Mental Probes Flashcards
What are 4 cardinal signs/Sx of rhinosinusitis?
_____ or _______
_____ or _______
Nasal discharge OR nasal obstruction/congestion AND
Facial pain/pressure/fullness OR reduction/loss of smell
PODS (pressure, obstruction, discharge, smell-loss)
D or O
AND
P or S
List 3 Sx (not the cardinal Sx or general constitutional Sx) that can be associated with rhinosinusitis
Sore throat
Hoarseness
Fetor oris (foul breath)
What are 3 basic PE procedures that should be performed whenever an infection is suspected anywhere in the head?
Take temp
Examine throat
Palpate lymph nodes
What is the Sx duration for separating viral RS and bacterial RS?
Bac RS >10 days
Viral RS 4-7 days and may go on for 14 days but Sx peak 2-3 days after onset and there is continual improvement
When is the threshold for bacterial RS if there is “double sickening”
Double sickening happens around day 5
Besides signs of ear inflammation, what are the other 2 criteria for making a definite Acute Otitis Media (AOM) diagnosis?
- Presence of middle ear effusion
- Rapid onset of signs and sx
Based on lecture, besides age, what other 2 circumstances would make hoarseness a red flag for possible tumor?
- Patient was not sick nor recently sick
- Hoarsness is a chronic nature
- There is no known cause
What are 3 Different otoscopic findings that would reveal swelling in the middle ear?
Absence/loss of mobility
Bulging tympanic membrane
Fluid d/t perforation
Cite what special PE procedure from the care pathway suggests is best for identifying effusion.
Pneumatic otoscopy (blow a puff of air)
Your 62-yo patient has Sx of rhinosinusitis and a single polyp. What concern does this raise?
Tumor/sol
Your patient has ear P but normal ear exam. Besides the neck and the jaw, what are the other 2 important structures to check?
Teeth for tooth decay
Throat to visualize tonsils and pharynx (r/o tonsillitis and/or pharyngitis)
What are 2 risk factors for getting rhinosinusitis ?
Deviated septum
GERD
What are 2 visual Sx that are suggestive of glaucoma?
Blurry vision
Auras around lights “haloes”
Your patient has a sore throat; what common additional Sx would make a strept throat LESS likely?
If there is a cough.
Remember ACAFE (age, coughless, adenopathy, fever, exudates)
Age <15yo = +1 point
Age >45yo = -1 point
From lecture, what are the 2 major indicators to call an ambulance for a conscious patient who is having chest pain in your office?
Respiratory distress (dyspnea) Abnormal vital signs e.g. low BP, weak or irregular pulse
For each of the following tests, indicate what condition it is used for. Also, is the test diagnostic or just testing for risk factors?
Troponin
Diagnostic Blood test to see if there is acute MI
For each of the following tests, indicate what condition it is used for. Also, is the test diagnostic or just testing for risk factors?
CAC
Test for risk factors for Coronary Artery Disease (CAD). It’s a special CT test.
For each of the following tests, indicate what condition it is used for. Also, is the test diagnostic or just testing for risk factors?
hsCRP
A test for risk factors of angina
What PE finding and what ancillary test are most useful in suspecting and Dx pleuritis?
PE _____
Ancillary test _______
PE: crackling sound
Ancillary test: radiograph
What type of arrhythmia typically requires urgent medical care?
Arrhythmias in the lower chamber typically require urgent medical care and include ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation.
What are the risks for patients with atrial fib?
5X greater risk for stroke or peripheral embolism
Based on LRs, what 2 characteristics of chest pain are LEAST likely associated with cardiac angina?
Positional chest pain
Palpable chest pain (pain that comes on with palpation)
Based on the CSPE care pathway, list 2 effective home care Tx options for patients with otitis media to help them with their current Sx?
- Heat, warmed oil ear drops
- Auto inflation
What does the evidence suggest about the effectiveness of steam inhalation as a Tx for rhinosinusitis?
Steam inhalation reduces HA in RS when combined w/nasal irrigation
AOM does not usually require antibiotics. What are 6 indicators that the patient should be referred for antibiotics at the first visit?
Patients with fever over 102.2˚F Infant <6 mo Patient with serious illness Failure of Sx to resolve within 48-72 hours Signs of mastoiditis Rupture of tympanic membrane
What are the 3 recommended Qs to ask patients with chest pain to screen for a panic or anxiety attack?
1) When are you nervous, how often do you think I am going to pass out?
2) During the last 7 days, including today, how much have you been bothered by pains in the chest?
3) To what degree is your chest pain tiring or exhausting?
Besides chest pain/pressure lasting 10-30 minutes, what are the either 2 main criteria from the Hx suggesting typical angina until proven otherwise?
P induced By exercise/emotional stress
Relieved by nitro or rest
Besides a stress ECG, what is another stress test ordered to assess whether a patient has coronary artery disease?
Myocardial scintigraphy or stress echocardiogram
According to the CSPE care pathway, what do we recommend as the 3 first-line Tx for patients with chronic RS (without polyps)?
Nasal specific
Sinus irrigation
Intranasal corticosteroid spray
Based on a cervical facet block study, what are the 3 most pertinent positive exam findings helpful to rule in a favorable response to a block?
Positive ER test 3/10 OPS
Palpation tenderness over facets
Cervical restriction P-A joint glide
Which of these individual finding would carry the most weight predicting an unfavorable response to facet block:
Positive ER test 3/10 OPS
Palpation tenderness over facets
Cervical restriction P-A joint glide
No palpatory tenderness over the facet
Your patient has paresthesia into the thumb and lateral hand.
Name 3 locations in the nervous system where a lesion could be to cause this Sx.
Nervous tissue lesions
- nerve root
- brachial plexus
- radial nerve (peripheral nerve)
Your patient has paresthesia into the thumb and lateral hand.
Name 3 muscles that harbor trigger points which could cause this Sx.
MFTPs
- scalenes
- supraspinatus
- infraspinatus
What are 4 standard of care criteria for ordering an MRI within the 1st week of care for suspected cervical disc herniation?
Red flags for disease
Suspicion of myelopathy
Progressive motor deficit
Pre-surgical exam
Your patient has been on long term corticosteroid therapy for IBD. What 2 conditions are they are risk for which might affect your decisions regarding upper cervical manipulation and rib manipulation?
Osteoporosis Ligamentous instability (transverse ligament)
At what age does a palpable cervical mass start to increase the risk of cancer?
> 40 yo
Your patient comes in holding their neck with both hands. 1) what is this sign called? And 2) what does it suggest? (3)
Rust’s sign
Fracture, instability, severe sprain
What disease should you consider in an older smoker who has a gradual onset of shoulder and arm pain and brachial plexus symptoms?
Pancoast Tumor
What are the 2 classic deficits that are consistent with syringomyelia?
Pain
Temperature
It would be in a cape-like distribution.
Your patient has a cervical disc herniation. What are the 2 most likely directions that might centralize a patient’s arm Sx with repetitive loading?
Retraction
Extension
What is that the top of your DDX list as diagnoses causing cervical spinal cord compression?
Disc herniation
Stenosis
Based on the indications for radiographs in trauma cases, what are 3 findings from the PE (not the Hx) that would make you stop and order x-rays?
Unable to actively rotate neck 45˚ to the left and right
Midline cervical spine tenderness
Focal neurologic deficit
A 36-yo farmer slipped off her tractor, fell on her shoulder, and “twisted” her neck. She has Neck and right upper arm pain to the elbow. Cervical AROM is painful and limited in flexion and right rotation. Shoulder ROM is full and painless. Cervical distraction increases neck pain; resisted neck flexion and resisted right rotation are even more aggravating. Cervical compression and Valsalva are negative. The arm squeeze test is positive for pain (pain over AC joint 0/10, over upper arm 1/10). Sensory, motor and reflexes are WNL. Upper cervical joints are restricted in extension and tender. Jull’s test is positive.
Write a 4-part diagnosis.
Cervical sprain/strain with deep referred P to the right elbow with cervical joint dysfunction.