OSCE Flashcards
How do we manage biliary colic?
Paracetamol
Lifestyle advice for reducing recurrence risk - lower dietary fat intake, pursue weight loss, increase exercise
Elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy within 6 weeks of presentation
Describe the character of the pain in ectopic pregnancy
the pain radiates to the patient’s shoulder whilst lying flat. This increases the likelihood of ectopic pregnancy.
What is the difference between visceral and peritoneal pain?
Visceral pain, is likely to be vague and difficult to localise
Peritoneal pain is usually felt after visceral pain. Peritoneal pain is easier to localise. This is because it occurs after an inflamed organ comes into contact with the peritoneal peritoneum.
How would you investigate a 40 F presenting with symptoms in line with SBO?
Full abdominal examination, bloods (including group and save), venous blood gas, urine dip, pregnancy test, abdominal x-ray, nasogastric tube, IV fluids, discuss with surgical team
When do we perform NIPEs?
The examination is performed within the first 72 hours after birth. It is repeated at 6 – 8 weeks by their GP.
What three questions are asked at the start of a NIPE?
Has the baby passed meconium?
Is the baby feeding ok?
Is there a family history of congenital heart, eye or hips problems?
How do we assess oxygen saturations in a NIPE?
Babies should have their pre-ductal and post-ductal oxygen saturations checked. This measures the oxygen level before and after the ductus arteriosus. Normal saturations are 96% or above. There should not be more than a 2% difference between the pre-ductal and post-ductal saturations. Abnormal saturations require further investigation and potentially admission to the neonatal unit.
Pre-ductal saturations are measured in the baby’s right hand. The right hand receives blood from the right subclavian artery, a branch of the brachiocephalic artery, which branches from the aorta before the ductus arteriosus.
Post-ductal saturations are measured in either foot. The feet receive blood traveling from the descending aorta, which occurs after the ductus arteriosus.
What is the Moro reflex?
When rapidly tipped backwards the arms and legs will extend
What is the suckling reflex?
placing a finger in the mouth will prompt them to suck
What is the rooting reflex?
tickling the cheek will cause them to turn towards the stimulus
What is the grasp reflex?
placing a finger in the palm will cause them to grasp
What are talipes?
Talipes, also known as clubfoot, is where the ankles are in a supinated position, rolled inwards. It can be positional or structural. Positional talipes is where the muscles are slightly tight around the ankle but the bones are unaffected. The foot can still be moved into the normal position. This requires referral to a physiotherapist for some simple exercises and will resolve with time. Structural talipes involves the bones of the foot and ankle and requires referral to an orthopaedic surgeon.
How do we manage haemangiomas?
Haemangiomas near the eyes, mouth or affecting the airway may require referral for treatment with beta blockers (i.e. propranolol). Otherwise they can be monitored and usually resolve with time.
What are port wine stains?
Port wine stains are pink patches of skin, often on the face, caused by abnormalities affecting the capillaries. They don’t fade with time and typically turn a darker red or purple colour. Rarely they can be related to a condition called Sturge-Weber syndrome, where there can be visual impairment, learning difficulties, headaches, epilepsy and glaucoma.
When are we concerned about soft systolic murmurs?
Soft systolic murmurs of grade 2 or less in otherwise healthy well neonates may be monitored, as these often resolve after 24 – 48 hours. This may be caused by a patent foramen ovale that closes shortly after birth.
How do we manage breech births?
External cephalic version at 37w
Then breech vaginal delivery or elective C-section
What are the key obstetric symptoms?
N&V
Reduced fetal movements
Vaginal bleeding
Abdo pain
Vaginal discharge or loss of fluid
Headache, visual disturbance, epigastric pain and oedema (pre-eclampsia)
Pruritis (obstetric cholestasis)
Unilateral leg swelling
Chest pain and SOB
Systemic symptoms e.g. fever (chorioamnionitis), fatigue (anaemia) and weight loss (hyperemesis gravidarum)
What would you ask about the current pregnancy?
Gestation
Scan results
Screening
Singleton/multiple gestation
Folic acid
Mode of delivery
Any medical illness
Immunisation history
Mental health history
What is important to ask in the gynaecological aspect of an obstetric history?
Cervical screening:
Confirm the date and result of the last cervical screening test.
Ask if the patient received any treatment if the cervical screening test was abnormal and check that follow up is in place.
Previous gynaecological conditions and treatments:
Sexually transmitted infections
Endometriosis
Bartholin’s cyst
Cervical ectropion
Malignancy (e.g. cervical, endometrial, ovarian)
How do we investigate fibroids?
Hysteroscopy is the initial investigation for submucosal fibroids presenting with heavy menstrual bleeding.
Pelvic ultrasound is the investigation of choice for larger fibroids.
How do we determine if someone needs to go to hospital after two episodes of reasonable haematemesis?
Glasgow-Blatchford score
How do we determine mortality risk after endoscopy?
Rockall score
How does Mallory-Weiss tear present?
This generally occurs due to repetitive retching, vomiting, coughing or straining. It presents with upper gastrointestinal bleeding which is usually self-limiting.
Give four side effects of statins
Common side effects to statins include muscle pain, diarrhoea, headaches, and nausea.
What are the important side effects of statins
Important side effects include rhabdomyolysis, hepatic disorders, and pancreatitis.
What is contraindicated with statin use?
Drinking grapefruit juice
What are the common SEs of steroids?
What are the important SEs of steroids?
What must we co-prescribe with steroids?
concurrent prescription of alendronate to prevent steroid-induced osteoporosis
What is the 5 A’s approach to smoking cessation?
Ask - Ask the patient about their tobacco use (as discussed).
Assess - Check the patient’s knowledge about the consequences of smoking, and identify their current motivation to quit. Their motivation may be quantified from 1 (low motivation) to 10 (high motivation).
Advise - Explain the risk caused by smoking and advise them to stop. The patient should be reassured that they will be supported throughout the process.
Assist - Assist the patient in quitting using the STARR method. This involves Setting a date in which the patient will quit (within 2-4 weeks), advising them to Tell their friends and family for extra support, Anticipating any challenges that the patient may face and preparing them to overcome these, Removing all tobacco products, and Recommending counselling and pharmacological options that they may find useful.
Arrange - Arrange a follow-up appointment to provide continued monitoring and support.
What is first-line in smoking cessation therapy?
Nicotine replacement therapy - This is normally used as the first-line therapy. It is available in multiple forms, including patches, sprays, and chewing gums. It can increase successful cessation by 1.5x, especially when used in combination with psychological support, and can be bought over the counter.
How do we use bupropion in smoking cessation therapy?
Bupropion - This is a dopamine and noradrenaline re-uptake inhibitor, which prevents cravings. The patients should be advised to start the treatment 1-2 weeks before they intend to stop smoking, and then to continue it for an additional 7-12 weeks afterwards.
Give three SEs of bupropion use.
However, it can cause some side effects, including nausea, headaches, dizziness, dry mouth, and seizures (1 in 1000).
What is champix? How do we use it?
Varenicline (Champix) - This acts as a partial agonist of the nicotine receptors. It is the most effective pharmacological therapy, increasing successful cessation by up to 2x. The patient should be advised to start the treatment 1 week before they intend to stop smoking, and continue it for an additional 11 weeks afterwards.
Give two SEs of champix.
The important side effects to discuss are low mood, sleep disturbances, and nausea.
What dose of naloxone do we give in opiate overdose?
400 micrograms IV
How do we investigate AKI?
US of the bladder
How do we manage AKI?
Strict fluid balance regime, IV fluids if hypotension
Give four signs of chronic liver disease
e.g. variceal bleed, cachexia, bruising, clubbing, palmar erythema, gynaecomastia, ascites, jaundice, spider naevi, caput medusa
How would investigate Cushing’s disease?
FBC, U&Es, VBG
Overnight dexamethasone suppression test
High dose dexamethasone test
MRI Head
Fasting blood glucose and HbA1C
Lipid profile
DEXA scan for bone density assessment
Give three differentials for Cushing’s syndrome
Cushing’s disease (pituitary adenoma secreting ACTH)
Ectopic ACTH production (e.g. small cell lung cancers)
Adrenal adenoma or carcinoma (secreting excess cortisol)
Prolonged glucocorticoid usage
Give three complications of Cushing’s syndrome
Metabolic syndrome - 3/5 of the following
Central/abdominal obesity
Hypertension
Hyperglycaemia / T2DM
Hypertriglyceridaemia
Low serum HDL
Osteoporosis
Impaired immunity
How do we perform the dexamethasone suppression test?
To perform the test the patient takes a dose of dexamethasone (a synthetic glucocorticoid steroid) at night (i.e. 10pm) and their cortisol and ACTH is measured in the morning (i.e. 9am). The intention is to find out whether the dexamethasone suppresses their normal morning spike of cortisol.
What is a normal result in the low dose dexamethasone test?
A normal response is for the dexamethasone to suppress the release of cortisol by effecting negative feedback on the hypothalamus and pituitary. The hypothalamus responds by reducing the CRH output. The pituitary responds by reducing the ACTH output. The lower CRH and ACTH levels result in a low cortisol level. When the cortisol level is not suppressed, this is the abnormal result seen in Cushing’s Syndrome.
What is the result of the high dose dexamethasone test in Cushing’s disease?
In Cushing’s Disease (pituitary adenoma) the pituitary still shows some response to negative feedback and 8mg of dexamethasone is enough to suppress cortisol.
What is the result of the high dose dexamethasone test in adrenal adenoma?
Where there is an adrenal adenoma, cortisol production is independent from the pituitary. Therefore, cortisone is not suppressed however ACTH is suppressed due to negative feedback on the hypothalamus and pituitary gland.
What is the result of the high dose dexamethasone test in ectopic ACTH?
Where there is ectopic ACTH (e.g. from a small cell lung cancer), neither cortisol or ACTH will be suppressed because the ACTH production is independent of the hypothalamus or pituitary gland.
How do we treat Cushings disease?
The main treatment is to remove the underlying cause (surgically remove the tumour)
Trans-sphenoidal (through the nose) removal of pituitary adenoma
Surgical removal of adrenal tumour
Surgical removal of tumour producing ectopic ACTH
If surgical removal of the cause is not possible another option is to remove both adrenal glands and give the patient replacement steroid hormones for life.
What is the DWARF mnemonic?
Spinal exam:
Deformity, wasting, asymmetry, rashes, fasciculations and swelling
What is Schobers test used for?
Schober’s test can be used to identify restricted flexion of the lumbar spine, which may occur in conditions such as ankylosing spondylitis.
How do we perform Schobers test?
Identify the location of the posterior superior iliac spine (PSIS) on each side.
- Mark the skin in the midline 5cm below the PSIS.
- Mark the skin in the midline 10cm above the PSIS.
- Ask the patient to touch their toes to assess lumbar flexion.
- Measure the distance between the two lines.
What is a normal result in Schobers test?
If a patient has normal lumbar flexion the distance between the two marks should increase from the initial 15cm to more than 20cm.