Open AccessProblem based review: The patient with ‘palpitations’
Author(s) -
Stanley Crossland,
Liz Berkin
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
acute medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1747-4892
pISSN - 1747-4884
DOI - 10.52964/amja.0569
Subject(s) - palpitations , medicine , presentation (obstetrics) , heartbeat , primary care , case presentation , intensive care medicine , medical emergency , family medicine , surgery , computer security , computer science
Palpitations, or the sensation of a rapid or heavy heartbeat, are a common symptom in both primary and secondary care settings. Here we use a common presentation of palpitations to explore the best ways to assess and treat patients who present in this way. We hope that by using a structured approach to our assessment we will reduce the use of the ‘scattergun’ approach to diagnosis, thus preventing unnecessary investigation and hospital stay.