OSCE data interpretation Flashcards

1
Q

What is measured in thyroid function tests?

A

TSH
T3
T4

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2
Q

What is the ratio of T3 and T4 produced by the thyroid?

A

T4:T3 is 20:1

T3 is produced by peripheral conversion of T4

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3
Q

Free T4 makes up …….% of total T4, with the rest being bound to thyroid binding globulin.

A

1%

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4
Q

What clinical features are found in Grave’s disease?

A

Exophthalmos

Pretibial myxoedema

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5
Q

What will the TFTs be in hypothyroidism?

A

TSH high
T4 low

(if T4 is normal and TSH is raised, this suggests subclinical hypothyroidism)

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6
Q

What will the TFTs be in secondary hypothyroidism (pathology of pituitary or hypothalamus)?

A

TSH normal/low

T4 low

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7
Q

What will the TFTs be in Grave’s disease?

A

TSH low

T3 and T4 high

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8
Q

Why are LFTs ordered?

A
  1. Investigate suspected liver injury/disease

2. Distinguish between hepatocellular injury and cholestasis

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9
Q

Which blood tests are included in LFTs?

A
ALT
AST
ALP
GGT
Bilirubin
Albumin
Prothrombin time (PT)
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10
Q

What are the causes of an isolated rise in ALP?

A
  1. Bony metastases/ primary bone tumours eg. sarcoma
  2. Vitamin D deficiency
  3. Recent bone fracture
  4. Renal bone disease (CKD)
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11
Q

If a patient has dark urine and normal stools, what does this suggest about the cause of jaundice?

A

Hepatic jaundice

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12
Q

If a patient has dark urine and pale stools, what does this suggest about the cause of jaundice?

A

Post hepatic jaundice (obstructive)

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13
Q

What can cause LOW albumin levels?

A
  1. Liver disease
  2. Inflammation-> acute phase response
  3. Loss of albumin- nephrotic syndrome
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14
Q

If ALT>AST what does this sugguest?

A

Chronic liver disease
NAFLD
Drug/ viral hepatitis

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15
Q

If AST> ALT what does this suggest?

A

Alcoholic hepatitis
Cirrhosis
Cancer

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16
Q

What are common causes of ACUTE hepatocellular injury?

A
  1. Poisoning eg. paracetamol overdose
  2. Hepatitis A and B
  3. Liver ischemia
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17
Q

What are common causes of CHRONIC hepatocellular injury?

A
  1. Alcoholic fatty liver disease
  2. Non alcoholic fatty liver disease
  3. Chronic infection (Hepatitis B or C)
  4. Primary biliary cirrhosis
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18
Q

What are LESS common causes of CHRONIC hepatocellular injury?

A
  1. Alpha 1 antitrypsin deficiency
  2. Wilson’s disease
  3. Haemochromatosis
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19
Q

What does a typical liver screen involve?

A
  1. LFTs
  2. Coagulation screen
  3. Viruses- Hepatitis A/B/C, EBV, CMV
  4. Autoantibodies: AMA, pANCA, ANA, ASMA
  5. Immunoglobulins: IgM and IgG
  6. Alpha-1 antitrypsin
  7. Copper (Wilson’s disease)
  8. Ferritin (Haemochromatosis)
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20
Q

What blood tests will be done if a patient is confused (confusion screen)?

A
  1. FBC (WCC for infection)
  2. CRP
  3. U&Es (Uraemia/ hyponatraemia)
  4. Bone profile (hypercalcaemia/ hypocalcaemia)
  5. B12 and folate (deficiency)
  6. TFTs (hypothyroid)
  7. Glucose (hypogylcaemia)
  8. LFTs (hepatic encephalopathy)
  9. Coagulation/ INR
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21
Q

What clinical observations may suggest anaemia due to active bleeding?

A

Hypotension

Tachycardia

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22
Q

What lab tests should be done to investigate anaemia?

A
  1. FBC
  2. TFTs (hypothyroidism can cause macrocytic anaemia)
  3. U&Es (CKD can cause anaemia)
  4. Haematinics: B12, folate, ferritin, iron, TIBC
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23
Q

What blood tests should be done to investigate hyponatraemia?

A
  1. U&Es: asses degree of hyponatraemia/ renal function
  2. Serum/ urine osmolality
  3. TFTs (hypothyroidism can cause hyponatraemia)
  4. Serum cortisol (Addison’s)
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24
Q

What lab tests are done in a myeloma screen?

A
  1. FBC (anaemia/ neutropenia/ thrombocytopenia)
  2. U&Es (raised creatinine/ hypercalcaemia)
  3. ESR (raised)
  4. Blood film (RBCs stacked ontop of each other)
  5. Blood and urine protein electrophoresis (paraprotein band)
  6. Immunoglobulin measurement
  7. Bone marrow biopsy (increased number of plasma cells)
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25
What imaging is done to screen for myeloma?
Xrays MRI look for lytic lesions of skull, axial skeleton, proximal long bones
26
What is the NORMAL appearance of CSF?
Clear | Colourless
27
What is a NORMAL CSF WBC count?
0-5cells/uL NO neutrophils, only lymphocytes
28
What is a NORMAL CSF opening pressure?
10-20 cm H2O
29
What is the NORMAL glucose level in CSF?
2.8-4.2 mmol/l
30
What will the CSF findings be in bacterial meningitis?
1. Cloudy and turbid appearance 2. Increased opening pressure (>25 cm H2O) 3. Increased WCC (>100cell/uL) mainly polynuclear lymphocytes 4. Low glucose level 5. Increased protein level
31
What will the CSF findings be in viral meningitis?
1. Clear appearance (asceptic) 2. Normal or increase opening pressure 3. Increased WCC (50-1000cell/uL) mainly lymphocytes 4. Normal glucose level 5. Increased protein level
32
Which 3 organisms are the most common causes of bacterial meningitis in adults?
1. Neisseria meningitidis 2. Streptococcus pneumoniae 3 Listeria
33
Which 3 organisms are the most common causes of bacterial meningitis in children?
1. Neisseria meningitidis 2. Streptococcus pneumoniae 3. Haemophilus influenzae
34
What will the CSF findings be in fungal meningitis?
1. Clear or cloudy appearance 2. Increased opening pressure (>25 cmH2O) 3. Increased WCC (10-500cell/uL) mainly lymphocytes 4. Low glucose level 5. Increased protein level
35
Which 2 organisms are the main cause of fungal meningitis?
1. Cryptococcus neoformans | 2. Candida
36
What clinical signs/ symptoms are less common in fungal meningitis than bacterial meningitis?
1. Fever | 2. Neck stiffness
37
What will the CSF findings be in a sub arachnoid haemorrhage?
1. Blood stained then yellow appearance 2. Increased opening pressure 3. Increased WCC 4. Increased RBC 5. Normal glucose 6. Increased protein
38
What will the CSF findings be in GBS?
1. Clear or yellow appearance 2. Normal or increased opening pressure 3. Normal WCC 4. Normal glucose 5. Increased protein
39
Coryzal symptoms are most common in which type of meningitis?
Viral
40
Neck stiffness is a common symptom in meningitis and which other condition?
Subarachnoid haemorrhage
41
What is the normal range for ABG PaCo2?
4.7 - 6 kPa
42
What is the normal range for ABG PaO2?
11- 13 kPa
43
What is the normal range for ABG HCO3-?
22-26 mEq/l
44
What is the normal range for ABG base excess?
-2 to +2 mmol/l
45
What is the likely cause of a very low PaO2 in a patient who looks completely well, is not short of breath and has normal O2 saturations?
Venous blood sample
46
What is the most important factor to look at first when analysing ABG results?
Is the patient hypoxic
47
Which value is hypoxia on an ABG?
<10kPa
48
What does a high base excess mean?
There is a HIGHER than normal amount of HCO3- in the blood
49
What does a low base excess mean?
There is a LOWER than normal amount of HCO3- in the blood
50
What acid base disturbances cause a high base excess?
Metbolic alkalosis | Compensated respiratory acidosis
51
What acid base disturbances cause a low base excess?
Metabolic acidosis | Compensated respiratory alkalosis
52
What are the causes of respiratory acidosis?
1. Respiratory depression eg. opiates 2. COPD 3. Asthma 4. Guillain-Barre syndrome
53
What are the causes of respiratory alkalosis?
1. Anxiety 2. Panic attack 3. Pain 4. PE 5. Pneumothorax 6. Hypoxia
54
What are the causes of a high anion gap metabolic acidosis?
``` MUDPILES M- Methanol U- Uraemia D- Diabetic /alcoholic/ starvation ketoacidosis P- Paracetamol overdose I- Isoniaid L- Lactic acidosis E- Ethanol S- Salicylates ```
55
What are the causes of a low anion gap metabolic acidosis?
1. GI losses of bicarbonate: diarrhoea, ileostomy, proximal colostomy 2. Renal tubular acidosis 3. Addison's disease
56
What are the causes of metabolic alkalosis?
1. GI losses of acid: vomitting/diarrhoea | 2. Renal loss of acid: Loop and thiazide diuretics, heart failure, nephrotic syndrome, cirrhosis, Conn's syndrome
57
How would a mixed respiratory and metabolic acidosis appear on ABG?
pH LOW CO2 HIGH Bicarbonate LOW
58
How would a mixed respiratory and metabolic alkalosis appear on ABG?
pH HIGH CO2 LOW Bicarbonate HIGH
59
What factors need to be looked at to assess the image quality of a chest Xray? (RIPE)
R- ROTATION: the medial aspect of each clavicle equidistant from spinous processes, and the spinous processes should be vertically orientated against the vertebral bodies I- INSPIRATION: 5-6 anterior ribs, lung apices, both costophrenic angles and lateral rib edges P- PROJECTION: AP or PA (if no label/ scapulae not visible assume PA) E- EXPOSURE: Vertebrae should be visible behind the heart
60
Where are the clavicles in a PA chest Xray?
Project OVER the lung fields
61
Where are the clavicles in an AP chest Xray?
Above the apex of the lung fields
62
Which ribs are distinct in a PA chest Xray?
Posterior ribs
63
Which ribs are distinct in an AP chest Xray?
Anterior ribs
64
What is the ABCDE approach to chest X ray interpretation?
A- AIRWAY: is the trachea deviated? Is the carina visible? Are hilar structures visible? B- BREATHING: compare each lung zone. Are the pleura visible (shouldn't be normally)? Do the lungs markings extend to the edges of the lung fields? C: CARDIAC: what is the heart size? (normal is cardiothoracic ratio <0.5 in PA) Assess the heart borders D: DIAPHRAGM: Is there free gas under the right side? (suggests bowel perforation) Are the costophrenic angles visible? E: EVERYTHING ELSE: Mediastinal contours eg. aortic knuckle, Bones eg. fractures, soft tissues, tubes, valves, pacemakers. REVIEW ALL AREAS: Apices, retrocardiac, behind the diaphragm, hilar, peripheral lungs
65
What tests are done to investigate a PE?
1. Bloods: FBC, U and E, clotting, D-dimer 2. ABG: Look for resp failure 3. CXR: May be normal or dilated pulmonary artery 4. ECG: May have tachycardia or RBBB
66
How should a PE be treated?
1. If haemodynamically unstable, thrombolyse with alteplase IV 2. If haemodynamically stable, give LMWH or heparin Then give DOAC or warfarin
67
What are the Well's criteria for a PE?
1. Signs/ symptoms of a DVT 2. Bedridden/ recent surgery 3. Previous DVT/ PE 4. Malignancy 5. Other diagnosis less likely 6. Haemoptysis 7. HR >100
68
What are the potential causes of haemoptysis?
Lung causes: 1. Infection 2. Malignancy 3. Bronchiectasis 4. Goodpastures 5. Sarcoidosis Vascular causes: 1. PE 2. Vasculitis 3, Pulmonary hypertension Cardiac causes: 1. Mitral stenosis
69
Which antibiotics are used to treat bacterial meningitis?
Cephalosporins
70
Which drugs are used to treat viral meningitis?
Aciclovir
71
Which drugs are used to treat fungal meningitis?
Fluconazole
72
What are the causes of a right bundle branch block?
1. Isolated RBBB 2. Ischemia 3. RVH 4. Cor pulmonale 5. PE 6. ASD
73
What are the causes of a left bundle branch block?
1. Ischemia 2. LVH 3. Hypertension 4. Cardiomyopathy
74
What are the causes of 3rd degree heart block?
1. Digoxin toxicity 2. Fibrosis 3. Ischemia (Inferior MI)