CMA Cardiopulmonary Procedures: Case Studies

CMA Cardiopulmonary Procedures: Case Studies

Directions: Use the following Case studies to complete the first page of your apply your knowledge packet.

Case Study #1

Camilla Rossi is a 22 year old who works as a waitress during the day and goes to business school at night. She comes to the office because she has been experiencing some heart problems. Over the past month, she has had three episodes of tachycardia, palpitations, trouble breathing and profuse sweating. She is really scared she might have heart disease. Her grandfather recently died from a heart attack and she is afraid she will die next.

The physician orders an ECG, but Camilla is reluctant to have the procedure. She is embarrassed to have to take off her top and she is afraid she will get shocked from all the wires coming off the machine. She says she does not have health insurance and she does not know how she will pay for such a fancy test. She wants to know if there is any cheaper way to find out what is wrong with her.

Case Study #2

Joel Matthews, 48 yr, is at the office for his biannual checkup. Joel had a mild heart attack 2 years ago. Since then he has completely changed his life. He has become a vegetarian and practices yoga every morning before going to work. He jogs 10 miles everyday after work. He also lifts weights and takes herbal vitamin supplements. Since his heart attack he has lost 40 lbs, and says he has never felt better. The only thing he has not been able to do is give up smoking. He started when he was 17, and has cut back from 2 packs to 1 pack a day. He keeps trying to stop, but he says he has been smoking so long he thinks it might not be possible. Besides he says with all the healthy things he does, they probably cancel out the bad effect of the cigarettes. Joe is also very concerned that if he does stop smoking he will gain back all the weight he has lost.

Case Study #3

Walter Conrad, 62 yr, comes to the office because he has become short of breath when he goes up and down stairs. He has worked in the coal mines his whole life and has just retired. The physician orders PFT. Walter tries to breath like he is supposed to during the test, but he cannot do it, and he gets dizzy from trying so hard. He is also having problems with the nose clips. He says it is pinching his nose and he feels like he is being smothered. After 4 attempts, he puts down the spirometer in frustration and wants to know if he can just come back another time. He says he is thinking that maybe his symptoms really aren’t all that bad and he’ll just wait and see what happensand come back if they get worse.