Random Flashcards
What medical assessment should be done in a comprehensive assessment of older people?
HOPC PMHx systems review medications smoking and alcohol nutritional status skin integrity - ulcers dental health - last time they saw a dentist immunisation status advanced care planning
features of delirium
acute onset fluctuating reversal of sleep wake cycle altered consciousness - hyperactive/hypoactive hallucinations delusions inability to concentrate - impaired attention confusion disorientation
causes of delirium
medical conditions -encephalopathy -renal failure -heart failure -respiratory failure -major illness/surgery -anaemia medications - usually new or dose change -steroids -antidepressants -anticholinergics -benzos -opioids -anti parkinsons -sedatives -digoxin -phenytoin -lithium infections -UTI -pneumonia -cellulitis -meningitis -encephalitis metabolic change -hypo/hyper natraemia -hyper calcaemia -uraemia -thyroid -cortisol (adrenal crisis post steroid withdrawal) -hypoglycaemia hypoxia trauma intracerebral event -stroke -seizure/status epilepticus -subdural haematoma head injury constipation urinary retention alcohol withdrawal
Predisposing factors for delirium
dementia past history of delirium age > 70 psychiatric conditions hearing and vision impairment poor nutrition polypharmacy depression multiple co-morbidities
confusion assessment method criteria
4 things (need to have 1 and 2 and either 3 or 4)
- acute? + fluctuating?
- inattention?
- disorganised thinking?
- altered consciousness? - either alert or comatose -
First line delirium investigations
FBE UEC CMP BSL LFTs MSU TFT CRP troponin CXR ECG drug levels
Features of AD
memory impairment is predominant feature
initially can’t make new memories
then general knowledge and established memories are lost too
common triad of memory, language and visuospatial difficulties
Features of vascular dementia
slow to learn new tasks
impaired concentration
memory is helped by prompting
recognition is better than spontaneous recall because the hippocampus still functions but the retrieval aspect is impaired
Features of DLB
cardinal features: parkinsonism, cognitive fluctuation and visual hallucinations
other features: constipation, anxiety and depression, REM sleep behaviour disorder
Features of frontotemporal lobe dementia
mood or behaviour is main presenting concern
Types of frontotemporal lobe dementia
behavioural variant
progressive non fluent aphasia
semantic dementia
What screening bloods should be done for reversible causes of dementia?
B12 folate TFTs FBE UEC LFTs CMP ESR glucose
Features of BPSD
agitation psychosis mood disorders sexual disinhibition eating problems abnormal vocalisations
Management for BPSD
ensure safety of patient, staff remove noxious stimuli treat pain or other causes of distress: e.g. put on regular analgesia rather than PRN remove unnecessary medication identify target symptoms for treatment psychosocial interventions activity programs alteration of physical environment education of staff exposure to bright light during the day pharmacological treatment( risperidone 0.5-2mg or olanzapine 5mg) review patient regularly
Intrinsic risk factors for falls
can’t walk >joints >>arthritis >>previous joint surgery >neurological >>impaired balance >>vestibular causes >impaired gait >>strokes >>parkinson’s >impaired peripheral sensation >>diabetic neuropathy >muscle >>frailty can’t think >dementia/delirium >hypoglycaemia >alcohol >postural hypotension (affects perfusion) >arrhythmia (affects perfusion) can’t see >cataracts >diabetes
