year old woman with a history of palpitation presents with a painful left leg. On examination, pulse rate is 80 beats/min and irregular, blood pressure (BP) 170/96 mmHg. The left leg is pale, cold, and sensation is reduced. The popliteal, dorsalis pedis and posterior tibial pulses cannot be felt. Her only regular medications are aspirin and digoxin. What is the most likely diagnosis?
An 80 year old woman with a history of palpitation presents with a painful left leg. On examination, pulse rate is 80 beats/min and irregular, blood pressure (BP) 170/96 mmHg. The left leg is pale, cold, and sensation is reduced. The popliteal, dorsalis pedis and posterior tibial pulses cannot be felt. Her only regular medications are aspirin and digoxin. What is the most likely diagnosis?
Flashcards
What is the most common cause of palpitations in elderly patients?
What is the most common cause of palpitations in elderly patients?
Atrial fibrillation is a common irregular heartbeat rhythm characterized by a rapid and erratic beating of the atria, the upper chambers of the heart. In older adults, it often presents with fatigue and rapid, irregular palpitations.
