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Punctuation help...PLEASE! - Baffled!

Posted: Aug 20, 2011

Please note that the punctuation help I need IS NOT FOR A COURSE TEST! I am at my wits-end trying to punctuate the following two paragraphs. I hope a few of you more knowledgeable MTs can show me the correct way to punctuate the following paragraphs:

The patient is a 98-year-old Caucasian female who is hard of hearing, with visual impediments, with a known history of coronary artery disease; history of congestive heart failure and vasovagal syncope; with a history of lumbar stenosis, lumbar compression fractures and osteoarthritis as well as osteoporosis, hyperlipidemia, leucocytosis, and progressive anemia, for which the family has declined both bone marrow biopsy and GI evaluation.

She presents to our emergency room with the acute onset of epigastric abdominal discomfort and lower chest wall discomfort without shortness of breath, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, or orthopnea; without associated diaphoresis or palpitations.

Any input will be greatly appreciated! Thanx!! Baffled!

Suggestions - Cathy

[ In Reply To ..]
This is just my suggestion. I don't claim to be a punctuation wizard. I believe leukocytosis is the correct spelling. I did see leucocytosis on onelook, but Stedman's has leukocytosis and I have never seen it spelled the other way.

The patient is a 98-year-old Caucasian female who is hard of hearing, with visual impediments, with a known history of coronary artery disease, history of congestive heart failure and vasovagal syncope, with a history of lumbar stenosis, lumbar compression fractures and osteoarthritis as well as osteoporosis, hyperlipidemia, leukocytosis, and progressive anemia, for which the family has declined both bone marrow biopsy and GI evaluation.

She presents to our emergency room with the acute onset of epigastric abdominal discomfort and lower chest wall discomfort without shortness of breath, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, or orthopnea; without associated diaphoresis or palpitations.

I'd use less. - cheesey

[ In Reply To ..]
In College English and High School English, I was taught that commas surrounding a phrase are indicating that that phrase is not that important. So, with that in mind, I tend to be less comma happy in medical reports. Also, semi colons (;) should only be used when you have 2 complete sentences on either side of the semi colon. You can not use it for phrases. Also, don't put a comma before "or" even if there is a list. Just "rules" I've been taught in school.

The patient is a 98-year-old Caucasian female who is hard of hearing with visual impediments with a known history of coronary artery disease, history of congestive heart failure and vasovagal syncope with a history of lumbar stenosis, lumbar compression fractures and osteoarthritis as well as osteoporosis, hyperlipidemia, leucocytosis, and progressive anemia for which the family has declined both bone marrow biopsy and GI evaluation.

She presents to our emergency room with the acute onset of epigastric abdominal discomfort and lower chest wall discomfort without shortness of breath, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea or orthopnea without associated diaphoresis or palpitations.

Also wanted to add, when you have a list (diabetes, hypotension AND hypothyroidism) The comma before "and" is optional.

Oh, 1 more thing I forgot. You can use semicolons for a list, but that list is for things separated by commas....for example "I flew to Tokyo, Japan; New York, New York; Chicago, Illinois; and London, England."

Helps from getting confused with all of the commas.

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