Clin Med Dx, Tx, Buzzwords Flashcards
For patients presenting with ACS symptoms, how quickly should an EKG be obtained?
<10 min
Patients with STEMIs should receive early re-perfusion therapies; what is the target door-to-cath lab time?
<90 minutes
What is the door-to-drug time goal for patients dx with STEMI?
<30 minutes
What is the tx protocol for a patient with STEMI?
MONA: Morphine (if nitro is ineffective at relieving pain) O2 if <92% sat Nitro (sublingual x3, then drip) ASA 325
+ Heparin, clopidogrel
Upon admission will also receive ACE-i, BB, statin, but not administered in ED
Which leads view the septal cardiac region? What is the associated vessel?
V1 and V2
Ass’d vessel: Proximal LAD
Which leads view the anterior cardiac region? What is the associated vessel?
V3 and V4
Ass’d vessel: LAD
Which leads view the lateral cardiac region? What are the associated vessels?
I, V5, V6, aVL (L side)
aVR (R side)
- V5 and V6 are ass’d with LAD, LCx, or RCA
- I and aVL are associated with the LCx
aVR apparently we just ignore, idk
Which leads view the inferior cardiac region? What are the associated vessels?
II, III, aVF (“F” for “feet”!)
Ass’d vessels: RCA or LCx (usually RCA)
Your patient presents with severe, sudden, sharp chest pain and CXR shows a widened mediastinum and tracheal deviation.
How is definitive Dx made and what is the treatment?
Suspicious for aortic dissection.
Definitive Dx via CTA (though CXR and bedside US are useful)
Tx:
Keep BP and HR low with esmolol, nitroprusside
- 100-120 systolic
- 60-70 HR
Control pain with morphine/fentanyl, and get emergent vascular or CT surgical consult.
It’s the 5th of July, and you have a patient presenting with HR 160, palpitations, and dizziness.
- Likely Dx and Tx?
- What might be seen on EKG?
- What might have contributed to this condition?
A-Fib (with rapid ventricular response)
Treat by managing HR: IV diltiazem (unless WPW is suspected, in which cause procainamide should be used).
On EKG, will see irregularly irregular ventricular response with no discernible P waves
Excessive EtOH (“holiday heart”) can be a precipitating factor
Pt presents with HR >200, delta waves on EKG, and an irregular rhythm. What is important to consider when treating?
Likely WPW – blocking the AV node can cause the patient to crash. Do NOT use BBs or CCBs, use ibutilide or procainamide.
Pt presents with SOB and CXR shows Kerley B lines. What is the likely Dx and how is it treated?
CHF exacerbation: Lasix and nitro are the mainstays of treatment.
Lasix should be started after getting CMP, BUN, and Cr.
Nitro should be used only in small boluses to avoid tanking the pt.
What is the atypical etiologic agent associated with PNA in an alcoholic patinet?
Klebsiella
What is the atypical etiologic agent ass’d with PNA in a pt with CF?
Pseudomonas
What is the atypical etiologic agent ass’d with PNA in an HIV+ patient?
Pneumo jirovecii
What is the atypical etiologic agent ass’d with PNA in a pt with IV drug use?
Staph aureus
What are the criteria for admitting a PNA patient?
CURB-65:
Confusion Uremia RR > 30 BP < 90 systolic Age >65
What’s the ED’s “kill everything” antibiotic cocktail?
Vanc + zosyn
Your patient is young, tachycardic, and experiencing coughing and syncope. What should jump to the top of your Ddx? How is Dx made and what is the Tx?
PE
Gold std Dx via pulm angiography, but CT chest PE protocol is used
Tx = heparin or LMWH (ex: enoxaparin/lovenox)
Consider thrombolytics vs thrombectomy if patient is hemodynamically unstable or the embolus is large.
Buzzword: Westermark sign
Decreased vascularity of the lungs seen on CXR –> PE
Buzzword: Hampton’s hump
Wedge-shaped infarct of the lungs seen on CXR –> PE
Patient presents post-MVA with SOB and tracheal deviation seen on CXR. What is the likely Dx and how is it managed?
Tension pneumo - often seen post trauma and can cause tracheal deviation.
Manage immediately w/ needle decompression, but definitive Tx is chest tube placement.
Pt with hx of liver failure presents with SOB. CXR shows blunting of the costophrenic angle. What is the likely Dx and how is it treated?
Pleural effusion (in this case, secondary to third spacing caused by liver failure).
Tx with thoracentisis and use Light’s criteria to determine transudative vs exudative cause.
Light’s Criteria:
- Fluid protein : serum protein >0.5
- Fluid LDH : serum LDH >0.6
- Fluid LDH >2/3 upper limit of normal
What is the tx for a patient presenting with asthma exacerbation?
- Duoneb (albuterol [SABA] + ipatropium [SAMA])
- IV prednisone
- IV Mg (bronchodilation)
Intubation as needed
Pt presents with exertional dyspnea and cough with sputum. CXR shows hyperinflation and a flattened diaphragm. What is the most significant risk factor for this condition? How is Dx made? How is it treated?
Smoking is the biggest RF for COPD.
Dx is not made in the ED: requires PFT showing obstructive pattern.
Tx includes smoking cessation, O2 therapy, possibly CPAP/BIPAP, and duoneb treatment.
Use Gold criteria to determine if antibiotics are necessary:
SOB + purulent or increased sputum
In these patients use AZ, doxy or levofloxacin for 3-5 days + prednisone for 5 days
What are the qSOFA criteria for identifying septic patients?
2+ of the following:
GCS <15
SBP <100
RR 22+
What is the primary difference between SIRS and sepsis? What are their similarities?
Sepsis requires a source of infection.
Both require 2+ of the following:
- Temp >100.4
- RR 20+ (or PaCO2 <32)
- HR 90+
- WBC <4,000 or >12,000
- WBC showing left shift (>10% bands)
What constitutes “severe” sepsis?
Lactic acid >2
Systolic BP <90
What constitutes septic shock?
A patient with severe sepsis (lactic acid >2 and SBP <90) who does not respond to crystalloid fluid resus after at least 30 mL/kg bolus
What are the 6 key components for treating septic shock?
- Rapid identification (qSOFA)
- Obtain blood cultures before abx
- Early abx (zosyn then vanc – in that order) w/in first 3 hours
- Aggressive crystalloid resus (30mL/kg) w/in first 3 hours
- Initial and f/up lactic acid values if initial is >2
- Vasopressors: NE
What antibiotics are used for patients in septic shock and why?
Broad-spectrum antibiotics are used. Ceftriaxone, Zosyn (pipercillin/tazobactam), or levofloxacin were emphasized.
Vancomycin is added for MRSA coverage but must be initiated AFTER the broad spectrum agent.
How are burns on the face treated?
ONLY use bacitracin on the face.
No SSD, no triple antibiotic.
As soon as healing occurs, switch to facial lotion (ex Cetaphil) and keep very well moisturized and use sunscreen every day
How are partial thickness burns (not on the face) managed?
Keep covered, moist, and antimicrobial.
Silver gel/xeroform or petroleum gauze are often used.
Never wrap a dry burn.
How are deep partial thickness burns treated?
Aggressive, daily debridement; consider silver dressing
A burn that is pink, has blistered, blanches quickly, weeps significantly, and is very painful would likely be categorized as what?
Superficial partial thickness (quick blanching and significant weeping –> superficial)