Random Flashcards
Causes of microcytic anaemia?
TAILS
Thalassaemia, anaemia of chronic disease, iron deficiency, lead poisoning, sideroblastic anaemia (X-linked)
What MCV is classified as microcytic anaemia?
<80 femtolitres
What MCV is classified as normocytic anaemia?
80-100 femtolitres
What MCV is classified as macrocytic anaemia?
> 100 femtolitres
Causes of normocytic anaemia?
[3x As, 2x Hs]
- Acute blood loss
- Haemolytic anaemia - i.e. sickle cell disease
- Anaemia of chronic disease
- Aplastic anaemia - temp. stopped RBC production (bone marrow disorder)
- Hypothyroidism
Causes of macrocytic anaemia?
- MEGALOBLASTIC (B12 deficiency + folate deficiency)
- NORMOBLASTIC (alcohol abuse, drugs like MTX, liver disease or reticulocytosis)
Direct Coombs test positive?
Autoimmune haemolytic anaemia(not in other types of haemolytic anaemia) - can either be warm AIHA or cold AIHA
Warm AIHA is more common
What anaemia can prosthetic valves cause?
Turbulent flow around the prosthetic valve = shearing of RBCs.
The valve churns up the cells, and they break down.
=> normocytic haemolytic anaemia
Key findings in G6PD deficiency?
X-linked recessive (mainly males)
Acute episodes of haemolytic anaemia; triggered byinfections,drugs(i.e. anti-malarials) orfava (broad) beans.
⇒ jaundice, anaemia, splenomegaly
=> Heinz bodies on blood film
What is pernicious anaemia?
Autoantibodies against parietal cells or intrinsic factor.
=> lack absorption of vit B12
Presents with peripheral neuropathy & megaloblastic macrocytic anaemia
What to treat first when we have both B12 and folate deficiency?
It is essential to treat theB12 deficiency first, before correcting the folate deficiency.
Giving patientsfolic acid when they have aB12 deficiencycan lead tosubacute combined degeneration of the cord, with demyelination in the spinal cord and severe neurological problems.
Treatment for polycystic kidney disease?
- Tolvaptan (vasopressin receptor antagonist)
- Antihypertensives (ACE inhibitors)
- Analgesia
- Antibiotics for infections (e.g., UTIs or cyst infections)
- Drainageof symptomatic can be performed by aspiration or surgery
- Dialysisfor end-stage renal failure
- Renal transplantfor end-stage renal failure
Chlamydia treatment?
First line: doxycycline 100mg twice a day for 7 days
In pregnancy + breastfeeding:
Azithromycin 1g stat, then 500mg OD for 2 days
Gonorrhoea treatment?
- IM ceftriaxone1g - if sensitivities are NOT known
- ORAL ciprofloxacin500mg - if sensitivities ARE known
=> TEST OF CURE!! with NAAT testing if they are asymptomatic, or cultures if symptomatic
Syphilis treatment?
IMdose ofbenzathine benzylpenicillin
Ceftriaxone, amoxicillin and doxycycline are alternatives.
What cancer metastases can cause “cannonball metastases” in the lungs?
Metastatic renal cell carcinoma.
These appear as clearly-defined circular opacities scattered throughout the lung fields on a chest x-ray.
A 65 year old male reports significant weight loss as well severe pain in his right loin over the last 4 months which is abnormal for him. He is afrebrile but reports visible clots in his urine. CXR reveal cannon ball cancer metastases in his lungs. What genetic condition predisposes him the most to developing his primary cancer?
Primary cancer - renal cell carcinoma
Genetic condition - Von-Hippel Lindau syndrome
UTI treatment in pregnancy?
- Cefalexin
- Nitrofurantoin (avoid in the third trimester)
Why should trimethoprim be avoided in pregnancy?
Folate antagonist. Folate is essential in early pregnancy for normal development. Trimethoprim in early pregnancy can causecongenital malformations, particularlyneural tube defects(spina bifida)
UTI treatment for lower UTI in women?
Women = uncomplicated
3 days of oral trimethoprim or nitrofurantoin
UTI treatment for lower UTI in men?
Men = complicated
7 days - oral trimethoprim or nitrofurantoin
UTI treatment for upper UTI? men, vs pregnant women?
1st line - cefalexin + co-amoxiclav (7-10 days)
Pregnancy - cefalexin is first-line oral, and cefuroxime is first-line IV.
Secondary prevention for stable angina?
4x As
- Aspirin (anti-platelet)
- Atenolol (b blocker)
- Atorvostatin
- ACE inhibitor (ramipril)
Interventions for late stage stable angina?
- PCI - percutaneous coronary intervention - insert balloon, then leave stent in place (through femoral or brachial artery)
- CABG - coronary artery bypass graft - for really severely stenosed coronary arteries - take graft pain from leg, use it to bypass the stenosis in the coronary artery.
Location of two scars from CABG?
- Midline sternotomy
- Scar on inner calf (harvest the great saphenous vein)
Investigations for angina?
- CT coronary angiography (gold standard)
- ECG
- TFTs??
Two types of left-sided heart failure?
- Systolic - reduced ejection fraction (reduced contraction)
- Diastolic - preserved ejection fraction (stiff muscle, so cannot relax)
Cor pulmonale?
Right-sided heart failurecaused byrespiratory disease, ie:
- COPD (most common cause)
- Pulmonary embolism
- Interstitial lung disease
- Cystic fibrosis
- Primary pulmonary hypertension
Medical management for chronic heart failure?
ABAL:
ACE inhibitor
Beta-blocker (bisprolol)
Aldosterone antagonist (spironolactone)
Loop diuretic (furosemide)
Features of atrial stenosis?
- ejection systolic murmur (crescendo decrescendo|)
- narrow pulse pressure
- slow rising carotid pulse
Features of atrial regurgitation?
- diastolic, soft murmur
- wide pulse pressure
- collapsing pulse (water hammer pulse)
- austin flint murmur
Features of mitral stenosis?
Loud S1
Mid-diastolic murmur
=> RHEUMATIC FEVER
Features of mitral regurgitation?
Pansystolic high pitched murmur
=> congestive HF
=> oedema
Surgical interventions for aortic aneurysm?
- EVAR - endovascular aortic repair
- open surgery (preferred by NICE)
Definition of abdominal aortic aneurysm? AAA
Dilation of abdominal aorta >3cm
Degradation of all 3 layers of the vessels (intima, media and adventitia).
True AAA vs psuedo (false) aneurysm?
Degradation of all 3 aortic layers is referred to as a true aneurysm, whilst degradation of less than 3 is a pseudoaneurysm
Definition of aortic dissection?
Where the blood enters between the intima and media layers of the aorta
Risk factors for aortic aneurysm + aortic dissection?
- Marfan syndrome and other connective tissue disorders
- Men
- Increased age
- Smoking
- Hypertension
- Family history
- Existing cardiovascular disease
Management for aortic aneurysm over 5.5cm dilation?
Elective surgery to prevent rupture:
- open surgery
- EVAR (endovascular aortic repair)
Management for RUPTURED aortic aneurysm? (+ define)
Aneurysm rupture = tear of all aortic wall layers (more severe than aortic dissection, which is just inner wall)
- ABCDE
- Fluid resuscitaiton
- URGENT SURGICAL REPAIR (open surgery preferred) - repair with graft
Presentation of ruptured THORACIC aortic aneurysm?
- severe chest pain
- haemodynamic instability (hypotension + tachycardia)
- collapse
- death
- Cardiac tamponade (due to bleeding into pericardial cavity)
- Haemoptysis (bleed into airways)
- Haematemesis (bleed into oesophagus)
Monitoring requirments for AAA?
<3 (normal- not AAA)
3-4.4 cm = yearly
4.5-5.4cm = 3 monthly
> 5.5cm (elective surgery)
Cullen’s sign and Grey Turners? where is this seen?
- Rupture of an aortic aneurysm
- Haemorrhagic pancreatitis (severe)
- Ruptured ectopic pregnancy
Define: aortic dissection
Tear in the innermost layer of aortic wall (intima).
Blood collects between intima and media layers => forms an intramural ‘false lumen’
Most common site for aortic dissection?
Right lateral area of ascending aorta
This is area of highest pressure
Management of aortic dissection? (type A vs type B)
- MORPHINE FOR PAIN
- IV LABETOLOL (to reduce tachycardia)
Type A - (first part of asc aorta) = surgical - aortic graft (EVAR)
Type B - (descending aorta) = normally conservative management with BP control - may also need EVAR
Complications of aortic dissection?
- Cardiac tamponade
- Myocardial infarction
- Stroke
- Paraplegia (motor or sensory impairment in the legs)
- Aortic valve regurgitation
- Death
ECG changes in pericarditis?
- Saddle-shaped ST-elevation
- PR depression
- No reciprocal ST depression
Investigations in pericarditis?
- ECG
- Echo
- Bloods
- Inflamm markers (high ESR, CRP, WCC)
Management of pericarditis?
- NSAIDs
- Colchicine (used longer term, 3 mnths, to reduce risk of recurrence)
- Pericardiocentesis may be required to remove fluid from around the heart if there is a significant pericardial effusion or tamponade.
Diagnosis of peripheral vasc disease? (investigations)
- ABPI (ankle-brachial pressure index) - <0.9
- GOLD STANDARD = CT angiography (CT or MRI)
- Duplex doppler ultrasound imaging (speed and volume of blood flow)
- Buerger’s test - patient lies flat, raise legs to 45 degree angle for 1 min. Positive result if legs goes pallor and then re-perfuses when dropped.
Presentation of peripheral vascular disease?
- 6x Ps
- Low ABPI (<0.9)
- Leg ulcers
- Xanthomata (yellow cholesterol deposits in skin)
What are the 6 Ps of acute limb-threatening ischaemia?
Pulseless
Pallor
Pain
Perishingly cold
Paralysis
Paraesthesia
Treatment - for intermittent claudication
- Graded-exercise therapy’, diet control and smoking cessation.
- STATINS
- ANTI-PLATELETS - clopidogrel
- Naftidrofuryl oxalate (5-HT2 receptor antagonist that acts as a peripheral vasodilator)
- Endovascular angioplasty with stenting
- Endartectomy
- Bypass surgery
Treatment - for acute limb-threatening ischaemia?
THROMBUS = SURGICAL EMERGENCY
- revascularisation is needed within 4-6 hours or else amputation risk is increased.
- Endovascular thrombolysis - use catheter and insert thrombolysis directly into the clot
- Endovascular thrombectomy - use catheter to remove thrombus
- Surgical thrombectomy - cut open vessel to remove thrombus
- Endartectomy
- Bypass surgery
- Amputation
Tetralogy of fallot?
- VSD
- Overriding aorta - lies towwards RHS, meaning deoxy blood can go through VSD and enter aorta!
- Pulmonary valve stenosis (encourages blood to flow across VSD instead)
=> right ventricle hypertrophy
=> right to left shunt = cyanosis!
Eisenmenger Syndrome?
When there is a VSD, blood typically flows from left to right = therefore no cyanosis occurs.
= overtime this leads to right heart overload = RV hypertrophy = higher pressures in RV than LV
= shunt swaps to become RIGHT TO LEFT SHUNT
= NOW IS CYANOTIC (Eisenmenger Syndrome)
Beck’s triad of acute pericarditis?
Hypotension
Raised JVP
Muffled heart sounds
=> sign of cardiac tamponade
Important differential for symptoms of meningism?
Subarachnoid haemorrhage
Community treatment of meningitis?
IM benzylpenicillin (in presence of non-blanching rash)
Prophylactic treatment for meningitis close contacts? time frame of contact?
Last 7 days
Single dose of ciprofloxacin
Hospital treatment of bacterial meningitis?
ANTIBIOTIC + DEXAMETHASONE:
<3 months - cefotaxime
>3 months - ceftriaxone
(3rd gen cephalosporins)
Dexamethasone - to reduce risk of hearing loss or neurological damage
Kernig’s test?
lying the patient on their back, flexing one hip and knee to 90 degrees and then slowly straightening the knee whilst keeping the hip flexed at 90 degrees. This creates a slight stretch in the meninges. Where there is meningitis it will produce spinal pain or resistance to movement.
Brudzinski’s test?
lying the patient flat on their back and gently using your hands to lift their head and neck off the bed and flex their chin to their chest. In a positive test this causes the patient to involuntarily flex their hips and knees.
Difference between CSF lumbar puncture in viral vs bacterial meningitis?
Bacterial - yellow/cloudy (viral - clear)
Bacterial - low glucose (bact. use up)
Bacterial - high protein (bact. produce)
WCC - high neutrophils (bacterial) vs high lymphocytes (viral)
What does purpuric non-blanching rash indicate?
DIC caused by meningococcal septicaemia (N.meningitidis has entered blood stream)
Why might we add amoxicillin on top of ceftriaxone in meningitis?
If there is a high risk of listeriosis (i.e. older age 73yo).
AMOXICILLIN - to cover listeria
Murphy’s sign? When is it positive?
Positive in acute cholecystitis
Press in upper RQ
Patient inhales deeply
Gallbladder will move downwards; when it comes into contact with your hand the patient will STOP inhaling
(due to acute pain)
Investigation for acute cholecystitis + findings?
Ultrasound
- Thick-walled gallbladder
- Stones in gallbladder
- Fluid around the gallbladder
Investigation for acute cholangitis + findings?
Charcot’s triad + which condition?
Acute cholangitis presents with Charcot’s triad:
Right upper quadrant pain
Fever
Jaundice (raised bilirubin)
Management of acute cholangitis?
- IV ANTIBIOTICS (due to infection - risk of sepsis)
- ERCP - to remove gallstones, or baloon dilatation or stents for strictures
- Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (remove gallbladder) - once stable
Management of acute cholecystitis?
- IV ANTIBIOTICS
- ERCP to remove gallstones if stuck in common bile duct
- Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy (removal of the gallbladder) is usually be performed during the acute admission, within 72 hours of symptoms
Wilsons disease? typical patient + presentation?
Excess copper in all tissues, particularly in liver
Typically younger patient
- Kayser-fleischer rings (cornea)
- Chronic hepatitis - leads to liver cirrhosis
- Neurological symptoms - tremor, dysarthria (speech difficulties) and dystonia (abnormal muscle tone) + Parkinsonism (copper in basal ganglia)
- Psychiatric symptoms - abnormal behaviour,depression,cognitive impairment andpsychosis
Treatment for pruritis?
Cholestyramine (bile acid sequestrant)
What is hepatic encephalopathy + exam finding?
Reversible syndrome in advanced liver dysfunction.
Results from accumulation of neurotoxic substances in the brain = AMMONIA
ASTERIXIS (sign of grade 2/3 HE) - patient told to hold hand like stopping traffic, but it flaps down instead
Drug to treat hepatic encephalopathy?
Lactulose (first-line) - laxative to promote ammonia excretion
Rifaximin - antibiotic
Epigastric pain radiating to the back?
Acute pancreatitis
AST:ALT ratio in NAFLD?
Higher ALT (reversed ratio)
> 0.8 indicates advanced fibrosis
AST:ALT ratio in ALD?
> 1.5 (high AST!)
(2:1 ratio)
Cushing’s reflex/triad?
Hypertension + bradycardia + irregular respirations
This is the response to raised ICP
- in extradural haemorrhage
- in head injury
etc
First line treatment for trigeminal neuralgia?
This is headache with trigeminal nerve distribution.
- Carbamazepine (anti-spasmodic)
Hepatic encephalopathy?
Excess ammonia
reversible syndrome
COMPLICATION of advanced CIRRHOSIS
++ ASTERIXIS - hand flap (grade 2/3)
Treatment for hepatic encephalopathy?
IV lactulose (laxative) - to exrete excess ammonia
Rifaximin - antibiotic (to reduce int. bacteria producing ammonia)
Child Pugh score use? components?
severity of cirrhosis
A–Albumin
- B–Bilirubin
- C–Clotting (INR)
- D–Dilation (ascites)
- E–**Encephalopathy
Scan used in cirrhosis?
Transient Elastography (FibroScan)
Used to assess the stiffness of the liver using high-frequency sound waves. It helps determine the degree offibrosis(scarring) to test forlivercirrhosis.
Wernicke’s encephalopathy vs Korsakoff syndrome
Both caused by thiamine / VITAMIN B1 deficiency
Wernicke’s encephalopathy represents the “acute” phase of the disorder and Korsakoff’s amnesic syndrome represents the disorder progressing to a “chronic” or long-lasting stage.
Wernicke’s encephalopathyis a medical emergency with a high mortality rate.
Korsakoff syndromeis often irreversible and results in patients requiring full-time or institutional care.
Triad of symptoms in Wernicke’s encephalopathy?
Confusion
Oculomotor disturbances (eye muscle paralysis)
Ataxia (difficulties with coordinated movements)
Features of Korsakoff syndrome include?
Memory impairment (retrograde and anterograde)
Behavioural changes
Causes of Wernicke’s encephalopathy?
Mainly EXCESS ALCOHOL
But also:
- Pancreatitis
- Liver dysfunction
- Vomiting / hyperemesis gravidarum
- Starvation/fasting
- Cancer
- AIDS
Medication for motor neuron disease?
Riluzole - can slow disease progression & extend survival by several MONTHS in ALS
Investigations for Guillian Barre syndrome? (+ their findings)
- Nerve conduction studies(reduced signalthrough nerves)
- Lumbar punctureforcerebrospinal fluid(showingraised proteinwith a normal cell count and glucose)
Scoring system for GBS?
Brighton criteria:
- bilateral weakness of limbs
- decreased tendon reflexes
- absence of alternative diagnosis
- CSF cell count normal
- CSF raised protein
- nerve conduction studies - show reduced conduction
Treatment for GBS?
- IV IG (immunoglobulins) - 1st line
- Plasmapheresis - 2nd line
- VTE prophylaxis - to prevent pulmonary embolism (leading cause of death, as muscle weakness causes immobility)
Presentation of GBS?
Sympton onset 4 weeks after gastroenteritis
- Symmetrical ascending weakness
- Reduced reflexes
- Peripheral loss of sensation
- Neuropathic pain
- May progress to the cranial nerves and cause facial weakness.
- Autonomic dysfunction can lead to urinary retention, ileus or heart arrhythmias.
Causes of GBS?
COMMON - Camplyobacter jejuna
- CMV
- EBV
Antibodies in GBS?
Anti-GM1 antibodies = destruction of Schwann cells (PNS)
Diagnostic criteria for neurofibromatosis type 1?
CRABBING:
- C–Café-au-lait spots (more than 15mm diameter is significant in adults)
- R–Relative with NF1
- A–Axillary or inguinal freckling
- BB–Bony dysplasia, such asBowing of a long bone or sphenoid wing dysplasia
- I–Iris hamartomas (Lisch nodules) - yellow-brown spots on the iris
- N–Neurofibromas (skin-coloured, raised nodules or papules with a smooth, regular surface)
What tumours are associated with neurofibromatosis type 2?
Acoustic neuromas, which are tumours of theauditory nervethat innervates the inner ear.
Causes of peripheral neuropathy?
ABCDE (+ Charcot-Marie-Tooth syndrome)
- A–Alcohol
- B–B12 deficiency
- C–Cancer (myeloma) andChronic kidney disease
- D–Diabetes andDrugs (isoniazid,amiodarone, leflunomideandcisplatin)
- E–Every vasculitis
Presentation of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease?
Autosomal dominant
Typically at 10 years old, but may be delayed until 40+ years old
- High foot arches (pes caves)
- Distal muscle wasting (inverted champagne bottle legs)
- Loss of ankle dorsiflexion = FOOT DROP!
- Reduced tendon reflexes
- Reduced muscle tone
- Peripheral sensory loss
Physiology of Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome?
Autoimmunecondition affecting theNMJ, similar tomyasthenia gravis.
Antibodies againstvoltage-gated calcium channels (in presynaptic membrane of NMJ)
VGCCs destroyed = less Ach released into the synapse, resulting in a weaker signal and reduced muscle contraction.
Disease associated with Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome?
Paraneoplastic syndrome occuring alongside small cell lung cancer
(but can also present as a primary AI disorder without SCLC)
Treatment for Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome?
- Amifampridine
- Pyridostigmine (cholinesterase inhibitor)
- Immunosuppressants (prednisolone or azathioprine)
- IV immunoglobulins, or plasmapheresis
Presentation of Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome?
- Proximal muscle weakness difficulty standing from a seat.
- Autonomic dysfunction - dry mouth, blurred vision, impotence & dizziness
- Reduced or absent tendon reflexes
How to differentiate Lambert-Eaton + Myasthenia Gravis based on symptoms after a period of muscle contraction?
In Lambert-Eaton, signs and symptoms will improve after a period of muscle contraction (i..e improved muscle strength after use, or present tendon reflexes).
Whereas in MG, after muscle usage, the symptoms get progressively worse (fatigued) - symptoms improve with rest!
Which tumours are linked to MG?
Strong link withthymomas(thymus gland tumours).
10-20% of patients with MG have a thymoma. 30% of patients with a thymoma develop MG.
Clinical exam to assess muscle fatiguebility in MG?
- ask patient to repeatedly blink to cause ptosis worsening
- ask to look upwards - worsens diplopia when eyes moved side to side
OR
- repeatedly abduct arm to the side (up and down) 20 times = leads to unilateral weakness
What is the edrophonium test? (used in MG)
Block cholinesterase enzymes that break down Ach = raised levels of Ach = brief relief of muscle weakness
Antibodies present in MG?
Ach- receptor antibodies (85%)
Treatments for MG?
- Pyridostigmine/ neostigmine- acetylcholinesterase inhibitors
- Immunosuppression(prednisolone or azathioprine) suppresses Ab production
- Thymectomycan improve symptoms, even in patients without a thymoma
- Rituximab (mAb against B cells) - considered where other treatments fail
Treatment of myasthenic crisis?
Acute worsenin gof symptoms, might be triggered by resp. tract infection
=> RESP FAILURE
- BIPAP / intubation with ventilation
- IV immunoglobulins or plasmapheresis
Risk factors/associations for subarachnoid haemorrhage?
- Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease ⇒ predisposes to berry aneurysms
- Connective tissue disorders (Marfan or Ehlers-Danlos)
- Aged 45 to 70
- Women
- Black ethnic origin
- Family history
- Cocaine use
- Sickle cell anaemia
- Neurofibromatosis
CSF findings in subarachnoid haemorrhage?
- raised RBC count in CSF
- xanthochromia - yellow colour from bilirubin in CSF
Surgical options for extradural and subdural haemorrhages?
- Craniotomy(open surgery by removing a section of the skull)
- Burr holes (small holes drilled in the skull to drain the blood)
Treatment options for subarachnoid haemorrhage?
- Nimodipine (CCB) - prevents vasospasm (a common complication that causes brain ischaemia)
SURGICAL:
Treat aneurysms with endovascular coiling or neurosurgical clipping.
Presentation of subarachnoid haemorrhage?
THUNDERCLAP HEACHAE, SUDDEN ONSET DURING STRENUOUS ACTIVITY
- Meningism - neck stiffness, photophobia, vomiting)
- Neurological symptoms(visual changes, dysphasia, focal weakness, seizures and reduced consciousness)
- Third nerve palsy - oculomotor - compressed by aneurysm on posterior communicating artery
Bell’s palsy?
Idiopathic - no apparent cause.
Presents with unilateral lower motor neurone facial nerve palsy.
Most patients fully recover over several weeks, but recovery may take up to 12 months.
- Forehead affected (unilateral)
- Ptosis (unilateral)
- Loss of nasolabial fold (unilateral)
Management of TIA?
- Aspirin 300mg daily (started immediately)
- Referral for specialist assessment within 24 hours (within 7 days if more than 7 days since the episode)
- Diffusion-weighted MRI scan
Management of stroke?
- Exclude hypoglycaemia
- Immediate CT brain to exclude haemorrhage
- Aspirin 300mg daily for two weeks (started after haemorrhage is excluded with a CT)
- Admission to a specialist stroke centre:
- Thrombolysis with alteplase (within 4hrs)
- Thrombectomy - surgery to remove clot within 24hrs (with confirmed blockage of
proximal anterior/posterior circulation)
2x investigations for the 2 main underlying causes of stroke or TIA?
- Carotid imaging (e.g., carotid ultrasound, or CT or MRI angiogram)
- ECG (to look for atrial fibrillation)
Surgical options for confirmed carotid artery stenosis causing stroke/TIA?
Considered where there is significant carotid artery stenosis. The options are:
- Carotid endarterectomy (recommended in the NICE guidelines)
- Angioplasty and stenting
Secondary prevention of stroke?
- Clopidogrel 75mg OD (alternatively aspirin plus dipyridamole)
- Atorvastatin 20-80mg (usually delayed at least 48 hours)
- Blood pressure and diabetes control
- Addressing modifiable risk factors (e.g., smoking, obesity and exercise)
Brown-seqard ipsilateral vs contralateral losses?
=> ipsilateral loss of motor function (corticospinal tract)
=> ipsilateral loss of sensory info about fine touch, vibration, proprioception and pressure (DCML tract)
=> contralateral loss of pain, temp and crude touch (spinothalamic)
Components of GCS score?
MOTOR RESPONSE /6
VERBAL RESPONSE /5
EYE OPENING RESPONSE /4
Muscles affected by motor symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome?
Thenar muscles at base of thumb
- Weakness of thumb movements
- Weakness of grip strength
- Difficulty with fine movements involving the thumb
- Wasting of the thenar muscles (muscle atrophy)
Distribution of sensory symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome?
Sensory symptomsin the distribution of the palmar digital cutaneous branchof the median nerve, affecting thepalmar aspectsand fullfingertipsof the:
- Thumb
- Index and middle finger
- The lateral half of ring finger
Sensory symptomsinclude:
- Numbness
- Paraesthesia (pins and needles or tingling)
- Burning sensation
- Pain
(OFTEN WORSE AT NIGHT)
Diagnosis of carpal tunnel? 2x
- Kamath and Stothard carpal tunnel questionnaire (CTQ) - a high score may replace the need for nerve conduction studies to confirm the diagnosis.
- Nerve conduction studies: a small electrical current is applied by an electrode to the median nerve on one side of the carpal tunnel. Recording electrodes over the median nerve on the other side of the carpal tunnel record the electrical current that reaches them. This demonstrates how well signals are passing through the carpal tunnel along the median nerve.
Improvement of tremor with alcohol - PD or essential tremor?
Essential tremor improves with alcohol
Parkinsonism and autonomic dysfunction?
Multiple System Atrophy:
Degeneration of the basal ganglia leads to a Parkinson’s presentation. Degeneration in other areas leads toautonomic dysfunction(causing postural hypotension, constipation, abnormal sweating and sexual dysfunction) andcerebellar dysfunction(causingataxia).
Parkinsonism with memory issues?
Lewy body dementia
Type of dementia associated with features of Parkinsonism. It causes a progressive cognitive decline. There are associated symptoms ofvisual hallucinations,delusions,REM sleep disordersandfluctuating consciousness.
First line treatment for trigeminal neuralgia?
Carbamazapine
TN - intense facial pain that can last for a few seconds to a few hours. The pain is commonly caused by light touch and can occur spontaneously as well.
Treatment for migraine? (2 categories!)
Abortive treatment:
- Oral triptan (sumatriptan) + an NSAID or paracetamol
- Anti-emetic (metoclopramide or prochlorperazine)
- Opiatesarenotused to treat migraines and may make the condition worse.
Preventative treatment (if 4-5 attacks a month or interfering with QOL)
- Propranolol OR topiramate (anti-epileptic; teratogenic) or amitriptyline (tricyclic antidepressant)
Treatment for status epilepticus?
- Benzodiazepine (diazepam/midazolam/lorazepam) - repeated after 5-10 minutes if the seizure continues
- After two doses of benzodiazepine = IV levetiracetam, phenytoin or sodium valproate
- Third-line options are phenobarbital or general anaesthesia
Cluster headache - treatment + prophylaxis?
Treatment: subcutaneous triptans (i.e. sumatriptan)
Prophylaxis: verapamil (CCB) (C for CLUSTER + CCB)
Drugs in AD?
- Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (rivastigmine + donepezil)
- MEMANTINE = NMDA receptor agonist
Most likely type of bleed? - head injury with loss of consciousness, followed by lucid period
Extradural haemorrhage (LEMON SHAPE)
Most likely type of bleed? - head injury with loss of consciousness, followed by gradual deteroriation
Chronic subdural haemorrhage
Investigations + management of DVT?
- Wells score
- D-dimer
- Doppler ultrasound
- CT pulmonary angiogram OR ventilation-perfusion scan - to diagnose PE
= 3 months DOAC (or LMWH in pregnancy)
Investigations for peripheral arterial disease?
- ABPI (ankle-brachial pressure index) <0.9
- Duplex Doppler ultrasound
- Buerger’s test - lie patient flat, raise their leg 45º angle for 1 minute. Positive result is if the leg goes pallor and then becomes perfused when restored to normal position. The more severe the ischaemia, the lower the angle is needed to induce pallor. (see photo in SIGNS)
Signs of peripheral arterial disease?
- 6Ps
- ABPI <0.9
Leg ulcers
Xanthomata (yellow cholesterol deposits on the skin) - Positive Buerger’s test - if leg goes pale when lifted (in the second part of the test, the leg first goes blue, then turns red)
Treatment options for peripheral arterial disease (intermittment claudication + critical limb ischaemia)
- ‘Graded-exercise therapy’, diet control and smoking cessation.
- STATINS - atorvastatin** 80mg
- ANTI-PLATELETS - clopidogrel 75mg OD
- Naftidrofuryl oxalate (5-HT2 receptor antagonist that acts as a peripheral vasodilator)
- Endovascular angioplasty with stenting.
- Endarterectomy– cutting vessel open and removing the atheromatous plaque.
- Bypass surgery– using a graft to bypass the blockage
Treatment options for peripheral arterial disease? (acute limb-threatening ischaemia)
THROMBUS!!
- Surgical emergency, revascularisation is needed within 4-6 hours or else amputation risk is increased.
- Endovascular thrombolysis - use catheter and insert thrombolysis directly into the clot
- Endovascular thrombectomy - use catheter to remove thrombus
- Surgical thrombectomy - cut open vessel to remove thrombus
- Endartectomy
- Bypass surgery
- Amputation
6Ps of acute limb-threatneing ischaemia?
Pulselessness
Pallor
Pain
Perishingly cold
Paralysis
Parasthesia
Shockable rhythms?
Ventricular fibrillation
Ventricular tachycardia
Non-shockable rhythms?
Asystole
Pulseless electrical activity (PEA)
Common causes of AF?
SMITH
- Sepsis
- Mitral valve path (sten/regurg)
- Ischaemic HD
- Thyrotoxicosis (hyperthyroidism)
- Hypertension
Causes of secondary hypertension?
Secondary HTN = identifiable cause
= ROPED:
- Renal artery stenosis
- Obesity
- Pregnancy
- Endocrine (Conn’s)
- Drugs (alcohol, steroids, oestrogen, NSAIDs)
Common side effects of statins?
Myalgia (muscle pain)
Signs and symptoms of heart failure?
- Ascites
- Extertional dyspnoea
- Cough - frothy pink/white sputum
- Orthopnoea - breathlessness when lying flat, relieved by sitting or standing (ask how many pillows they use)
- Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnoea - suddenly waking at night with a severe attack of shortness of breath, cough and wheeze.
- Peripheral oedema (ankle swelling)
- Fatigue
- Tachycardia
- Displaced apex beat
- Raised JVP - jugular venous pressure
- Added heart sounds and murmurs - i.e. 3rd heart sound
- Hepatomegaly, especially if pulsatile and tender
Medical treatment of heart failure?
ABAL
AceI
Beta blocker
Aldosterone antagonist (spironolactone/eplerenone)
Loop diuretic (furosemide)