1-50 Flashcards
Pleuritic chest pain
She denies fever, vomiting, abdominal pain, wheezing, and trauma. She reports shortness of breath, but mainly because her chest hurts when she takes a deep breath. workup to include an electrocardiogram, laboratory tests including a troponin, and chest radiograph. Patient is pulmonary embolism rule-out criteria (PERC) negative. Her studies are all within normal limits. examination is unremarkable except for left-sided chest wall tenderness.
Conditions that may cause pleuritic chest pain include
pulmonary embolism, pericarditis, pneumonia, myocardial infarction, pleural effusion, and pneumothorax. There is no specific diagnostic tool to diagnose pleurisy other than ruling out more serious conditions. Other causes of pleurisy can be industrial exposures such as asbestos or some medications, as well as rheumatological diseases, such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis.
drugs are the recommended initial therapy of pleuritic chest pain.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs ; studies on their use have been limited to indomethacin. Therefore, the recommended treatment for pleuritic pain is indomethacin.
when should you give Azithromycin in the context of pleuritic chest pain
only be indicated if pneumonia or bacterial bronchitis is suspected.
when should you give Colchicine in the context of pleuritic chest pain
Colchicine (B) is the recommended therapy for familial Mediterranean fever, a genetic condition that causes pleuritic chest pain.
hallmarks of elapid (cobra, coral snake, mamba, and krait) envenomation
Blurred vision, paresthesia, ptosis, and general or respiratory paralysis (A)
the hallmark of brown recluse spider envenomation. This venom contains multiple cytotoxic components. The brown recluse bite is typically painless or associated with a mild stinging sensation, followed by blistering and ulceration over the next 8–12 hours. Over the next 1–3 days, the bite site typically increases in diameter and ulcerates further, sometimes becoming necrotic.
Dermatonecrosis
Severe pain that may be migratory and muscular rigidity (E) is common in
black widow spider envenomation, typically characterized by a sharp pinprick followed by a small puncture wound or wheal associated with a halo. The venom causes presynaptic calcium modulation and subsequent neurotransmitter release, subsequently causing exocytosis of dopamine, acetylcholine, glutamate, GABA, and norepinephrine. This results in pain (which may migrate proximally) and muscle cramping and rigidity that can be mistaken for an acute abdomen.
Most North American venomous snakes can be classified as either
crotalids or elapids.
Snakes
Viperidae
Depression between eyes
Significant local reaction → systemic toxicity
Compartment syndrome
Thrombocytopenia
Antivenom
Snakes
Elapidae
Red on yellow kill a fellow, red on black venom lack
Minimal local reaction → neurotoxicity
Respiratory paralysis
Due to scarcity of antivenom in US, give for symptomatic eastern coral snake bites, otherwise supportive treatment
A 65-year-old woman presents with back pain. She states that she slipped and fell on her back 2 days ago and reports shooting pains down both of her legs. The pain has been significant and worsening over the last 2 days. She is also experiencing increasing weakness in her legs and requires assistance to get into the room today. She has a history of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and chronic back pain. Vital signs are within normal limits. On examination, the patient has diminished deep tendon reflexes. There is diminished sensation in the bilateral lower extremities and a palpable bladder.
Cauda equina syndrome
Etiologies Cauda equina syndrome
most commonly herniated discs, bone fragments, hematomas, epidural abscesses, tumors, or vascular insufficiency. A history of a recent spinal procedure, trauma, anticoagulation, intravenous drug use, and malignancy are all important risk factors.
Clinical features Cauda equina syndrome
; Acute onset of lower back pain with weakness and numbness ; include saddle anesthesia, motor and sensory deficits in the lower extremities, sciatica, decreased lower extremity reflexes, decreased anal sphincter tone, and bowel or bladder dysfunction. Urinary retention is the most consistent finding with a sensitivity of 90%.
Patients with a suspicious history and physical concerning for cauda equina syndrome require
emergency MRI. Treatment is surgical, and an emergent consultation with a spine surgeon is required.
If this patient had bacterial meningitis,
his cerebrospinal fluid results would show greater than 1,000–2,000 white blood cells/microliter, a high protein greater than 250 mg/dL, and low glucose at less than 45 g/dL.
West Nile Virus
Mosquitos
Summer and fall
Flulike Sx, URI Sx, rash
Complication: meningoencephalitis
uncomplicated candidal vaginitis
complaining of vaginal itching and irritation. She also complains of vaginal discharge.
Risk factors: diabetes, HIV, recent antibiotic use, steroid use, pregnancy, immunosuppression
Sx: vulvar pruritus, dysuria, dyspareunia
PE: white, cottage cheese-like discharge
Labs: normal pH < 4.5, wet prep: budding yeast, pseudohyphae, hyphae
Most commonly caused by Candida albicans
Tx: topical azoles, oral fluconazole
either bacterial vaginosis or Trichomonas vaginitis, not candidal vaginitis.
A positive amine odor with KOH preparation (B)
Visualizing mobile trichomonads on microscopic examination (C) is consistent with a diagnosis of Trichomonas vaginitis.
Migraine Headache
risk factors
treatments
symptoms
While migraines are no longer felt to be secondary to vasodilation, sumatriptan, which promotes vasoconstriction through vasoactive peptides, have proven benefit in randomized controlled trials. Sumatriptan is often given subcutaneously at a dose of 6 mg, but can be given orally or intranasally.
Migraine Headache
Risk factors: female sex, family history
Gradual onset, unilateral > bilateral, throbbing, pulsating headache
Without aura: most common, nausea or vomiting, photophobia, phonophobia
Aura: scotoma, flashing lights, sounds
Diagnosis is made clinically
Treatment
Abortive Rx: triptans, DHE, antiemetics, NSAIDs
Prophylaxis: TCAs, beta-blockers, anticonvulsants (valproic acid, topiramate), CCBs
Triptans, DHE: contraindicated in HTN or CV disease
Migraines themselves do not require neuroimaging, however, imaging should be considered when they are associated with other red flags such as
sudden onset of pain or new onset of headaches after 50 years of age
triptans should generally be avoided in conditions where
vasoconstriction could be harmful, including patients with histories of uncontrolled hypertension, ischemic stroke, coronary artery disease, and vasospastic angina. It is also generally avoided in pregnancy, though can be used as second-line therapy.
Aortic Dissection
risk factors
symptoms
diagnosis
treatment
which medications exactly>
Aortic Dissection
Risk factors: advancing age, male sex, HTN, Marfan syndrome
Sx: acute onset of “ripping” or “tearing” chest pain or back pain
PE: asymmetric pulses or SBP difference of > 20 mmHg
CXR: widened mediastinum
Dx: CT angiography or transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE)
Treatment: reduce BP and HR (beta-blockers), pain control, emergency surgery (Type A dissection)
Short-acting intravenous beta-blockers such as esmolol are ideal for this indication and form the cornerstone of initial aortic dissection management. Afterload reducing agents such as sodium nitroprusside or nicardipine can then be added to achieve further blood pressure control with a systolic blood pressure target < 120 mm Hg by 30 min. Labetalol, which has both alpha- and beta-blocking activity, can be used for this purpose as monotherapy.
Type A: involves ascending aorta
Type B: involves only descending aorta
Asymmetric pulses in the upper extremity will occur only if which artery is involved in an aortic dissection?
Subclavian artery.