Meeran VSAs Flashcards
A 50 year oldman with a history of type 2 diabetes presents with left sided weakness and a headache. Examination reveals brisk reflexes in the left arm.
-Rank the following differential diagnoses
- stroke - imp to exclude, esp with hx of T2DM, sudden
- brain tumour - similar feat but slower
- migraine - can cause sx on 1 side due to vascular spasm
- MS - F>M, req 2+ CNS lesions sep in time + space
- GBS - would be LMN signs
A 50year old male presents with severe epigastric pain. He has had a similar episode in the past and he admits to drinking an excess of alcohol, and smoking a pack per day.
-Rank the differential diagnoses below in order of likelihood
- Acute pancreatitis - severe epig pain + xs alcohol
- Peptic ulcer disease - more comm in alcoholics
- Acute MI - RF smoking, can be epig pain
- Cholecystitis - RUQ or epig pain + assoc fever
- Basal pneumonia - can cause epig pain BUT no resp sx reported so least likely
A 40 year old man presents with collapse and LoC witnessed by his wife. The ep lasted 3 mins. He felt dizzy for a few s prior to the event and had some jerky movements during the event. He recovered spontaneously and was NOT confused afterwards. He had no previous cardiac history and in fact had never seen a doctor.
-Rank the following differential diagnoses of his collapse
- Vasovagal - most likely given no previous cardiac hx
- Arrythmia - can present with collapse
- seizure - less likely as lack of post-ictal confusion
- TIA - would expect some focal neurological signs
- hypoglycaemia - least likely as event TERMINATED SPONTANEOUSLY, also no suggestion he is on insulin or has diabetes
A 24 year old female presents with severe right sided back and abdominal pain and a fever. She has no other previous medical or travel history.
-Rank the following differential diagnoses
- Acute Pyelonephritis - presents with fever loin/flank pain and tenderness, but this is sometimes interpreted as back pain by patients
- Cholecystitis - also commonly presents with RUQ pain associated with fever
- Hepatitis - also causes fever and RUQ pain assoc with J, and would be more likely if there was a travel hx for viral hepatitis
- Campylobacter infection- presents with fever, cramp-like pain and bloody diarrhoea
- Peptic ulcer- is the least likely, as it does not usually present with fever.
A 50year old woman presents with a severe headache and photophobia. Examination reveals brisk reflexes
-Rank the following differential diagnoses
- SAH - In a pt presenting with severe sudden onset headache and photophobia think of SAH
- Meningitis - no history of fever, but, remember that you should tx this pt for meningitis quickly while you are making the dx
- Encephalitis - usu have behavioural changes in addition to the headache
- SDH - usu has a more subacute/chronic presentation with headache and confusion
- EDH - often due to a fractured temporal/ parietal bone damaging the MMA and so only occurs after severe trauma
A 50 year old smoker presents with lobar pneumonia. Examination reveals dullness at the right base with increased tactile vocal fremitus.
-Rank the following organisms in order of liklihood
- Streptococcus pneumonia - commonest cause of CAP
- H.Influenza - imp cause in elderly adults who have COPD or smoke heavily
- Mycoplasma - atypical
- Legionella - atypical
- E.Coli - G negatives uncommon but consider in HAPs
Abdominal examination of a 70year old breathless man of no fixed abode reveals a palpable spleen. He is known to drink heavily and has had an anterior myocardial infarction previously.
-Rank the differential diagnoses
- Portal HTN
- Congestive cardiac failure - hepatomeg + splenomeg - pt is breathless
3.TB
4.Malaria
5.Schistosomiasis - rare esp without travel hx
NB. main causes of splenomegaly = portal HTN, haem malignancies + infection
A 50 year old W presents with L calf swelling and tenderness. She has had a recent # and has been immobile. Her PMHx includes OA. She has smoked 30/day for the last 30 years, but does not drink alcohol. Rank the differential diagnoses
- DVT - unilat swollen leg, recent #
2.cellulitis
3.ruptured bakers cyst
1-3 –> unilateral swollen leg
4.cardaic failure - usu causes bilat leg swelling
5.liver failure - peripheral oedema - but NO other feat of CLD
A 45 year old woman presents with a 1 day hx of dizziness on standing up + vomiting. She had been started on a TCA by her GP two weeks ago. Her PMHx includes T2DM dx 4Y ago + treated with metformin. Rank the differential diagnoses
- TCA - started 2w ago
- Gastroenteritis –> hypovolaemia - can cause postural hypotension + dizziness
- Metformin - common cause of GI upset + vomiting - less likely as pt stable for a while
- Diabetic peripheral neuropathy - unlikely to be acute in onset
- Amyloid - v unlikely
A 35 year old male intravenous drug abuser is admitted to Casualty with a 3 day history of yellow discolouration of his skin, flulike symptoms and nausea. On examination, he is cachectic and jaundiced, with smooth, tender hepatomegaly. Rank the following differential diagnoses
- Hep C - IVDU
- HIV - IVDU
- ALD
- Paracetamol OD - can cause acute liver failure
- Gilberts Syndrome - asymptomatic hyperbilirubinaemia and needs no specific tx
loud pan systolic murmur at apex
MITRAL REGURGITATION
ESM
aortic stenosis
irregularly irregular pulse
AF
SLOW rising pulse
Aortic stenosis
Collapsing pulse
Aortic regurgitation
Very loud first heart sound
MITRAL STENOSIS
- causes loud S1 as leaflets are wide apart at end of atrial contraction, atrium still isn’t empty when the ventricles start to contract so the mitral valve is WIDE OPEN + SNAPS SHUT
- calcification will quieten the valves
early diastolic murmur at left sternal edge
Aortic Regurgitation
closure of what valve causes S1
Mitral valve
closure of what valve causes S2
Aortic valve + pulmonary valve too
split
tapping apex
= palpable 1st heart sound - mitral stenosis
- If the valve is stenosed then the atrium struggles to empty and at the start of systole, the atrium isn’t yet empty
- Thus the valve is wide open when systole starts. Thus when the valve slams shut from being fully open, it is very loud and palpable
third heart sound caused by what
- A 3rd HS is caused by RAPID VENTRICULAR FILLING during normal diastole BEFORE the atrium contracts (which would cause a fourth heart sound if there is any stiffness)
- This occurs when the ventricle is dilated due to cardiac failure
cannon waves, what is likely dx
complete heart block/third degree heart block
- only condition when atrium contracts against closed tricuspid valve (randomly) as the A+V are contracting at diff rates
- when they contract together, the blood of atrium can ONLY rush UPWARDS
65 year old complains of slowly increased swelling of both legs, and slowly worsening breathlessness. Examination reveals a raised JVP, causes?
HF:
- usu this starts with an ischaemic left ventricle causing Left ventricular failure
- this causes breathlessness due to pulmonary oedema
- there is then fluid retention and peripheral oedema results from RVF = Congestive cardiac failure
Cor pulmonale:
-where breathlessness is caused by lung disease eg COPD + there is subsequent RV failure