A 68y.o. male complaining of dyspnea and arrythmia,what are the differential diagnosis and cause of death?
955278
By what information you have given me my 1st guess would be cardiogenic shock. But you don't say why the thoracotomy was preformed. Was it for heart, heart valves, lung, thorasic aorta, esphageal or spine surgery. You also don't say wether this patient had a cardiac or pulmonary arrest or if both which occured 1st. I chose cardiogenic shock 1st due to all the already existing cardiac issues and additional symptoms. Was the CHF ( which  pulmonary edema is a symptom) caused by the cardiomegaly , the A-fib, the MV prosthesis or a combination of some or all. You also mentioned a previous CABG, but you didn't mention any myocardial injury occuring. This pt. not only had mechanical issues but also had electrical problems as demonstrated by the A-fib and the RBBB. The pulmonary involvement sounds more like it's due to all the cardiac problems. You mentioned hypotention but not whether it was due to medication or if it was a symptom of the cardiomegaly. You mentioned oliguria but nothing of CRF or even ARF post surgery. So was this a new onset? You give no lab values that could indicate organ functions. Sooooooooo. I still stand with cardiogenic shock as my 1st choice (chosen from all the cardiac envolvement and the possibility that he could have thrown a clot [a-fib, PMV and had to be taken off thinners for the surgery] and had an MI. The symptoms of hypotention & oliguria occur in cardiogenic shock). My 2nd choice would be a CVA ( due to the A-fib the PMV and the fact he had to be off anticoagulants for the thoracotomy. 3rd and lastly alcohol withdrawal (just kidding! Really I was just kidding!)
1035229
My wife is a Dr.  Her brother is a Dr. (shrink), a lot of the conversations we have sometimes dwell on mental cases.  You are not alone hon!  Granted your problem is serious and you should be talking to your Dr. about this.  You probably need to try a different medicine first, unless you just started a new med?  The fact that you're bring this out into the public is an indication that you don't really want to die, but are crying for help.  You can voluntary admit yourself into an in house treatment program and leave at anytime.  It is called autonomy, which is your right to decide what is best for you, as long as you can make sound comprehensible decisions.  Once you become a threat to society in general, then you will be admitted against your will, not only to save you but to save others.  Get some rest, stay away from any drugs and alcohol, see your Dr. tomorrow and tell him/her what is on your mind.  It's OK and everything will be alright, give it time.  People love you!!  You're not scum, just a normal human being with a physical condition no different than a heart problem, lung problem, bone problem, you are not scum Cassie!\n\nRJ
814665
Contrary to what some say, your small heart and your regular-sized heart act the same way.  (cue the rim shot)\n\nWomen tend to present with more atypical symptoms than men.  Almost always is a sense of shortness of breath.  Other symptoms may be a profound sense of fatigue, chest tightness, jaw and/or neck discomfort, shoulder, arm, mid scapular discomfort.  Many people will say that they are not feeling true "pain."  There may also be pallor, a cold sweat, nausea and/or vomiting, and a sense of "impending doom."\n\nAnother consideration is your risk factors.  Early family history for heart disease (heart attacks, open hearts, heart caths only - not arrhythmias or valve problems), high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, and smoking are the big five.  If you are a woman and under 40 then you would need to have nearly all of the risk factors to actually have heart disease/heart attack.  If you are at menopause or later in life a couple of factors would be enough to be concerned.  I hope this helps.
136696
Hi   Sorry to hear such a young person as you are having these problems with exercise. I am 64 and exercise evry day. Even a walk of a mile or so is better than nothing. You should make an appointment with your primary care physician and explain your problems . A primary care doctor will be able to make a good evaluation of your problems and the steps to get you back on the road to feeling good. Diet and exercise are the longterm solutions with the guidance of healthcare professional help !!! Good luck !!p. s. dont go looking for a quick fix solution....there are none .
5145
If this has been going on his whole life, he may have an unclosed diaphragm.  He would need to see a doctor to find out if that is what it is.
953303
i think he has something else going on by the sounds they shouldn't be that high some people run high all the time has he been tested for this before and they are just now elevating? obviously its nothing to be very concerned about or the Dr would have told you. i would certainly ask him if he feels that this is a genetic condition.
91363
lack of oxygen and poor circulation
591561
Cause? Could be lack of oxygen due to lung damage. Could be from fever. Don't know if I understand your question.
613119
Sounds like he died fighting a good fight.  Good luck to you
484967
To me, it sounds like overexertion and possibly a blood clot in his leg or somewhere else in his body, or dehydration, or a combination of something...but i'm not a doctor in any way...\n\nSorry for your loss...you have my condolences
1173190
Although every case is different, I can tell you that my fiance's uncle lived for about a year after being wheelchair bound and bedridden.  He was diagnosed in 2001 ans died on October 20, 2004.  In his case though, the disease progressed very quickly.  Before he died, he could not speak, move, or eat on his own.  He was fed through a feeding tube and relieved through a catheter tube.  To be honest, as much as we all loved him, and wanted him to be around longer, he would have been better off dying sooner.  ALS took him to a dark place.  Although his body did nothing, his mind worked perfectly.  He knew exactly what was going on and couldn't do a d**n thing about it.  By the time he died, the only things that worked were his mind and his ears.  Our family and friends do the Walk to D'Feet ALS every year here in Tennessee.  Here's the site for the main ALS Walk page:  \nhttp://walk.alstn.org/site/PageServer?pagename=homepage   And here's the page for our team.  The man in the picture is the one that had ALS.  The woman in the middle is my fiance's mother, and the woman on the left was his wife.  http://walk.alstn.org/site/PageServer?pagename=homepage\n\nIf you would like to know how to get involved with the walk or any other events just e-mail  or IM me.  I'd be glad to help your family out as much as I can.
873781
You sure have a strange avatar for a middle age man.\n\n Let's see, you have a defibrillator that is firing. Could it be that it's treating bad heart rhythms like it's designed for?
1175161
NO its not a disease thus its not contages\nWhat do each of these individuals have in common: First, aneighteen-year-old suddenly develops wheezing and shortness of breath whenvisiting his grandmother who happens to have a cat. Second, a thirty year oldwoman has colds that "always go into her chest," causing coughing anddifficulty breathing. Lastly, a sixty- year-old man develops shortness of breathwith only slight exertion even though he has never smoked. The answer is thatthey all may have asthma.\nThese are some of the many faces of asthma. Most researchers believe that thedifferent patterns of asthma are all related to one condition. Other researchersfeel that separate lung conditions exist. There is currently no cure for asthmaand no single exact cause has been identified. Therefore, understanding thechanges that occur in asthma, how it makes you feel, and how it can behave overtime is vital. This knowledge empowers you to take an active role in your ownhealth care.
387366
No somebody who has just gone through that and was rushed to hospital as an emergency case.  \n\nAs others have said, shortness of breath, irregular heart beat, blue tinge to lips, toes, fingers ect.\n\nIf you have any concerns go see a doctor now or it might be too late.
734793
my dad passed away when he was 42 from heart attack...\nso i share the same concern with you\n-first try to control the diet by reducing fat in it encourage  fruit and vegitble intake \n-by the age of 20 let them do lipid profile test to see the amount of fat in their bodies\n-avoid hypertension(don't add extra salt for their food)\n-avoid smoking\n-avoid alcohol \n-avoid obesity\n-do exercise \nwhat i want to tell you here is that for ischemic heart disease there are unmodified risk factors and modified risk factors \nunmodified it means that you can not change it as ;age,male gender,family history,race\nand the modified risk factors which i told you above how to beat\nwish you luck
718118
Heart Disease: Abnormal Heart Rhythm\n\nAn arrhythmia (also called dysrhythmia) is an irregular heartbeat. Heart rates can also be irregular. A normal heart rate is 50 to 100 beats per minute. Arrhythmias and abnormal heart rates don't necessarily occur together. arrhythmias can occur with a normal heart rate, or with heart rates that are slow (called bradyarrhythmias -- less than 60 beats per minute). arrhythmias can also occur with rapid heart rates (called tachyarrhythmias -- faster than 100 beats per minute).\n\nWhat Causes an Arrhythmia?\n\nArrhythmias may be caused by many different factors, including:\n\n    * Coronary artery disease\n    * Electrolyte imbalances in your blood (such as sodium or potassium).\n    * Changes in your heart muscle.\n    * Injury from a heart attack\n    * Healing process after heart surgery.\n\nIrregular heart rhythms can also occur in "normal, healthy" hearts.\n\nWhat Are the Types of Arrhythmias?\n\n    * Premature atrial contractions. These are early extra beats that originate in the atria (upper chambers of the heart). They are harmless and do not require treatment.\n    * Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs). These are among the most common arrhythmias and occur in people with and without heart disease. This is the skipped heartbeat we all occasionally experience. In some people, it can be related to stress, too much caffeine or nicotine, or too much exercise. But sometimes, PVCs can be caused by heart disease or electrolyte imbalance. People who have a lot of PVCs, and/or symptoms associated with them, should be evaluated by a heart doctor. However, in most people, PVCs are usually harmless and rarely need treatment.\n    * Atrial fibrillation. AF is a very common irregular heart rhythm that causes the atria, the upper chambers of the heart to contract abnormally.\n    * Atrial flutter. This is an arrhythmia caused by one or more rapid circuits in the atrium. Atrial flutter is usually more organized and regular than atrial fibrillation. This arrhythmia occurs most often in people with heart disease, and in the first week after heart surgery. It often converts to atrial fibrillation.\n    * Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT). A rapid heart rate, usually with a regular rhythm, originating from above the ventricles. PSVT begins and ends suddenly. There are two main types: accessory path tachycardias and AV nodal reentrant tachycardias (see below).\n    * Accessory pathway tachycardias. A rapid heart rate due to an extra abnormal pathway or connection between the atria and the ventricles. The impulses travel through the extra pathways as well as through the usual route. This allows the impulses to travel around the heart very quickly, causing the heart to beat unusually fast.\n    * AV nodal reentrant tachycardia. A rapid heart rate due to more than one pathway through the AV node. It can cause heart palpitations, fainting or heart failure . In many cases, it can be terminated using a simple maneuver performed by a trained medical professional, medications or a pacemaker.\n    * Ventricular tachycardia (V-tach). A rapid heart rhythm originating from the lower chambers (or ventricles) of the heart. The rapid rate prevents the heart from filling adequately with blood; therefore, less blood is able to pump through the body. This can be a serious arrhythmia, especially in people with heart disease, and may be associated with more symptoms. A heart doctor should evaluate this arrhythmia.\n    * Ventricular fibrillation. An erratic, disorganized firing of impulses from the ventricles. The ventricles quiver and are unable to contract or pump blood to the body. This is a medical emergency that must be treated with cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation as soon as possible.\n    * Long QT syndrome. The QT interval is the area on the electrocardiogram (ECG) that represents the time it takes for the heart muscle to contract and then recover, or for the e
1148978
Ohhhh, could be emphysema maybe.... go get checked out!