Red Flags Flashcards
(15 cards)
Patient complains of severe deep back or abdominal pain that radiates to the groin, has increased BP after walking back to the exam room.
Red flag - call physician suspect AAA
Patient had an MI 2 months ago and presents to PT with a blood pressure of 80/55. Normal baseline for this patient at last visit was 120/70.
Red Flag - call physician bc it can indicate poor left ventricular function at rest
Patient shows up to outpatient PT with a hangover from a big football party last night.
Yellow Flag: Patient maybe dehydrated and physiological response may be exaggerated. Watch vitals closely and progress slowly.
Patient has an increased weight gain of greater than 3 pounds, no noticeable edema and no problems with breathing or vital signs. Patient has no history of heart problems and is 36 years old.
Yellow Flag: Weight gain maybe related high sodium meal, menstruation, kidney problems or medications. Monitor vitals for a possible undiagnosed cardiac condition especially related to exertion.
You go to a patient’s home, and she complains of general unwellness. BP is 80/40 and HR 48 bpm.
Red Flag: Call 911. Patient maybe having pacemaker problem, this should be checked out immediately.
Patient arrived to physical therapy after indulging at an all you can eat lunch.
Yellow Flag: Workload of the heart will be increased while digesting a big meal. Exercise responses maybe exaggerated, watch vital closely.
68-year-old female with a history of pulmonary edema and congestive heart failure, currently stable.
Yellow Flag: Watch for symptoms or unstable vitals. If patient becomes symptomatic, call physician.
While on a treadmill, patient experiences sharp sudden chest pain that is not relieved by rest or nitroglycerin x 3.
Red Flag: Call 911, Patient may be having an acute MI
Patient reports that his blood glucose level is 468 mg/dL and that he had Ketones present in his urine this am.
Red Flag: Call physician, no exercise. Patient could be going into a ketoacidosis, may need to call 911
Patient underwent a CABG 2 days ago and presents with incisional pain and difficulty coughing and clearing secretions.
Green Flag: Normal response following surgery. Monitor vital due to the history.
Patient states that he has an acute pericarditis with a fever and pain with respiration.
Red Flag: Call physician. With an acute disease with fever, no physical therapy until cleared by physician.
Patient had an acute MI 2 months ago and presents to outpatient physical therapy with a resting HR of 90 bpm that increased to 125 during a 6-minute walk test.
Green Flag: Normal response of deconditioning. May need to progress slowly and monitor closely.
Patient complains of right calf pain following a TKR. Patient’s calf in red, swollen and is complaining of some increasing dyspnea.
Red flag: Call Physician. Patient may need to go to the hospital for Doppler test. Call 911 if PE suspected.
While taking the patient’s heart rate you notice a very irregular rhythm and rapid greater than 130 bpm at rest and complains of dizziness.
Red Flag: Call physician. Patient may have a rapid ventricular response to a fib or flutter. No exercise.
Patient with h/o angina has angina while walking on the treadmill that stops as soon as he rests. No Nitro taken. HR stabilized to baseline with 3 minutes.
Depending on history, patient need to follow-up with physician. Close monitoring of exercise vitals. Check to see if patient has had a stress test.
