Hafnarstræti 96, 600 Akureyri, third-floor apartment 3B. A five-story concrete apartment building built in 1995. Main entrance has a coded lock (2468). Elevator and central stairwell access. Street parking available. Building has a fire alarm system. Current weather: 8°C, overcast, light wind. GPS coordinates: 65.6823° N, 18.0945° W. Nearest landmark: Akureyri Art Museum.
68-year-old male, experiencing severe shortness of breath. Primary symptoms: Difficulty breathing, wheezing, using accessory muscles to breathe. Patient reports sudden onset of symptoms. Secondary symptoms: Mild chest tightness, slight cyanosis around lips. Patient is conscious but anxious. Medical history: Asthma diagnosed in childhood, COPD diagnosed 5 years ago, hypertension. Medications: Salbutamol inhaler (as needed), Fluticasone/Salmeterol inhaler (twice daily), Lisinopril 10mg daily. Allergies: Penicillin. Last meal: Light lunch at 13:00.
Timeline: 14:15 hours: Patient began feeling slightly short of breath while watching TV. 14:20 hours: Symptoms worsened rapidly; started wheezing and experiencing chest tightness. 14:25 hours: Patient used Salbutamol inhaler with minimal relief. 14:28 hours: Patient's son called emergency services. 14:30 hours: Current time, patient is struggling to breathe, son reports increasing anxiety. Prior Events: Patient has a history of exacerbations of COPD and asthma, last hospitalization for respiratory distress was 6 months ago. He has had a cough with increased sputum production for the past week, but no fever. He has been compliant with his medications.
Initial Impression: Acute Exacerbation of COPD/Asthma Justification for F2 Classification: - Patient experiencing severe respiratory distress with wheezing and accessory muscle use. - Rapid onset of symptoms with minimal response to bronchodilator. - Potential for rapid deterioration requiring prompt medical intervention. Differential Diagnoses: 1. Acute Exacerbation of COPD/Asthma (high probability) 2. Pulmonary Embolism (less likely given chronic respiratory history) 3. Acute Heart Failure (less likely, no significant cardiac history) 4. Pneumonia (possible, but less likely given rapid onset) Required Actions: - Dispatch of ground EMS with ALS capabilities - Oxygen therapy initiation - Bronchodilator therapy initiation - Preparation for transport to hospital with respiratory services