Emergency Medicine Flashcards
What is the 1st line treatment for minor bleeding in a patient with von Willebrand disease?
Desmopressin
What are the 3 types of definitive airways?
Orotracheal tube
Nasotracheal tube
Surgical airway (cricothyrotomy/tracheostomy)
Which nerve is most likely to be injured when the arm is hyperextended?
T1 of the brachial plexus
What is the T1 nerve root motor function?
Finger abduction
Finger adduction
Thumb opposition
Wrist flexion
What is the T1 nerve root sensory function?
Sensation to the ulnar aspect of the forearm
What are the 4 causes of postpartum hemorrhage?
4 T’s
Uterine atony (most common)
Trauma to birth canal
Retention of fetal or placental tissue
Coagulopathy or thrombin disorder
What is 1st line treatment for a patient that presents with symptoms of alcohol withdrawal?
Benzos or phenobarbital
Generally speaking, what is the 1st line PO treatment of uncomplicated pyelonephritis?
Ceftriaxone
What are the signs/symptoms of serotonin syndrome?
History of taking multiple meds that increase serotonin (SSRI, SNRI, TCA)
Mental status changes
Autonomic instability (tachy, diaphoresis, diarrhea)
Neuromuscular abnormalities (clonus, tremor, seizure)
What is the treatment for serotonin syndrome?
Benzos
Cyproheptadine
Remove the offending agent
What is a greenstick fracture and how do you manage it?
A bone that is bent with a fracture line that does not extend completely through the width of the bone
Immobilization and casting
What are the Ottawa foot and ankle rules?
Rules to x-ray a foot/ankle if:
Pt cannot bear weight for 4 steps
Distal 6 cm of tibia or fibula is tender
Medial or lateral malleolus is tender
5th metatarsal is tender
Navicular bone is tender
What are signs/symptoms of a lisfranc injury?
Hx of MVC, fall, playing sports
Severe foot pain & inability to bear weight
Tenderness of the tarsometatarsal joint
What is the most common cause of osteomyelitis in children?
Staphylococcus aureus
What organisms commonly lead to sepsis in asplenic patients?
Strep pneumo
N. meningitidis
H. flu
What is the treatment for a cat bite?
Irrigate the wound
Leave the wound open
Treat w/Augmentin
What are the signs/symptoms of mitral valve prolapse?
Palpitations
Dyspnea
Non-exertional chest pain
Fatigue
Midsystolic click & late systolic murmur
What maneuvers increase preload or afterload that move a midsystolic click to a later systolic click?
Squatting (increase preload)
Afterload (hand grip)
Which nerve root is most commonly affected when a pt presents with pain that radiates down the posterior arm to the dorsum of the forearm & 3rd digit (cervical radiculopathy)?
C7
What are the signs/symptoms of osteoarthritis?
Joint pain & stiffness (knees, hips, DIP)
Pain that is worse with activity & better with rest
Swelling, deformity, crepitus, decreased ROM
Joint space narrowing and osteophytes (on x-ray)
What is considered a hypertensive emergency?
Elevated BP (systolic > 180 or > 120 diastolic) with concomitant end-organ damage
What is the treatment for hypertensive emergency?
IV antihypertensives (labetalol or nicardipine)
If with pulmonary edema, vasodilators (nitrates)
What are the signs/symptoms of transient aplastic crisis?
May have sickle cell, iron deficiency anemia, or hereditary spherocytosis
Pallor, fatigue, lethargy, SOB
Low or undetectable reticulocyte count
What is the most common cause of transient aplastic crisis and what is the treatment?
Parovirus B19
Self-limited, transfusion support
What is the most common post-partum infection?
Endometritis
What are the signs/symptoms and the treatment for endometritis?
Sxs: may have hx of c-section, abdominal pain, fever, foul smelling lochia
Tx: clindamycin + gentamicin (add ampicillin if GBS)
What is the most common ankle injury and how does it occur?
Lateral ankle sprain
Occurs when plantar flexed foot is inverted
ST elevations on EKG based on occlusion site
Anterior: V1 thru V4
Inferior: II, III, aVF
Lateral: I, aVL, V5, V6
Posterior: depressions in V1 thru V3 & elevations in V8 & V9
What presents with dyspnea on exertion, syncope, and chest pain and also has a harsh crescendo-decrescendo systolic murmur that increases in intensity with Valsalva maneuver and decreases with squatting?
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
What is the Parkland formula?
Calculation for fluid resuscitation for burn patients
4mL x total body surface area of burns (%) x body weight (kg)
1st half given over 8 hrs, 2nd half given over 16 hours
What is the rule of 9’s?
Burn % based on body part
Head: 9%
Torso front: 18%
Torso back: 18%
Each arm: 9%
Each leg: 18%
Genitals: 1%
Palm: 0.5%
All fingers: 1%
What is a common presentation/signs of an epidural hematoma?
Head injury with loss of consciousness followed by lucid interval and then rapid cognitive decline
Biconvex opacity on CT (lens shaped)
Usually from middle meningeal artery
What are the EKG findings in a pt suspected of having pericarditis?
PR depression
PR elevation in aVR
Diffuse ST segment elevation
What is the treatment for pericarditis?
NSAIDs
Colchicine
What sound is heard in a pt with aortic regurgitation?
Diastolic blowing murmur best heard at the left sternal border
What are the signs/symptoms of a subarachnoid hemorrhage?
Worst headache of their life or thunderclap headache
Blood in Circle of Willis and/or fissures on CT
What is the most commonly affected vessel in an ischemic stroke?
Middle cerebral artery (MCA)
What are the signs/symptoms of a middle cerebral artery ischemic stroke?
Contralateral paralysis
Aphasia
What is a P2Y12 inhibitor?
Antiplatelet (clopidogrel)
Commonly used in acute coronary syndrome management
What are the signs/symptoms of mitral stenosis?
Hx of rheumatic heart disease
Exertional dyspnea, hemoptysis
Mid-diastolic rumbling best heard at apex (does not radiate)
What are the signs/symptoms of hyperthyroidism?
Heat intolerance, anxiety, weight loss
Exophthalmos, pretibial edema
Low TSH, high free T4
Treat with methimazole or PTU
*PTU in the 1st trimester of pregnancy
If a pt presents with hypotension and you suspect septic shock due to a plethoric IVC on ultrasound, what is the best management?
Start vasopressors (norepinephrine)
What EKG changes are seen in a pt with a pulmonary embolism?
S1, Q3, T3
S wave in lead I
Q wave in lead III
Flipped T wave in lead III
What EKG changes are seen in a left bundle branch block?
Wide QRS complex
Large R wave in lead I
Negative wave in lead V1
What lab values would you see in a patient with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)?
Thrombocytopenia
Decreased fibrinogen
Increased fibrin split products
Increased bleeding time
Increased PT & PTT
What are the characteristics of pheochromocytoma?
Catecholamine-secreting tumor of adrenal gland
Sx: diaphoresis, tremors, vision changes
PE: hypertension
Dx: increased 24hr urinary catecholamines & metanephrines or increased serum metanephrines
Tx: alpha blocker (phentolamine, phenoxybenzamine)
What is a Trousseau sign?
Carpal spasm produced when the examiner applies a blood pressure cuff to the upper arm and maintains a pressure above systolic for 2–3 minutes
Commonly seen in hypocalcemia
What are the signs/symptoms of a migraine and what is the treatment?
Gradual onset, unilateral, throbbing
Abortive tx: triptans, DHE, NSAIDs, antiemetics
Prophylaxis: TCAs, beta blockers, anticonvulsants (topiramate), CCBs
Avoid triptans with uncontrolled HTN