General

Question 1

Treatment approach to conditions

Answer 1

MERFUMS

MDT
Education
Referral
Follow up 
Medical 
Surgical

Question 2

The 4 C’s of C.difficile antibiotic-associated diarrhoea

Answer 2

Cephalosporins (esp. 2nd and 3rd gen.)
Co-amoxiclav
Clindamycin
Ciprofloxacin

Question 3

P450 inducers (drug concentration reduces) - long mnemonic

Answer 3

PC BRAS

Phenytoin
Carbamazepine

Barbiturates
Rifampicin
Alcohol (chronic excess)
Sulphonylureas

Question 4

P450 inhibitors (increased drug concentration) - long mnemonic

Answer 4

AODEVICES

Allopurinol
Omeprazole
Disulfiram
Erythromycin
Valproate
Isoniazid
Ciprofloxacin
Ethanol
Sulphonamides

Question 5

P450 inhibitors short mnemonic

Answer 5

EFOQ

Eryhthromycin
Fluconazole
Omeprazole
Quinolones

Question 6

P450 inducers short mnemonic

Answer 6

BCPR

Barbiturate
Carbamezepine
Phenytoin
Rifampicin

Question 7

Drugs to stop before surgery

Answer 7

I LACK OP

Insulin
Lithium
Anticoagulants
COCP/HRT
K-sparing diuretic
Oral hypoglycaemics
Perindopril

Question 8

What to review in a prescription

Answer 8

PReSCRIBER

Patient details
Reaction (allergy and reaction)
Sign in front of chart
Contraindications to each drug
Route for each drug
IV fluids if needed
Blood clot prophylaxis
anti-Emetic
Relief of pain?

Question 9

Steroid side effects

Answer 9

STEROIDS

Stomach ulcers
Thin skin
Edema
Right and left HF
Osteoporosis
Infection (candida)
Diabetes (hyperglycaemia)
Cushing’s Syndrome

Question 10

NSAIDs side effects

Answer 10

NSAID

No urine (i.e. renal failure)
Systolic dysfunction
Asthma
Indigestion
Dyscrasia (clotting abnormality)

Question 11

The 2 T’s of salbutamol SE’s

Answer 11

TT

Tremor
Tachycardia

Question 12

Lithium side effects

Answer 12

LITHIUM

Leucocytosis
Insipidus (diabetic)
Tremor
Hypothyroidism
Increased weight gain
VOmiting
Moms beware (teratogenic)

Question 13

The 4 D’s of hypernatraemia

Answer 13

Dehydration
Drips
Drugs (IV preps with too much Na)
DIabetes insipidus

Question 14

Hypokalaemia

Answer 14

DIRE

Drugs (loop and thiazide diuretics)
Inadequate intake/intestinal loss
Renal tubular acidosis
Endocrine (Cushing’s/Conn’s)

Question 15

Hyperkalaemia

Answer 15

DREAD

Drugs (K sparing duiretics, ACEi, heparins, tacrolimus)
Endocrine (addison’s)
Artefact (clotted sample)
DKA

Question 16

Renal (intrinsic) causes of renal failure

Answer 16

INTRINSIC

• Ischaemic
• Nephrotoxic abx
• > Gentamicin, vancomycin, tetracyclines
• Tablets (ACEis, NSAIDS)
• Radiological contrast
• Injury (rhabdo)
• Negatively birefringent crystals (gout)
• Syndromes (glomerulonephritides)
• Inflammation (vasculitis)
• Cholesterol emboli

Question 17

Raised ALP (= alkaline phosphatase)

Answer 17

ALKPHOS

Any fracture
Liver damage
K for Kancer
Paget’s disease
HyperPTH
Osteomalacia
Surgery

Question 18

Risk factors for breast cancer

Answer 18

BOOBYS

Bleeding: early menarche, late menopause
Oestrogen: OCP
Other breast disease
Breast feeding
Young: first child at young age
Sisters: FHx

Question 19

Analysing a chest X-ray

Answer 19

PRIM ABCDE

Projection: (PA - normal or AP - heart will appear larger)
Rotation: distance between spinous processes and clavicles is equal
Inspiration: 7th anterior rib transects the diaphragm)
Markings: any abnormalities noted by radiographer
Airways
Breath fields
Cardiac
Diaphragm
Extras

Question 20

Post surgical management of patients

Answer 20

FLAT NEWT

Fluid + NBM + NG tube
Lung - early expansion, exercise (atelectesis)
Analgesia + anti-emetics + abx
Tubes - early removal (catheters, drains)
Nutrition - oral asap
Embolism - (TEDs and LMWH)
Walk - mobilisation
Toilet - bowels

Question 21

Analysing an AXR

Answer 21

Gases, Masses, Stones, Bones

Question 22

7 C’s of post-op pyrexia

Answer 22

Catheter
CVP line
Cannula
Chest infection
Collection
Cut
Calves (DVT)

Question 23

Daily requirement of electrolytes, Na, K+, etc

Answer 23

1 mmol/kg/day