Cheat Sheet Flashcards
What are the crescendo decrescendo murmurs/ ejection systolic?
Left sided
- Aortic stenosis
- HOCM
Right sided
- Pulmonary stenosis
What are the holosystolic murmurs?
Left sided
- Mitral regurgitation
- Ventricular septal defects
Right sided
- Tricuspid regurgitation
What are the decrescendo murmurs?
Left sided
- Aortic regurgitation
Right sided
- Pulmonary regurgitation
What are the decrescendo crescendo murmurs?
Left sided
- Mitral stenosis
Right sided
- Tricuspid stenosis
What is the manoeuvre to increase aortic stenosis?
Ask the patient to hold their breath and auscultate the carotids using the diaphragm
What is the manoeuvre to increase aortic regurgitation?
Ask the patient to sit forward and fully exhale and auscultate over the right sternal boarder 2nd ICS
What is the manoeuvre to increase mitral regurgitation?
Ask the patient to lean on their left side and fully exhale, auscultate at the apex using the diaphragm and at the axilla for radiation
What is the manoeuvre to increase mitral stenosis?
Ask the patient to lean on their left side and full exhale and auscultate over the apex with the bell
Which drugs can cause pre-renal AKI?
- Vasoconstrictors
- Antihypertensives
- NSAIDs
- Cyclosporins (occasionally used in Crohn’s)
- Diuretics
- Laxatives
- Tacrolimus
What is tacrolimus?
An immunosuppresant drug commonly prescribed to patients after organ transplant
What is osteopetrosis?
Increased bone density which can make bones brittle and liable to break
How does hypothyroidism lead to arthritis?
Hypothyroidism increases TSH levels and TSH increases deposition of proteins in the joints
What would blood results for osteopetrosis show?
- Normal/ low serum Ca2+
- Normal serum PO43-
- Normal ALP
- Normal PTH
Dense and brittle bones
What is Paget’s disease of the bone?
Pathological remodelling of the bones leading to abnormal bone formation
What would bloods for Paget’s disease of the bone show?
- Normal Ca2+
- Normal PO43-
- Increased ALP
- Normal PTH
What is osteitis fibrosa cystica?
It results due to hyperparathyroidism and is abnormal breakdown of bone with bone tissue replaced with fibrous tissue
What are the blood results for osteomalacia/ rickets?
- Low Ca2+
- Low PO43-
- High ALP
- High PTH
What is the mechanism of tertiary hyperparathyroidism?
Chronic secondary hyperparathyroidism that leads to hyperplasia of the PTH glands with very high levels of PTH and normal-high calcium
How is GCS calculated?
Motor
6- movement on command
5- localises to pain
4- withdraws from pain
3- abnormal flexion
2- abnormal extension
1- no movement
Verbal
5- fully orientated
4- confused
3- inappropriate words/ sentences
2- incomprehensible sounds
1- no speech
Eyes
4- opens eyes spontaneously
3- opens eyes on command
2- opens eyes to pain
1- does not open eyes
What GCS would indicate minor brain injury?
15-13
What GCS would indicate moderate brain injury?
13-8
What GCS would indicate severe brain injury?
8-3
What GCS would require airway support?
8
What is AFP a tumour marker for?
- Testicular teratomas
- Hepatocellular carcinoma
What is beta-hCG a tumour marker for?
- Testicular cancers
- Choriocarcinoma
What is Ca 15-3 a tumour marker for?
Breast cancer
(As well as BRCA-1 chromosome 17, BRCA-2 chromosome 13)
What is Ca 19-9 a tumour marker for?
Pancreatic cancer
What is calcitonin a tumour marker for?
Medullary thyroid cancer, due to the follicular cells in the medulla producing calcitonin
What is CEA a tumour marker for?
Colorectal cancer
What is monoclonal Ig a tumour marker for?
Multiple myeloma
What is neurone-specific enolase a tumour marker for?
Small cell lung cancer
What is placental ALP a tumour marker for?
- Ovarian carcinomas
- Testicular carcinomas
What is PSA a tumour marker for?
Prostate carcinoma
What is S-100 a tumour marker for?
Malignant melanoma
What is thyroglobulin a tumour marker for?
Thyroid cancer
What is a choriocarcinoma?
Carcinoma of the cells left of the placenta post delivery
What is neurogenic shock?
Loss of control of the blood pressure and heart rate due to damage to the spinal cord/ nerves
What is the managment of meningitis?
IV benzylpenicillin followed by Ceftriaxone
What is the Glasgow score for acute pancreatitis?
PaO2 < 7.9mmol/L
Age > 55
Neutrophils >15x10^9
Calcium < 2mmol/L
Renal function (urea >16mmol/L)
Enzymes (LDH >600, AST >200)
Albumin <32 mmol/L
Sugar >10 mmol/L
Score of >3 indicates acute severe pancreatitis
What is the extrinsic vs intrinsic clotting pathway?

What is the pathophysiology of haemophilia A vs B?
X-linked recessive
What is the inheritance pattern of haemophilia A and B?
X-linked recessive
What are the absolute contra-indications for fibrinolysis in ischaemic stroke patients?
- Bleeding disorder
- Age >75
- Any previous intracranial haemorrhage
- Any head trauma
- Recent surgery
What is seen on blood smear for ALL?
Blast cells (as well as on bone marrow aspirate)
Which is the only leukaemia that doesn’t tend to present with hepatomegaly?
Chronic myeloid leukaemia although it does present with splenomegaly
What is seen on blood smear of acute myeloid leukaemia?
Auer rods

What is seen on blood smear of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia?
Smear cells

What is CML associated with?
Philadelphia chromosome
Translocation between 9 and 22 involving the BCR-ABL1 gene
What is a common side effect of co-amoxiclav?
Cholestatic hepatitis
What is a common side effect of erythromycin?
Diarrhoea
What is a common side effect of gentamicin?
Nephrotoxicity
What is a common side effect of nitrofurantoin?
Pulmonary fibrosis
What does malaria cause on blood smear?
Schistocytes
Which condition are Heinz bodies commonly observed in?

G6PD deficiency
What is haemolyric uraemic syndrome?
A post E.coli 0157h7 diarrhoea infection that commonly occurs in children with the traid:
- Renal failure
- Thrombocytopaenia
- Microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia
What is Henoch Schonlein Purpura?
An IgA nephropathy that commonly occurs in children post upper respiratory tract infection consisting of the traid:
- Purpura
- Abdominal pain
- Arthritis
What are the blood results for iron deficiency anaemia?
- Decreased Fe2+
- Decreased Hb
- Decreased Ferritin
- Increased Transferrin
- Decreased Transferrin saturation
- Increased TIBC
What are the blood results for anaemia of chronic disease?
- Decreased serum iron
- Decreased Hb
- Increased ferritin
- Normal/ low transferrin
- Decreased transferrin
- Normal/ high TIBC
What is thalassaemia trait confirmed by?
Hb electrophoresis
What is the pathophysiology of anaemia of chronic disease?
Increased hepcidin activation leading to increased iron sequestration in the tissues and decreased Fe2+ in the plasma
Which HLA is involved in Rheumatoid arthritis?
HLA-DR4`
What are the seronegative spondyloarthropathies?
- Psoriatic arthritis
- Enteropathic arthritis
- Ankylosing spondylitis
- Reactive arthritis
What are the three small vessel vasculidities?
- Microscopic polyangiitis
- Granulomatosis with polyangiitis
- Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis
Which is the only Hepatitis virus to have DNA rather than RNA?
B
Which hepatitis is most commonly chronic?
C is most commonly chronic, however B, C, D and E can all become chronic
Which is the only hepatitis virus that will not become chronic?
A
Which antibodies are associated with UC vs Crohn’s?
- Ulcerative colitis- pANCA
- Crohn’s- ASCA (IgG/IgA)
Where are arterial ulcers commonly found?
- Lateral malleolus
- In between the toes
- Soles of the feet
What is the appearance of arterial ulcers?
- Punched out
- Rough edges
- Necrotising tissue
What is the skin around an arterial ulcer like?
- Tight and shiny
- Hairless
- Pale
- Pulseless
- Prolonged cap refill
What is the management of an arterial ulcer?
- Anti-platelets
- Revascularisation
- Reduction of risk factors
Where do pressure ulcers form?
On sights of high pressure loading such as bony prominences
What is the best initial investigation for arterial ulcer?
ABPI
What is the best initial investigation for venous ulcer?
Duplex ultrasound
What are the best investigations for neuropathic ulcers?
- Pain
- Neurofilaments
- Fine touch
- Vibration sensation
What is the hypertension management algorithm?
Black and/ or >55
- CCB
- ACEi or ARB
- Thiazide diuretic
- If K+ >4.5 beta blockers, if K+ <4.5 spironolactone
T2DM and/ or <55
- ACEi or ARB
- CCB
- Thiazide diuretic
- If K+ >4.5 beta blockers, if K+ <4.5 spironolactone
What is the management of T2DM?
- Monotherapy with metformin or sulphonylurea (gliclazide, glimeperide)
- Dual therapy with M/S and DPP-4 inhibitor (-gliptin), SGLT-2 inhibitor (-flozin) or GLP-1 agonist (-tide)
- Insulin
What is needed on the Duke’s criterion to make a diagnosis of infective endocarditis?
- 2 majors
- 1 major, 3 minors
- 5 minors
What are the stages of heart failure?
- Class 1- no change to daily activities
- Class 2- difficulty performing activities on exertion, but comfortable at rest
- Class 3- marked limitation in physical activites, but comfortable at rest
- Class 4- unable to complete physcial activites, cardiac pain even at rest
What are the symptoms of a middle cerebral artery stroke?
- Contralateral hemisensory deficits face>arm>leg
- Contalateral weakness
- Contralateral homonymous hemianopia
- Aphasia if on the left side
What is the difference in hemiparesis between anterior and middle cerebral artery occlusions?
Anterior tends to affect the lower extremities, whereas middle tends to affect the upper extremities
What temperature should red blood cells be stored at prior to infusion?
4 degrees
What is the timeframe of blood transfusion for non-urgent scenarios?
Blood should be transfused over 90-120 minutes
What is the red blood cell transfusion threashold and haemoglobin aim after transfusion for patients without ACS?
- Threshold- 70g/L
- Haemoglobin aim- 70-90g/L
Patients with ACS
- Threshold- 80g/L
- Haemoglobin aim- 80-100g/L
What does fresh frozen plasma contain?
- All the clotting factors
- Platelets
- VWB factor
- Complement
What does cryopercipitate contain?
It’s a more concentrated version of fresh frozen plasma, therefore the doseage is lower
- Lots of fibrinogen (usually given to fibrinogen deficient patients)
- Factor VIII
- Factor XIII
- ADAMTS-13
When would cryopercipitate be used over fresh frozen plasma?
If the patient was fibrinogen (factor I) deficient or has VWB disease
What is primary immune thrombocytopaenic purpura?
Thrombocytopaenia and petichiae occurring in children approximately 3 weeks after a viral prodrome
It’s often self limiting and is a diagnosis of exclusion, however severe cases can be managed with IVIG/ steroids for active bleeding and
What is the management of TTP?
- Consult haematologist
- Plasma exchange with FFP
What is the management algorithm for chronic asthma?
- SABA
- SABA + low dose inhaled ICS
- LTRA + low dose inhaled ICS
- (+- LTRA) LABA + low dose inhaled ICS
- (+- LTRA) LABA as a MART + low dose inhaled ICS
- (+- LTRA) LABA as a MART + medium dose inhaled ICS
When would you consider reducing maintenance therapy for asthma?
If the patient has been on effective asthma therapy for at least 3 months and asthma is well controlled
What are the indications of moderate asthma?
- PEFR 50-75% of targeted peak flow or previous best
- Speech normal
- Resp rate <25
- Pulse <110
What are the indications of severe asthma?
- PEFR 33-50% of predicted or previous best
- Unable to speak in full sentences
- Resp rate >25
- Heart rate >110
What are the indications of life-threatening asthma?
- PEFR <33% previous best or predicted
- Unable to speak
- O2 <92%
- Silent chest
- CO2 normal is a very bad sign as it indicates fatigue
- Cyanosis
What is the class of theophylline?
Bronchodilator
What is the management of a life threatening asthma exacerbation?
- A-E assessment
- High flow O2
- High dose inhaled SABA
- Oral prednisolone
What is the management of moderate and severe asthma exacerbations?
All SABAs in acute asthama should be given via oxygen-driven nebuliser or IV if the patient can’t take via nebuliser
Moderate
- A-E assessment
- SABA
- Oral prednisolone
Severe
- A-E assessment
- SABA
- Oral prednisolone
What is the asthma diagnostic pathway for adults over 17 who are symptomatic?
Reversible airway obstruction on spirometry with FeNO >40ppb or variability in peak flow readings
What investigations should be ordered in suspicion of asthma?
Bedside
- Spirometry with bronchodilator therapy
- FEV1/FVC
- PEFR
- FeNO
Bloods
- FBC
- Eosinophils
- CRP/ ESR
Imaging
- Chest x-ray
What is the Well’s Score for PE?
- Signs of DVT- 3
- Alternative diagnosis to PE unlikely- 3
- Surgery within the past 4 weeks, or immobile for 3 or more days- 1.5
- Previous PE/ DVT- 1.5
- Tachycardic- 1.5
- Haemoptysis- 1
- Malignancy- 1
>4 CTPA, <4 D-dimer
What is the management algorithm of COPD?
- SABA or SAMA
Asthmatic features
- LABA + ICS
- LAMA (if poorly controlled)
No asthmatic features
- LABA + LAMA
- ICS (if poorly controlled)
What are some examples of SABAs?
- Salbutamol
- Terbutaline
What are some examples of SAMAs?
Ipratropium
What are some examples of LABAs?
- Formeterol
- Salmeterol
What are some examples of LAMAs?
Tiotropium
What is the management of acute exacerbation of COPD?
- Inhaled SABA
- Oral corticosteroid
- O2 via venturi mask
How should O2 be administered to COPD patients in acute respiratory failure?
Via venturi mask, as it can be tightly titrated to ensure their sats are 88-92%
What is the HAS-BLED score?
The score used to calculate a patients one year risk of bleeding when taking anticoagulents in AF
What are the thresholds for CHAD-VASc score?
- 1= aspirin or warfarin
- 2= warfarin
Which antibiotic should be given if pneumonia is severe (CURB-65 >=3)?
Co-amoxiclav
What is the first line antibiotic for hospital acquired pneumonias?
Co-amoxiclav
Does cardiac tamponade cause Kussmaul’s sign?
No, only constrictive pericarditis
Which organisms are most commonly associated with infection in bronchiectasis patients?
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa
- Streptococcus pneumoniae
- Staph aureus
What is the surgical managment of renal stones?
- 5-7mm stones usually pass on their own
- 10mm offer SWL and consider ureteroscopy if unsuccessful
- 10-20mm offer ureteroscopy (consider SWL if contraindicated) and consider PCNL
- >20mm offer PCNL or if the stone is a staghorn
What medications can be offered for renal calculi less than 10mm?
Alpha blockers such as Tamsulosin
What are the first choice oral antibiotics for pyelonephritis?
- Cefalexin
- Co-amoxiclav
- Trimethoprim
- Ciprofloxacin
What is the classification of Parkinson’s disease vs dementia with Lewy bodies?
- If dementia symptoms come on within one year of motor symptoms–> dementia with Lewy bodies
- If motor symptoms are more than 1 year before the dementia symptoms–> Parkinson’s dementia
What is the pathophysiology of Lewy body dementia?
Lewy bodies building up in the cortex and midbrain leading to generalised atrophy
What is the pathophysiology of Frontotemporal dementia?
Pick’s bodies accumulating in the cortex leading to frontal and temporal atrophy
What is the criteria for Rheumatic fever?
The Jones criteria, two majors or one major and two minors are needed for a diagnosis
Major
- Joint involvement
- O looks like a heart - myocarditis/ valve involvement
- Nodules (subcutaneous)
- Erythema marginatum
- Sydenham’s chorea
Minor
- Previous rheumatic fever
- ECG prolonged PR interval
- Arthralgia
- CRP and ESR raised
- Elevated temperature
What is the anaesthetic pre-operative ASA criteria?
- ASA 1- normal healthy patient
- ASA 2- mild systemic illness
- ASA 3- severe systemic illness that is not life threatening
- ASA 4- severe systemic illness that is life threatening
- ASA 5- moribund patient that will die without surgery
What is the management of heart failure?
Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction diagnosed via specialist (ejection fraction <40%):
- ACEi and beta blockers
- Spironolactone
What are the signs and symptoms present with MEN1 vs MEN2a vs MEN2b?
MEN 1
- Pituitary adenoma
- Parathyroid hyperplasia
- Pancreatic tumours
MEN 2a
- Parathyroid hyperplasia
- Medullary carcinoma
- Phaeochromocytoma
MEN 2b
- Mucosal neuromas (neurofibromatosis)
- Marfanoid body habitus
- Medullary carcinoma
- Phaeochromocytoma
What is an essential tremor?
A benign tremor that usually affects the hands bilaterally and is alleviated by alcohol
- Usually of the hands (rarely with leg involvement)
- No other neurological symptoms
- Can be isolated in the head
What is dystonia?
Abnormal muscle movements
What is a Parkinsonian tremor?
Pill rolling tremor alleviated by movement, usually in the legs and hands
What is a cerebellar tremor?
A tremor exacerbated by reaching (intention tremor) often accompanied with limb ataxia and dysmetria
What is a physiologic tremor?
A tremor exacerbated by sympathetic stimulants such as caffiene and exacerbated by movement, it can involve the face and extremities
What are the investigations to confirm a T1DM diagnosis?
Symptomatic patients need one positive test, asymptomatic patients need two positive tests
- Random glucose >= 11.1mmol/L
- Fasting glucose >= 7 mmol/L
- Two hour post prandial glucose >= 11.1 mmol/L
- Urine glucose and ketones
- HbA1c
What are the investigations to confirm a T2DM diagnosis?
- HbA1c >= 48mmol/L
- Fasting glucose >=7 mmol/L
- Random glucose >= 11.1 mmol/L
- Two hour post prandial glucose >= 11.1 mmol/L