Anesthesia Key

Approach to the Patient with Tuberculosis Benjamin Davis The primary care physician most commonly encounters tuberculosis (TB) as a positive tuberculin screening test in the absence of active infection (see…

Management of Asthma Asthma affects an estimated 5% to 7% of the US population, impairing daily functioning and accounting for much health care utilization by children and adults. Although there…

Management of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) affects 5% of the adult population and is the fourth leading cause of death and twelfth leading cause of…

Approach to the Patient with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Transient episodes of breathing cessation (apnea) or a marked reduction in airflow (hypopnea) are common during sleep. Among adults, it is estimated…

Evaluation of Clubbing The term clubbing refers to enlargement and sponginess of the nail beds of the fingers and toes and reduction in the angle created by the nail and…

Evaluation of Pleural Effusions Most pleural effusions encountered in the physician’s office are incidental findings, but they often pose a diagnostic challenge. Of major concern are the possibilities of exudative…

Evaluation of Hemoptysis Hemoptysis is the coughing up of either blood-tinged or grossly bloody sputum. Because of its well-known associations with cancer and tuberculosis (TB), hemoptysis is an alarming symptom…

Evaluation of Subacute and Chronic Cough Cough is one of the most common symptoms that patients bring to the attention of primary care clinicians. Cough can be designated as acute…

Evaluation of Chronic Dyspnea Dyspnea is the subjective sensation of difficult or uncomfortable breathing. Patients commonly complain of “shortness of breath” to describe their respiratory difficulty. Acute dyspnea is most…