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Mitochondrial Disease Clinical Pathway, Emergency Department and Inpatient – History and Physical

Mitochondrial Disease Clinical Pathway — Emergency Department and Inpatient

History and Physical

  • Mitochondrial diseases present with a wide range of clinical symptoms. Organs and
    tissues with high energy requirements, such as the brain, heart and skeletal muscles are commonly affected.
  • May present with isolated myopathy, encephalopathy or most commonly with multisystem
    organ symptoms.
  • High risk of rapid progression.
  • Often present with symptoms during physiologic stress, such as infectious illness or perioperative period.
  • Develop differential diagnosis based on clinical presentation as with any other child, not solely special attention to mitochondrial diagnosis.

History

HPI Common Physiological Stressors
  • Fever, infection
  • Surgery, anesthesia
  • Trauma
  • Dehydration
  • Fasting, including NPO for procedures
Cardiovascular
(Heart Failure, Dysrhythmia)
  • Increased fatigue
  • Anorexia
  • Dyspnea
  • Chest pain, palpitations
  • Peripheral Edema
  • Previous hx WPW or cardiomyopathy
  • Presence of pacemaker
Respiratory
  • Dysphagia, drooling
  • Abnormal respirations
  • Apnea
  • CPAP/BiPAP/O2 use at home
  • Trach/vent
GI
PO Intake
  • Inadequate volume, calories, feeding intolerance, weight loss
  • Dysphagia, drooling
  • Anorexia, vomiting, diarrhea, urine output
  • Constipation, history of dysmotility
  • Jaundice
  • Hx pancreatic insufficiency, steatorrhea
Neurologic
  • Symptoms suggestive of metabolic stroke/seizure
    • Increased weakness
    • Unilateral weakness or sensory change
    • Vision loss, double vision, visual hallucinations
    • Speech difficulty, change in breathing, swallowing
    • Dizziness or trouble walking, ataxia
    • New onset seizures with focal findings
    • Development of EPC or worsening of underlying seizures
  • Status epilepticus
  • Headache
  • Neuroregression
  • Change in mental status from baseline
Dysautonomia
  • Flushing, palpitations, HR and BP fluctuations
  • Sweating, heat/cold intolerance
  • Raynauds/peripheral edema/discolored extremities
  • Fever without identified cause
  • PAID (paroxysmal autonomic instability with dystonia)
Musculoskeletal
  • Muscle cramping, weakness, tetany
  • Hx of rhabdomyolysis
  • Bone fractures (non-wearing bearing/osteopenia)
Skin Jaundice, bruising
Renal
  • Renal tubular acidosis, anuria, dependent edema
Endocrine Diabetes mellitus, hypoparathyroidism, hypoglycemia, adrenal insufficiency, hypothyroidism
PMH
  • Medications
  • Current medical problems
  • Past hospitalizations
  • Medication, food allergies, ketogenic diet

Physical

General
  • Altered MS, changes from baseline
  • Full VS, pulse oximetry, changes in weight
CV Arrhythmia, heart failure signs
Respiratory
  • Gag, drooling, quality of respirations
  • Abnormal breathing patterns (Kussmaul, Cheyne-Stokes)
Abdomen Hepatomegaly, abdominal tenderness/bloating
Back/Renal Flank tenderness (nephrolithiasis)
MSK
  • Bone fracture (osteopenia and rickets)
  • Tetany – Trousseau's sign, Chvostek’s sign
Neurologic
  • Neuroregression
  • Focal neurologic signs suggesting possible stroke-like episode
  • Seizure, altered mental status
Skin Diaphoresis, flushing, bruising, jaundice, pressure ulcers
Infection Complete exam for infectious cause of decompensation

 

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