Elderly Medicine Flashcards
What is Meig’s syndrome?
Is the triad of:
- Ascites
- Pleural effusion
- Benign ovarian tumor (fibroma)
What are the symptoms of Meigs syndrome?
- Fatigue
- Dyspnoea (initially on exertion).
- Pelvic pain or bloating, constipation.
- Swollen abdomen with associated weight gain or weight loss.
- Non-productive cough.
- Amenorrhoea or irregular menstruation.
How do you diagnose Meigs syndrome?
Reduction in lung capacity
CA125 will be raised
What is the management of Meigs syndrome?
Surgical removal of the tumour
Correction of plural effusion
What is progressive supranuclear palsy?
Aka Steele-Richardson-Olszewski syndrome
A ‘Parkinson Plus’ syndrome
What are the symptoms of progressive supranuclear palsy?
- Impairment of vertical gaze (down gaze worse than up gaze - patients may complain of difficultly reading or descending stairs)
- Parkinsonism
- Falls
- Slurring of speech
- Cognitive impairment
What is the management for progressive supranucelar palsy?
Poor response to L-dopa
What are the grades of pressure sores?
-
Grade 1
Non-blanchable erythema of intact skin. Discolouration of the skin, warmth, oedema, induration or hardness -
Grade 2
Partial thickness skin loss involving epidermis or dermis, or both. The ulcer is superficial and presents clinically as an abrasion or blister -
Grade 3
Full thickness skin loss involving damage to or necrosis of subcutaneous tissue that may extend down to, but not through, underlying fascia. -
Grade 4
Extensive destruction, tissue necrosis, or damage to muscle, bone or supporting structures with or without full thickness skin loss

What is part of the acute confusion screen?
B12/folate: macrocytic anaemias, B12/folate deficiency worsen confusion
TFTs: confusion is more commonly seen in hypothyroidism
Glucose: hypoglycaemia can commonly cause confusion
Bone Profile (Calcium): hypercalcaemia can cause confusion
What are precipitating factors to acute confusion state?
- Age > 65 years
- Background of dementia
- Significant injury e.g. hip fracture
- Frailty or multimorbidity
- Polypharmacy
What are normally the preciptating events to acute confusional state?
- Infection: particularly urinary tract infections
- Metabolic: e.g. hypercalcaemia, hypoglycaemia, hyperglycaemia, dehydration
- Change of environment
- Any significant cardiovascular, respiratory, neurological or endocrine condition
- Severe pain
- Alcohol withdrawal
- Constipation
What are the symptoms of acute confusional state?
- Memory disturbances (loss of short term > long term)
- May be very agitated or withdrawn
- Disorientation
- Mood change
- Visual hallucinations
- Disturbed sleep cycle
- Poor attention
What is the management of acute confusional state?
Treatment of the underlying cause
Modification of the environment
Haloperidol 0.5 mg as the first-line sedative
Name some medications that cause postural hypotension?
- ACE-inhibitors
- Beta-blockers
- Diuretics
- Antidepressants
- Anticholinergic medications
- Nitrates
- L-Dopa
Name some medications associated with falls due to other mechanisms?
- Benzodiazepines
- Antipsychotics
- Opiates
- Anticonvulsants
- Codeine
- Digoxin
- Other sedative agents
What is the definition of polypharmacy?
A single patient taking 5 or more medications daily
What drugs should be avoided in Parkinson’s patients?
Atypical antipsychotics
What drugs should be avoided in Lewy body dementia?
Antipsychotics
Name a acetycholinesterase inhibitor?
Donepezil
Rivastigmine
Galantamine
Name a NMDA antagonist?
Memantine
When are oral antibiotics used on a pressure ulcer?
Only when there are signs of infection
What is seen on an MRI for Alzeimer’s disease?
Widespread cerebral atrophy mainly involivng the cortex and hippocampus
What does raised intracranial pressure show on CT?
Effacement of the cerebral ventricle and loss of grey-white matter differentation
What is seen on CT with frontotemporal dementia?
Frontal lobe atrophy