Emergency Medicine

Question 1

What is 1st line management for patients presenting with alcohol withdrawal seizures?

Answer 1

Benzodiazepines (lorazepam)

Question 2

How might someone in alcohol withdrawal present?

Answer 2

• 6-12 hours after last drink
• sweating
• tremors
• hyperthermia
• agitation

Question 3

What is Delerium Tremens?

Answer 3

Typically around 72 hours after last drink.
Altered mental status, autonomic hyperactivity, hallucinations, and can cause seizures.

Question 4

How might Opiate withdrawal present?

Answer 4

Diarrhoea, mydriasis, muscle aches, yawning, runny nose, insomnia, tachycardia, HeTN, piloerection (goosebumps).

Question 5

How do you treat CO poisoning?

Answer 5

100% O2 via face mask, pt may need ITU admission.

Question 6

Adenosine is CI in asthmatics, what would you them instead in the context of SVT?

Answer 6

Verapamil.

Question 7

What pathologies can cause a stroke mimic?

Answer 7

• Hypoglycaemia,
• B12 deficiency
• Infection

Question 8

What is the management for a confirmed ischaemic stroke?

Answer 8

1) Can they be thrombolysed/can you use thrombectomy?
2) if not (such as being outside treatment window), give dual antiplatelet therapy (300 mg of aspirin and 300 mg clopidogruel)

Question 9

INR over what number is an absolute CI to thrombolysis?

Answer 9

> 1.7

Question 10

What head injury is associated with a lucid interval?

Answer 10

Extra-dural haemorrhage.

Question 11

A pt presenting with vomiting, confusion, and generalised abdominal pain, on a background of metastatic cancer is likely what?

Answer 11

Hypercalaemia.

Question 12

What are the causes of post-op pyrexia?

Answer 12

5 Ws:
- Wind (pnuemonia/atelectasis)
- water (uti)
- wound (infection)
- Wonder drugs (anaesthetics)
- walking (DVT)

Question 13

What are the stages of hypovolaemic shock?

Answer 13

Stage 1-4: categorised by volume blood loss -
<15%, 15-30%, 30-40%, >40%