Decision making in medicine : an algorithmic approach

Print version:

Prevention and screening

Fatigue

Involuntary weight loss

Obesity

Sexual dysfunction

Edema

Chronic pain

Persistent excessvie sweating

The red eye

Rhinitis

Tinnitus

Hearing loss

Preoperative evaluation

Falls in geriatric patients

Geriatric functional assessment

Bradycardia

Narrow-complex tachycardia

Wide-complex tachycardia

Stable angina

Unstable angina/non-st-elevation myocardial infarction

Systolic murmurs

Diastolic murmurs

Hypertension

Hypotension

Palpitations

Syncope

Evaluation of a new diagnosis of congestive heart failure

Diagnosis and treatment of acute pulmonary edema

Right ventricular failure

Sudden cardiac death

Cardiac dyspnea

Assessment and initial management of st-segment elevation myocardial infarction

Post-myocardial infarction care and counseling

Claudication

Pigmented lesions

Leg ulcer

Urticaria

Generalized pruritus

Palpable purpura

Hypoglycemia

Hyperglycemia

Hypocalcemia

Hypercalcemia

Tests of thyroid function

Hypothyroidism

Hyperthyroidism

Goiter

Thyroid nodule

Thyroid pain

Sick euthyroid syndrome

Thyroid function tests in nonthyroidal illness

Adrenal incidentaloma

Cushing's syndrome

Pituitary tumor

Hirsutism

Gynecomastia

Acute abdominal pain

Chronic abdominal pain

Nausea and vomiting

Anorexia

Dysphagia

Heartburn

Noncardiac chest pain

Belching

Dyspepsia

Jaundice

Ascites

Biliary colic

Gastrointestinal bleeding

Rectal bleeding

Acute diarrhea

Chronic diarrhea

Constipation

Irritable bowel syndrome

Anorectal pain

Positive fecal occult blood test (FOBT)

Flatulence

Fecal incontinence

Asymptomatic abnormal liver aminotransferases

Elevated serum iron

Elevated serum amylase

Anemia

Polycthemia

Neutrophilia

Leukopenia

Deep venous thrombosis

Coagulation abnormalities

Transfusion therapy: fresh frozen plasma and cryoprecipitate

Transfusion therapy: platelets

Transfusion therapy: red blood cells

Transfusion therapy: granulocytes. Transfusion reactions

Classical Hodgkin's lymphoma

Chronic myelogenous leukemia

Abnormal serum protein electrophoresis

Lymphaedonpathy

Carcinoma of unknown primary site (CUPS)

Neutropenia and fever

Pathologic fractures

Clinical considerations for stem cell transplantation

Late issues for patients who survive the initial diagnosis and treatment of cancer

Superior vena caval syndrome

Spinal cord compression

Foreign travel: immunizations and infections

Acute and subacute meningitis

Chronic meningitis

Aseptic meningitis

Encephalitis

Sexually transmitted diseases

Approach to the newly diagnosed HIV-positive patient

Respiratory symptoms in HIV-infected patients

Central nervous system infection in the patient with HIV

The acutely ill patient with HIV

Sepsis

Toxic shock syndromes

Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia

Postexposure prophylaxis for HIV and hepatitis B and C

Fever of unknown origin

Chronic kidney disease

Acute renal failure

Proteinuria

Hematuria

Kidney stones

Renal cysts and masses

Metabolic acidosis

Metabolic alkalosis

Hyponatremia

Hypernatremia

Hypokaleimia

Hyperkalemia

Hypomagnesemia

Hypermagnesemia

Hypophosphatemia

Choosing a chronic dialysis modality

Selection of patients for transplantation

Fever in the transplant recipient

Acute headache

Chronic headache

Transient ischemic attack and stroke evaluation

Transient monocular visual loss

Acute stroke

Stroke treatment and prophylaxis

Memory loss

Dizziness

Seizures

Status epileplticus

Weakness

Gait disturbances

Tremor

Parkinson's disease

Peripheral neuropathy

Hyperkinesias

Muscle cramps and aches

Acute confusional state

Chronic behavior change

Disturbances of smell and taste

Coma

Brain death

Dilated pupil

Corneal abrasion

Conjunctivitis

Acute visual loss

Hemoptysis

Stridor

Wheezing

Cough

Dyspnea

Pleural effusion

Mediastinal lymphadenopathy

Solitary pulmonary nodule

Multiple pulmonary nodules

Diffuse interstitial lung disease

Positive tuberculin skin test (PPD)

Respiratory symptoms and occupational exposure to asbestos

Asthma. Monoarticular arthritis

Polyarticular arthritis

Seronegative arthritis

Soft-tissue pain

Neck pain

Shoulder pain

Low back pain

Hip pain

Hand and wrist pain

Knee pain

Foot pain

Scleroderma

Dry eyes and dry mouth (Sjögren's syndrome)

Raynaud's phenomenon

Low bone density

Hyperuricemia and gout

Diffuse muscle pain and stiffness: polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis

Joint hypermobility

Temporomandibular pain

Antinuclear antibody test

Elevated serum alkaline phosphatase level

Elevated creative kinase level

Scrotal mass

Benign prostatic hypertrophy

Prostatitis

Urinary incontinence

Urinary retention

Vaginal discharge

Cervicitis

Secondary amenorrhea

Abnormal vaginal bleeding

Vaginal bleeding in pregnancy

Acute abdominal pain in women

Chest pain in women

Urinary tract infection in women

Breast mass

Adjuvant therapy choices in breast cancer

Nipple discharge

Abnormal pap smear

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder

Contraceptive choices

Use of oral contraceptives

Female infertility

Domestic violence

Ectopic pregnancy

Osteoporosis and osteopenia

Acute pulseless extremity

Foreign body ingestion

Caustic ingestion and exposure

Mammal bites

Snake venom poisoning

Hypothermia

Submersion

Alcoholism

Anxiety

Depression

Emotional disorders with somatic expression

Grief

Psychosis

Smoking cessation

Suicidal patient

Acute anticoagulation

Long-term anticoagulation

Anaphylaxis

Evaluation of adverse drug reactions

Antimicrobial prophylaxis in surgical patients

Choosing appropriate antimicrobial therapy

Use and monitoring of aminoglycoside antibiotics

Use and evaluation of serum drug levels

Use and evaluation of vancomycin serum drug level