Chest Pain Management Course

Lesson 1 • Anatomy of Thoracic Pain Pathways

Maps somatic and visceral pain pathways in the thorax. Provides the anatomical framework needed for all subsequent diagnostic reasoning.

Lesson 2 • Pathophysiology of Cardiac Ischemia

Explains myocardial oxygen supply-demand imbalance and ischemic cascade. Connects cellular injury to clinical chest pain presentation.

Lesson 3 • ICU Patient Vulnerability Factors

Identifies comorbidities and ICU-specific stressors that amplify chest pain risk. Grounds risk stratification in the critical care context.

Lesson 1 • Focused History in Critical Patients

Adapts history-taking to intubated, sedated, or altered patients. Teaches proxy and collateral information strategies specific to ICU settings.

Lesson 2 • Primary Survey for Chest Pain

Applies ABCDE framework to the chest pain patient on arrival. Establishes life-threat identification as the first clinical priority.

Lesson 3 • Communicating Triage Findings

Structures handoff communication of chest pain assessments to the care team. Reduces information loss during critical transitions of care.

Lesson 4 • Targeted Physical Examination

Focuses examination on high-yield findings that differentiate life-threatening causes. Links exam findings directly to diagnostic hypotheses.

Lesson 1 • Serial ECG Monitoring Strategy

Establishes timing and frequency of repeat ECGs for evolving chest pain. Teaches trend analysis to detect progression or resolution of ischemia.

Lesson 2 • Identifying STEMI Patterns

Teaches ST-elevation recognition across all territories and STEMI equivalents. Directly enables time-critical reperfusion decision-making.

Lesson 3 • Non-Ischemic ECG Patterns

Identifies ECG findings of PE, pericarditis, aortic dissection, and Takotsubo. Prevents misdiagnosis by distinguishing mimics from true ACS.

Lesson 4 • NSTEMI and Unstable Angina ECG

Distinguishes ST-depression, T-wave changes, and normal ECG in ACS. Connects subtle findings to high-risk non-ST-elevation presentations.

Lesson 1 • Rapid Troponin Algorithms

Applies 0h/1h and 0h/2h rule-in and rule-out protocols. Accelerates safe disposition decisions without sacrificing diagnostic accuracy.

Lesson 2 • Point-of-Care Testing in ICU

Evaluates bedside analyzers for rapid biomarker and coagulation results. Addresses accuracy, turnaround time, and quality control in critical care.

Lesson 3 • Non-Cardiac Troponin Elevation

Identifies conditions causing troponin rise without obstructive coronary disease. Prevents over-diagnosis of ACS in critically ill patients.

Lesson 4 • Adjunct Laboratory Tests

Covers D-dimer, BNP, lactate, ABG, and CBC in chest pain workup. Integrates multi-test results into a unified diagnostic picture.

Lesson 1 • Advanced Cardiac Imaging

Introduces cardiac MRI and nuclear imaging roles in complex chest pain cases. Connects advanced modalities to specific diagnostic gaps not filled by echo or CT.

Lesson 2 • CT Angiography in Chest Pain

Covers CTPA for PE and CTA for aortic dissection indications and findings. Teaches contrast timing, image review, and reporting key findings.

Lesson 3 • Integrating Multimodal Imaging

Teaches a structured algorithm for sequencing imaging studies by clinical urgency. Prevents redundant testing and optimizes diagnostic yield.

Lesson 4 • Chest Radiography Interpretation

Applies systematic CXR review to detect cardiomegaly, pulmonary edema, and pneumothorax. Establishes imaging baseline for all ICU chest pain patients.

Lesson 1 • ACS Complications in the ICU

Identifies and manages cardiogenic shock, arrhythmias, and mechanical complications. Prepares clinicians for the highest-acuity ACS presentations.

Lesson 2 • NSTEMI and UA Invasive Strategy

Differentiates early invasive from ischemia-guided management for NSTEMI. Guides timing of angiography based on risk stratification.

Lesson 3 • Antiplatelet and Anticoagulation Therapy

Covers aspirin, P2Y12 inhibitors, and parenteral anticoagulants in ACS. Addresses dosing, timing, and bleeding risk in critically ill patients.

Lesson 4 • STEMI Reperfusion Strategy

Applies door-to-balloon and fibrinolysis decision frameworks for STEMI. Ensures time-critical reperfusion is initiated without delay.

Lesson 1 • Pulmonary Embolism in the ICU

Covers risk stratification, anticoagulation, and thrombolysis decisions for PE. Addresses massive and submassive PE management in hemodynamically unstable patients.

Lesson 2 • Tension Pneumothorax Management

Teaches clinical diagnosis and emergency decompression of tension pneumothorax. Stresses immediate needle decompression before imaging confirmation.

Lesson 3 • Aortic Dissection Recognition and Management

Differentiates Type A and Type B dissection and their management pathways. Emphasizes blood pressure control and surgical escalation criteria.

Lesson 4 • Pericardial Tamponade

Identifies Beck's triad, pulsus paradoxus, and echo findings of tamponade. Covers pericardiocentesis indications and procedural steps.

Lesson 1 • Vasopressor and Inotrope Use

Selects and titrates vasopressors and inotropes for cardiogenic and mixed shock. Addresses agent-specific hemodynamic effects and adverse profiles.

Lesson 2 • Transition and Discharge Planning

Structures step-down criteria, secondary prevention initiation, and follow-up planning. Ensures continuity of care from ICU to post-acute settings.

Lesson 3 • Pain and Sedation Management

Applies analgesia-first sedation protocols to chest pain patients in the ICU. Balances comfort with hemodynamic stability and diagnostic clarity.

Lesson 4 • Hemodynamic Monitoring Techniques

Covers arterial lines, central venous pressure, and pulmonary artery catheters. Connects monitoring data to therapeutic titration decisions.