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Cases

Collapse in the supermarket

An 82-year-old collapses without warning, wakes within seconds, and insists on going home.

82-year-old womanED, bed 4Fictitious educational patient
HypertensionType 2 diabetesOsteoporosis

16:40 · Arrival

The story of the fall

She was standing at the checkout, felt nothing at all, and was on the floor. Witnesses say she was out for ten seconds, pale, no shaking, and back to herself immediately. A grazed elbow, nothing more. She is embarrassed and wants to leave.

Vitals

HR52BP142/78RR16SpO297%T36.6

History

Any warning at all: nausea, warmth, tunnel vision?
None. 'The lights just went out.'
Anything similar before?
Two 'dizzy spells' this month, put down to standing up quickly.
Medications?
Ramipril, metformin, and bisoprolol started three weeks ago for 'ectopics'.
On standing?
No drop: 138/76 after three minutes upright.

Examination

  • Cardiac: Slow regular pulse; no murmur; JVP normal
  • Neurological: Intact; no injury beyond the elbow

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