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Table 1 Examples of presentation-wise “worst case” scenarios

From: How to think like an emergency care provider: a conceptual mental model for decision making in emergency care

Presentation

Examples of worst case scenarios

Abdominal pain

• Abdominal aortic aneurysm

• Mesenteric ischemia

• Acute myocardial infarction

• Perforated ulcer

• Volvulus

• Intussusception

• Ovarian torsion

• Ectopic pregnancy

• Bowel Obstruction

• Acute appendicitis

• Cholangitis

• Splenic sequestration in sickle cell Disease patients

• Diabetic ketoacidosis

• Black widow spider bite

Chest pain

• Pneumothorax/pneumomediastinum

• Pericardial effusion/tamponade

• Acute coronary syndromes

• Pulmonary embolism

• Acute aortic dissection

• Traumatic aortic rupture

• Pneumonia

• Esophageal rupture

• Acute chest syndrome in sickle cell Disease patients

• Pericarditis

Eye pain and redness

• Acute angle-closure glaucoma

• Orbital cellulitis

• Anterior uveitis/iritis

• Ruptured globe

• Corneal abrasions/ulcer

• Keratitis

• Chemical burns

Headache

• Meningitis

• Subarachnoid hemorrhage

• Carbon monoxide poisoning

• Intracranial abscess

• Hematoma subdural/epidural

• Temporal arteritis

• Complicated sinusitis

• Cavernous sinus thrombosis

• Brain tumor

• Acute angle-closure glaucoma