Geriatric medicine Flashcards
what are the side effects of donepezil, galantamine and rivastigmine?
diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting, excess salivation, urinary incontinence and bradycardia
how does lewy body dementia classically present?
REM sleep disorder, history of falls (secondary to motor problems) and hallucination
what cardiac investigation should be done before commencing a patient on an anticholinesterase inhibitor? what are the contraindication?
ECG
-prolonged QT interval, bradykinesia <50, second or third degree heart block
what are some aspects of non-pharmacological management of dementia patients?
psychoeducation/information giving, carer support, support groups and advance care planning
what is the classic triad of normal pressure hydrocephalus?
gait disturbance, dementia and urinary incontinence
what are the most common conditions leading to charles bonnet syndrome?
age related macular degeneration, cataract and glaucoma
What investigations are done for osteoporosis?
DEXA scan and calcium and vitamin D levels. (Women over 75 with fragility fractures have presumptive diagnosis of osteoporosis without need for DEXA scan)
What is the cut off T-score for osteoporosis?
-2.5
If a patient has severe osteoporosis which is not explained just by being post menopausal, what tests should be done?
Thyroid function, calcium, parathyroid, bone turnover markers. Also myeloma screen
What is first like management for osteoporosis?
Alendronate with vitamin D and calcium supplements
You want to start a patient on Adcal-D3 for bone protection but they cannot manage to swallow large tablets. What is an alternative?
Provide them with a dissolvable preparation of Adcal-D3 to improve compliance
What do different T scores suggest?
Greater than -1 = healthy bone
-1 to -2.5 = osteopenia
Less than -2.5 = osteoporosis
What is the AMTS?
Abbreviated mental test score is a ten point test to rapidly assess elderly patients for presence of cognitive impairment. A score of 6 or less suggests delirium or dementia
How should patinets be advised to take alendronate?
Administered once a week. Taken on an empty stomach while sat upright for thirty minutes with a full glass of water. Do not eat for thirty minutes after taking the tablet
If someone is unable to tolerate bisphosphonates, what alternative medication can be given?
Denosumab
Where are the common location of fragility fractures?
Vertebrae, hips, wrists
What is the recommended therapeutic plasma concentration of digoxin?
1-2 micrograms/l
What are some common symptoms of digoxin toxicity?
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, visual disturbances, hallucinations and drowsiness
Can APTT be used to measure effects of warfarin as well as INR?
No APTT is a measurement of the anticoagulant effect of unfractionated heparin
What is the recommended INR range for a patient receiving warfarin for the prevention of a stroke?
2-3
What investigations are likely to be done when someone presents with confusion?
FBC- anaemia? infection?
U+Es
Calcium
LFTs
TFTs
Blood glucose
Drug levels
Urinalysis
CXR/sputum cultures
What are some non-pharmacological ways we can support people with dementia with their memory?
Calendars, clocks, spoken reminders, labelling cupboards/rooms and life story books
What are some non-pharmacological ways we can support people with dementia who are wandering?
Door alarms, sensor mats, GPS tracking
What are some non-pharmacological ways we can support people with dementia with their ADLs?
Visual prompts, verbal cues and encouragement, carers/POC, adaptive cutlery
What are some environmental adaptations OTs can put in place to help dementia patients?
Alarmed dossett boxes, stair rails, bathing equipment
What are some of the causes of delirium to initially screen for? (Using pneumonic PINCH ME)
Pain
Infection
Constipation
Dehydration
Medication
Environment
If a patient is not able to verbalise their pain, what can be used to help assess their pain?
Abbey pain scale
What are some delirium screening tests?
SQiD, CAM, 4AT
What is the non-pharmacological management of stress incontinence?
Pelvic floor exercises
What is the non-pharmacological management of urge incontinence?
Decaffeinated drinks, bladder training
What are some ways to reduce the distress of a patient with delirium?
Get them to speak to relative, assess and manage their pain, distracting techniques
What are Non-pharmacological ways that patients can help manage postural hypotension?
Withdraw any offending medication
Rise slowly from laying to sitting to standing
Avoid straining, coughing and prolonged standing in hot weather
Cross legs while standing
Raise head of bed
Small meals and coffee in the morning
Exercise
Increase salt and water intake
What is the definition of positive postural blood pressure test?
A drop in systolic BP by 20mmHg or
A drop below 90mmHg systolic on standing or
A drop in diastolic BP of 10mmHg with symptoms
What medications are commonly used for postural hypotension?
Fludrocortisone, midodrine