My common mistakes Flashcards
MDMA (ecstasy) poisoning is associated with…
Hyponatraemia
N-Acetylcysteine commonly causes what type of reaction?
Anaphylactoid reaction (non-IgE mediated mast cell release)
For DMT2 when is metformin contraindicated?
eGFR <30
What is the most highly negatively inotropic CCB? (weakens heart contractions- slows HR)
Verapamil
Key investigation for suspected CO poisoning?
ABG- carboxyhaemoglobin
Liver transplantation criteria in paracetamol overdose?
pH <7.3 more than 24hrs after ingestion
Patient on amiodarone (eg for AF) develops hypothyroidism?
Continue amiodarone and add levothyroxine
Double duct sign?
Pancreatic cancer
Haemochromatosis iron study profile?
Raised transferrin and ferritin, low TIBC
Upper GI bleed or lower GI bleed if high urea?
Upper- blood digested (contains protein) so increase in urea
Acute hypophosphataemia management- severe or symptomatic
IV phosphate polyfusor
Visual hallucinations with dementia
Lewy body dementia
Blood tests that form part of the confusion screen
TSH, B12, Folate & Glucose
Memantine drug class
NMDA receptor antagonist
Complications of thyroid surgery
- Recurrent laryngeal nerve damage
- Bleeding- laryngeal oedema.
- Damage to the parathyroid glands resulting in hypocalcaemia.
Ways to remember causes of nystagmus?
Horizontal nystagmus = peripheral cause (goes in direction of ears)
Vertical nystagmus = central cause (goes in direction of brain)
Difference between neuronitis and labrynthitis?
Neuronitis = No loss
Labrynthitis = Loss
Vestibular neuronitis = inflammation of the vestibular nerve, which deals with balance but not hearing
Labyrinthitis = inflammation of labyrinth, which deals with both balance AND hearing
FLUID THERAPY IN CHILDREN
FLUID THERAPY IN ADULTS
Atropine increase or decrease HR?
Increase, if fails then external pacing
Amiodarone increase or decrease HR?
Decreases HR (treats fast irregular HR)
Cause of infective endocarditis <2m post valve surgery
Staph epidermidis
Is a child is choking, why is the foreign object most likely found in right main bronchus?
Shorter, wider and more vertical
Severe anaemia is a cause of
high-output heart failure
RBBB +left anterior or posterior hemiblock + 1st-degree heart block
trifasicular block
Acute heart failure not responding to treatment
consider CPAP
Hypothermia is a cause of
Torsades de pointes
ACS: Nitrates are contraindicated in patients with
hypotension (< 90 mmHg)
‘Global’ T wave inversion (not fitting a coronary artery territory) - think
non-cardiac cause of abnormal ECG
Hypothermia causes what on ECG
J waves
Mx if V tachy leads to haemodynamic instability?
synchronised electrical cardioversion; may be followed by an amiodarone infusion when more stable to enhance the probability of achieving sinus rhythm
Lichen planus vs scleorsus?
planus: purple, pruritic, papular, polygonal rash on flexor surfaces. Wickham’s striae over surface. Oral involvement common
sclerosus: itchy white spots typically seen on the vulva of elderly women
Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) vs Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS)?
Both severe skin reactions, TEN more severe end of spectrum.
SJS: Affects less than 10% of the body’s surface area
TEN: Affects more than 30% of the body’s surface area
erythema nodosum vs erythema multiforme?
Erythema multiforme is typically target shaped and only slightly raised. It’s not typically painful but can be itchy. They can also be on various sites of the body
Erythema nodosum is more like a raised nodule that mainly presents on the shins. It looks a bit like a bruise and it is painful.
most accurate way to asses the burns area
Lund and Browder chart
Wallace’s Rule of Nine
Each of the following is 9% of the body when calculating surface area % if a burn:
Head + neck, each arm, each anterior part of leg, each posterior part of leg, anterior chest, posterior chest, anterior abdomen, posterior abdomen
Psoriasis commonly exhibits what pgenomenon
Koebner phenomenon
What clotting factors and other components does the liver make?
1) Clotting factors= I (fibrinogen); II (prothrombin); V; VII; IX; XII; XIII (all for blood coag)
2) Albumin (transport and maintain BP)
3) Transport proteins= ceruloplasmin (transports copper) and transferrin (iron)
4) Bile salts (fat digestion)
5) Bilirubin (from RBC breakdown)
6) Glucose (through gluconeogenesis and glycogen storage/release)
7) Lipids (cholesterol, trigly and lipoproteins)
8) Detoxification products (ammonia to urea & drug metabolism)
9) Hormones= angiotensinogen and thrombopoietin
Role of angiotensinogen and thrombopoietin?
A= BP regulation
T= platelet production
What blood tests would you do to investigate the liver?
1) LFTs (enzymes & proteins):
- ALT & AST
- ALP
- GGT
- Bilirubin (total & direct)= direct is conjug and indirect is unconjug
- Albumin
- Total protein
2) Clotting screen= INR or PT
3) Viral serology= hep A, B, C, E
4) Autoantibodies= AMA, ANA, Anti-SMA
5) Ceruloplasmin
6) Ferritin and transferrin
7) Paracetamol levels
8) Alpha-1 antitrypsin
9) Tissue Transglutaminase antibody
10) Ammonia levels
Overall tests to measure kidney function?
1) Bloods= serum creatinine; blood urea nitrogen (BUN); eGFR; serum uric acid
2) Urine= eg. urinalysis; protein, albumin, glucose, blood, bacteria
3) Imaging= USS, CT or MRI
What does high serum creatinine indicate about kidney function?
impaired.
Creatinine= waste product from muscle metabolism in blood
What does elevated uric acid levels indicate about kidney function?
kidney disease or gout
What does proteinuria indicate about kidney function?
damage or disease
What does high urine albumin indicate about kidney function?
Damage eg. in diabetes or HTN
Budd-Chiari Ix- way to remember?
(pt presents with abdo pain, tender hepatomegaly and ascites- basically a painful swollen liver)
USS with doppler.
basically a ‘liver DVT’ , being a hepatic vein thrombosis.
The ‘painful, swollen calf’ is essentially just a painful swollen liver (abdo pain, tender hepatomegaly) + ascites due to venous obstruction.
They also have exactly the same gold standard investigation in Doppler Ultrasound!
Hepatocellular disease LFTs?
ALT= raised at least 2 fold
ALP= normal
ALT/ALP= 5+
Chlestatic disease LFTs?
ALT= normal
ALP= raised at least 2-fold
ALT/ALP= <2
LFTs in mixed disease (hepatocellular + cholestatic)?
ALT= raised at least 2-fold
ALP= raised at least 2-fold
ALT/ALP= 2-5
ALP, AST and ALT produced by what?
AST & ALT produced by hepatocytes; in hepatocellular disease, hepatocytes release these enzymes into blood so get raised ALT.
ALP produced by cells lining bile duct so in obstructive disease ALP rises.
Summary of liver enzymes in LFTs?
ALT = correspond to hepatocytes
AST = correspond to hepatocytes, cardiac cells, and muscle cells
ALP = correspond to biliary system (bile ducts) & various tissues in the body eg. bones
GGT= more specific version of ALP in terms of biliary system; also indicates pt drinks alcohol
deranged LFTs combined with secondary amenorrhoea in a young female
autoimmune hepatitis
C.diff Mx
1st: oral vancomycin
2nd: if doesn’t work then oral fidazomicin
OR IF SEVERE (eg. hypotension, shock) or doesn’t respond to above= oral vanc + IV metronidazole
Maintain remission in UC if have had a severe relapse or >=2 exacerbations in past yr?
oral azathioprine or oral mercaptopurine
Metoclopramide MOA?
antagonism of D2 dopamine receptors
Electrolyte disturbances in refeeding syndrome?
hypophosphataemia, hypokalaemia and hypomagnesaemia
Receding bleeding gums
think scurvy
What electrolyte disturbance can PPIs cause?
hyponatraemia
Primary biliary cholangitis- M rule?
IgM
anti-Mitochondrial antibodies, M2 subtype
Middle aged females
How long should pts not eat gluten for before they get endoscopic intestinal biopsy to diagnose coeliac?
6w
Most common site affected in Crohn’s
ileum
How to stop uncontrolled variceal haemorrhage?
Sengstaken-Blakemore tube
1st line Ix for acute mesenteric ischaemia?
Lactate= raised
Liver + neuro disease?
think Wilson’s
Mneumonic to remember causes of erythema nodosum?
NO - idiopathic
D - drugs (penicillin sulphonamides)
O - oral contraceptive/pregnancy
S - sarcoidosis/TB
U - ulcerative colitis/Crohn’s disease/Behçet’s disease
M - microbiology (streptococcus, mycoplasma, EBV and more)
Reversible causes for cardiac arrest?
H.ypothermia
H.ypovolaemia
H.ypoxia
H.yperkalaemia
T.hrombus
T.oxins
T.ension pneumothorax
T.amponade
ALS for VF/pulseless VT?
single shock followed by CPR
ALS if cardiac arrest is witnessed in monitored pt eg. coronary care unit and is in VF/pulseless VT?
Up to 3 quick successive shocks rather than 1, then CPR
What is first like and should always be attempted in ALS?
IV access
if can’t achieve then give drugs IO
Role of adrenaline in ALS?
1mg given as soon as possible for non-shockable rhythms
shockable rhythms= 1mg once restart chest compressions after the third shock
repeat adrenaline 1mg every 3-5mins whilst ALS continues
Role of amiodarone in ALS?
300mg given to pt in VF/pulseless VT after 3 shocks have been given.
then further 150mg given after 5 shocks, then 7 ect.
lidocaine can be an alternative
When should thrombolytic drugs be given in ALS and how long should CPR continue for?
is PE suspected.
continue CPR for extended period of 60-90mins
A to E vs DRABC?
DRABC for immediate, on-scene assessments, and A to E for systematic evaluation in a clinical setting.
What is a heart attack?
- must have troponin RISE AND FALL
- must also have typical CP, ECG changes or new scar (eg. ST depression or elevation; T wave inversion-new; CLINICAL CONTEXT)
Standard bloods for chest pain?
FBC, U+E, LFT, Clotting screen, Troponin +/- D dimer, Cholesterol, Glucose/HbA1c
Ix for chest pain?
- vital signs
- ECG
- CXR
- Bloods
- ABG if hypoxic/PE suspected
Criteria for PPCI in STEMI?
- ST elevation >2mm in 2 contiguous chest leads or >1mm in 2 contiguous limb leads (i.e. territorial not randomly distributed)
~Chest pain or other evidence of ischaemia
- New or presumed new LBBB was an indication for thrombolysis and is often considered an indication for PPCI in the right clinical context
If morphine is given in acute Mx of STEMI, what needs to be given with it?
Metoclopramide as morphine can make pt feel sick (delays absorption of anti platelet drugs)
What if pt is already on aspirin but you need to give 300mg stat for STEMI acute Mx?
in theory don’t need to give but best to just give anyway as shouldn’t do any harm
When to measure troponin?
- Depends on assay
STH assay – hsTnT: - Measure ASAP
- If raised, measure again in 3h – significant rise or fall suggests MI
- If not raised, can r/o MI, unless pain was <6 hrs ago, in which case obtain further measurement at that point – significant rise suggests MI
- Does NOT rule out ACS (could still be unstable angina)
- MI is NOT always due to ACS
Follow up post MI?
Clinic 1 month – can consider device therapy if significant LVSD
Transthoracic echocardiogram if not had as inpatient
Cardiac rehabilitation programme
Smoking cessation
GP – uptitrate secondary prevention e.g. ramipril and bisoprolol towards 10 mg OD
Advise for pt post MI?
Don’t drive for 1 week if PCI, 4 weeks if no PCI (we advise all pts 4 weeks)
Gradual return to usual activity levels
Typically 6 weeks off work
Stop smoking
MI- what to write on the TTO?
Big 5
1) Aspirin 75 mg OD
2) Potent P2Y12 inhibitor – ticagrelor 90 mg BD or prasugrel 5-10 mg OD for >=1 year. Can consider a PPI alongside.
3) Cardioselective beta blocker (caution if asthmatic, bradycardic, conduction disease) e.g. bisoprolol 2.5 mg OD
4) ACE inhibitor (ARB if intolerant due to cough) (caution if hypotensive, severe CKD) e.g. ramipril 2.5 mg OD
5) High intensity statin e.g. Atorvastatin 80 mg OD
(PRN GTN)
Pretty much most pts will go home on these if tolerated
What drugs to consider writing on the TTO for MI?
- Consider if poor LV function
MRA – eplerenone or spironolactone 12.5 – 25 mg OD - Consider if pericarditic pain
Colchicine 500 mcg BD - Consider if clinical heart failure
Loop diuretic e.g. Furosemide 40 mg OD
SGLT2 inhibitor e.g. Dapagliflozin or Empagliflozin - Consider if non-revascularized significant coronary artery disease
Anti-anginals - beta blocker, nitrates, amlodipine etc.
Cardiac Resynchronisation Therapy (CRT)
Patients with LVSD + LBBB or needing a PPM or very wide
RBBB
Dual chamber PPM
- RA lead
- RV lead
- PLUS LV lead (in the CS)
- Bi-ventricular PPM
- Biventricular PPM = ‘CRT-P’
Groups of patients with at significant risk of VT/VF
Severe LVSD
Previous VT/VF (but not if assoc with an acute infarct)
Inherited cardiac conditions
HCM, Brugada etc.
Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD)
Adds a generator and shock coils to pacing function
If added to a single lead or dual chamber PPM = ‘ICD’
If added to a CRT device = ‘CRT-D’
What is the tumour marker for pancreatic ca?
CA 19-9
What lung ca has the strongest association with smoking?
squamous cell lung ca
What drug is used to suppress N&V with intracranial tumours?
dexamethasone
What chemo drug is associated with hypomagnesaemia?
cisplatin
What chemo drug may cause pulmonary fibrosis?
bleomycin
What should be part of the diagnostic work up in a women found to have abdo malignancy of unknown primary?
CA 125
What HPV subtypes are carcinogenic and increase risk of cervical ca?
16,18,33
What HPV subtypes are NOT carcinogenic and are associated with genital warts?
6, 11
Tumour marker in colorectal ca and has a role in monitoring disease activity?
CEA
Most common cause of SVCO?
small cell lung ca
What chemo drug may cause peripheral neuropathy?
vincristine
Tumour marker for breast ca?
CA 15-3
Women with bone mets, likely to originate where?
breast ca
Tumour marker in medullary thyroid ca?
calcitonin
PBC vs PSC?
PBC is middle-aged women, anti-mitochondrial antibodies, assoc with keratoconjunctivitis sicca.
PSC is young men, often with Ulcerative colitis, assoc with pruritus and fatigue, anti-mitochondrial antibodies negative.
Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis is associated with Ulcerative Colitis (i.e. both ‘itis’), which occurs in younger people.
Way to remember PBC?
PBC - M Disease - Increased IgM, AMA associated, Middle Aged Women!
Melanosis coli is most commonly caused by
prolonged laxative use
The oral contraceptive pill and co-amoxiclav is associated with
drug-induced cholestasis
Budd-Chiari syndrome presents with the triad of
sudden onset abdominal pain, ascites, and tender hepatomegaly
High urea levels can indicate
upper GI bleed versus lower GI bleed
Bile-acid malabsorption may be treated with
cholestyramine
Antinuclear antibodies, anti-smooth muscle antibodies and raised IgG levels are characteristic of
autoimmune hepatitis
Odynophagia is a concerning symptom that may be present in patients with
oesophageal ca
first line test for diagnosis of small bowel overgrowth syndrome
hydrogen breath testing
All patients with suspected upper GI bleed require
endoscopy within 24 hours of admission
key investigation for a suspected perforated peptic ulcer
erect CXR
PPIs can increase the risk of
osteoporosis and fractures