Falls Flashcards
1
Q
What age group are at the highest risk of falls?
A
- >65
2
Q
How are falls categorised?
A
- Syncopal
- Non syncopal
3
Q
What is syncope?
A
Sudden loss of consciousness over seonds
4
Q
How can syncopal falls be subdivided into?
A
- CVS
- Neurological
- Respiratory
- Genitourinary
- Endocrine
5
Q
What are the cardio causes of syncopal falls?
A
- Arrthymias
- Postural hypotension
- Aortic stenosis
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
- Bradycardia
6
Q
What are the neuro causes of syncopal falls?
A
- Vasovagal attack
- Carotid sinus syncope
- Epilepsy
- Stroke
7
Q
What are the respiratory causes of syncopal falls?
A
- Severe cough
- PE
8
Q
What are the genitorurinary causes of syncopal falls?
A
- Micturition syncope
9
Q
What are the endocrine causes of syncopal falls?
A
- Hypoglycaemia
10
Q
What are the causes of non syncopal falls?
A
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Arthritis
- Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo
- Others
- poor footwear, visual loss, accident
11
Q
A detailed Hx is crucial to determine the cause of fall. What frame work will you use?
A
- Who - who has seen you fall?
- When - when did you fall?
- Where - where did you fall?
-
What - what were you doing
- before, during, after
- Why - why do you think you fell?
- How - how many times have you fallen over 6months?
12
Q
What medications can cause fall?
A
- beta blockers - bradycardia
- diabetic drugs - hypoglycaemia
- antihypertensives - hypotension
- benzodiazepine - sedation
- abx - infection
13
Q
A
14
Q
What Ix would you order for falls?
A
- Bedside
- vitals
- lying and standing BP
- urine dipstick
- ECG
- cognitive screening
- BM
- Bloods
- routine + bone profile
- Imaging
- CXR
- CT head
- Echo
15
Q
How would you Mx falls?
A
- Full falls risk assessment
- Treat underlying medical cause
- Review medications
- Ensure good footwear
