So what about the dyspnea? How does the condition you have in mind affect the lungs? You look for evidence of pulmonary hypertension on exam. You start with the jugular venous pulse. What finding is present?
Then you auscult the heart. What finding is present? What is your ultimate diagnosis?
This patient has scleroderma with systemic involvement (SSc). Typical cutaneous manifestations include telangiectasias, sclerodactyly (+ Prayer sign), and calcinosis cutis (nodule on her elbow). SSc can cause pulmonary hypertension, leading to Kussmaul’s sign and loud P2.
A standardized test would provide all of these clues on a silver platter. Any machine can synthesize them and make the diagnosis. The clinician must not only synthesize, but gather these clues at the bedside. Your search must be hypothesis-driven or you might miss them.
Anticipation is key in medicine. The eyes can’t see what the mind doesn’t know. The ears can’t hear what the mind doesn’t know.
