Medical Emergencies · patient case question
All of the following are appropriate management measures for this patient EXCEPT one. Which is the EXCEPTION?
Patient case: Man in exercise clothing requesting a rapid appointment
Patient: Adult male
Chief complaint: Arrives in tennis and jogging clothes, asking to be seen quickly so he can continue his exercise routine.
Background: Atrial fibrillation, with episodes provoked by stress and by exertion.
Current findings: Currently asymptomatic and haemodynamically stable.
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. Routinely dispensing postoperative opioid analgesics
- A. A stress-reduction protocol is exactly what a stress-triggered arrhythmia calls for.
- B. CORRECT — this is the EXCEPTION. Routine opioid prescribing is not a stress-reduction measure and is not indicated. Opioids carry dependence, respiratory depression and interaction risks, and in an anticoagulated cardiac patient NSAID choices also require care. Analgesia should be tailored to the procedure actually performed, not dispensed reflexively.
- C. Short appointments genuinely reduce physiological stress and are a core element of the stress-reduction protocol.
- D. Thorough explanation reduces anxiety, which is the specific trigger for this patient's arrhythmia.
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