title: Evaluation and Management of Chest Pain in the Elderly.
abstract: Geriatric patients are at increased risk for serious morbidity and mortality from life-threatening causes of chest pain. This article covers 5 life-threatening causes of chest pain in the elderly: acute coronary syndrome, aortic dissection, pulmonary embolism, pneumothorax, and esophageal rupture. Atypical presentations, frailty, and significant comorbidities that characterize the elderly make the diagnosis and treatment of these already complicated conditions even more complicated. The emergency provider must be vigilant and maintain a low threshold to test. When a diagnosis is made, treatment must be aggressive. The elderly benefit from optimal care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Advocate Christ Medical Center, 4440 West 95th Street, Oak Lawn, IL 60453, USA. Electronic address: rogu_md@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Rohit
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Advocate Christ Medical Center, 4440 West 95th Street, Oak Lawn, IL 60453, USA.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Munoz
mesh_terms: D054058:Acute Coronary Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D004939:Esophageal Perforation / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy
keywords: Acute coronary syndrome; Aortic dissection; Chest pain; Elderly; Esophageal perforation; Geriatric; Pneumothorax; Pulmonary embolism