Thread by @rabihmgeha

Teaching Rounds Day 1/15

Venn Diagrams from a practical lens...
(or "VAN" diagrams as @DxRxEdu calls them!)

How do we actually use them?

Join us #medtwitter & #medstudenttwitter

If you are in a position to use a Venn Diagram, that probably means you've crystalized the fundamental aspects of your patient's condition.

In other words, your problem representation is fairly advanced and you've identified the salient features.

Nice job!!👊👊👊

Ok...for real though..how do we actually use this tool?

It's virtually impossible to run the DDx of both "A" and "B" at the SAME time...

That's the definition of cognitive overload.

How do we manage that cognitive burden?

Pick one - "A" or "B" - let's say "A" here.

"A" then becomes the pivot.
We run a comprehensive DDx of "A".

"B" serves as a filter that highlights certain diagnoses within "A"

This @CPSolvers tweetorial is a good example
bit.ly/2TraE4J

It's a case of fever in a returning traveler + hemolysis.

The case starts with an analysis of fever in a returning traveler and THEN filters that schema by conditions that result in hemolysis

Does it matter which finding you use as the anchor and the filter?

Absolutely!

Turns out that is a CRUCIAL part of the Dx exercise...

How do we figure that out?

Join us tomorrow, friends, and we'll talk some strategies to correctly dropping the anchor.

This time in a patient with CHF + AKI.
See ya then!