Random facts Flashcards
CXR of pulmonary edema shows?
Perihilar opacities
Costophrenic angle blunting
Upper lobe diversion
Kerley B lines
Cardiomegaly
When is Pro-BNP raised?
It is released in atrial stretch.
Hence high in cardiac failure
How does CKD cause hypertension?
Through impaired autoregulation and hypervolemia.
HTN itself accelerates progression of renal disease
How to test for Conn’s?
Aldosterone-to-Renin ratio for screening.
Oral sodium loading test / Saline suppression test for confirmation.
Adrenal CT or Adrenal Venous sampling for Invasive/imaging
Which type of Local Anaes has longer half life?
Amide type (lidocaine, bupivacaine) has longer T-half. Metabolized by liver.
Ester type LA (PRocaine) has shorter T-half.
What is Xerophthalmia?
Spectrum of ocular disorder due to Vit A deficiency.
Causes dry eyes
Features worrisome for secondary bacterial peritonitis?
Instead of Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis
- Focal abdo symptoms suggestive of surgical causes
- Sudden symptom onset
- Polymicrobial gram stain / culture
- Very low glucose or high protein in ascitic fluid
What is Tenckhoff catheter for?
This catheter is commonly used for peritoneal dialysis. Peritoneal dialysis uses the peritoneal membranes as the dialyser. Dialysate solution is introduced into the peritoneal cavity via a Tenckhoff catheter.
What is pneumatosis intestinalis?
Radiographic finding of gas within intestinal wall.
Suggests transmural ischemia or infarct
How to detect WBCs in urine in urinalysis?
Positive leukocyte esterase on dipstick
Characteristics of myopathies on biochemical tests?
Elevated muscle enzymes e.g. Creatinine kinase and aldolase
Myopathic pattern on EMG.
What is myalgia?
Muscle aches and pain
What is myotonia?
Slowed relaxatioon after muscle contraction
How to monitor for respiratory insufficiency?
Measure forced vital capacity or negative inspiratory force everyday.
How does EEG work?
Measures fluctuation of electric potential at different regions of cortex.
What is EEG used for?
Often for epilepsy and sleep disorders.
What is EMG used for?
To differentiate neuropathies from myopathies
How do Nerve Conduction Studies work?
Divided into Sensory NCS and Motor NCS.
It assesses nerve impulse conduction through peripheral nerves an are used to specify type of nerve damage e.g. compression or transection of nerves
What does FBC test for?
RBC
WBC
Hemoglobin
Hematocrit
Platelets
Mean Corpuscular Volume
MCV measures average size of RBCs
Hematocrit measures how much of blood is made of RBCs
Name some Abx that cause idiosyncratic platelet destruction
Linezolid
Cotrimoxazole
Beta lactams
Initial septic workup?
FBC - neutrophilia, lymphocytosis, eosinophilia etc may be found
Inflammatory markers = WBC, CRP, procalcitonin
Blood cultures
Localizing investigations = e.g. CXR, urine microscopy + culture
What do the different types of leukocytosis indicate?
Neutrophilia with left shift = bacterial
Lymphocytosis = viral
Eosinophilia = parasitic / other IgE-related AI pathology
Common central causes of fever?
Heat Stroke
Thyrotoxicosis
Phaeochromocytoma
Drugs - NMS, Serotonin syndrome, malignant hyperthermia
Toxins - cocaine etc etc
What is neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS)?
Seen in patients with anti-psychotics and dopmine antagonists.
Present with fever, altered mental state and autonomic dysfunction, usu over 1-3 days