Ashraf Zaki Flashcards
What is meant by “Body Mass Index”?
Weight (Kg) / Height (M)². Normally = 20-25.
What are causes of “orthopnic position”?
Left-sided heart failure.
Tense ascites.
Mediastinal mass.
Severe emphysema.
What are other decubiti you know?
Lateral: Lung abscess.
Pleurisy.
Trepopnea.
Squatting: Fallot’s tetralogy.
Leaning forwards (kneeling): Pericardial effusion.
Pericarditis.
What is “Glasgow Coma Scale”?
A scale to assess conscious level. It depends on 3 parameters:
Eye opening (5 degrees).
Verbal response (5 degrees).
Motor response (5 degrees).
Scale of 3 is deep coma, scale of 15 is fully conscious, and variable levels of consciousness lie in between.
Causes of disturbed conscious level (or coma)?
Hysterical.
Organic: Intracranial causes.
Extracranial causes.
How to “differentiate” intra from extracranial causes of coma?
Intracranial causes are associated with signs of lateralization (unilateral or asymmetrical neurologic deficit).
What are “extracranial” causes of coma?
CO₂ narcosis (respiratory failure).
Hepatic encephalopathy (liver cell failure).
Uremic encephalopathy (renal failure).
Hypoglycemic coma.
Diabetic Keto Acidosis (DKA).
Diabetic Hyperosmolar non-ketotic coma.
Electrolyte disturbance.
What are “precipitating factors” for hepatic encephalopathy?
High protein diet.
G.I.T. bleeding.
Constipation.
Hypokalemia.
Rapid tapping of ascites.
Infection.
What is the most important “treatment” of hepatic encephalopathy?
Enema.
Lactulose & Neomycin.
Protein restriction.
What is normal HR?
60-100 beats/minute.
What are causes of “sinus tachycardia”?
Exercise.
Emotional stress.
Fever.
Thyrotoxicosis.
Heart failure.
Sympathomimetics.
Parasympatholytics.
What are causes of “sinus bradycardia”?
During sleep.
Obstructive jaundice.
Sympatholytics (e.g., beta-blockers).
Parasympathomimetics.
Athletes.
What is meant by “pulse deficit”?
Apical HR (by auscultation) is > radial HR due to irregular rhythm.
How to differentiate between irregular pulse of AF & that of extrasystoles?
AF: Pulse deficit > 10.
Cannot count 4 regular beats.
Increases with exercise.
Extrasystole: Pulse deficit < 10.
Can count 4 regular beats.
Decreases with exercise.
What are causes of “big pulse volume”?
Aortic regurgitation (AR).
Anemia.
Aortic atherosclerosis.
A-V fistula.
Beri Beri (vitamin B₁ deficiency).
Severe bradycardia.
Paget’s disease (increased osteoclastic activity).
PDA & Truncus arteriosus.
Pregnancy.
Thyrotoxicosis.
Vasodilators.
Hypoxia.
What are causes of “small pulse volume”?
Decreased filling: Hypovolemia.
Tachycardia.
Cardiac tamponade.
Constrictive pericarditis.
Decreased pumping: Cardiomyopathy.
Myocarditis.
Myocardial infarction.
Intracardiac obstruction: Stenotic lesions (AS, PS, MS, TS).
What are causes of “variable pulse volume”?
Any irregular rhythm (e.g., AF).
Some regular rhythms: Pulsus alternans.
Pulsus paradoxus.
What is meant by “pulsus alternans”?
Pulse whose volume alternates between normal and weak. It is caused by severe left ventricular failure (LVF).
How to diagnose pulsus alternans by sphygmomanometer?
During measuring ABP, Korotkoff sounds will appear at first as if slow, but with continuing cuff deflation, sudden doubling of Korotkoff’s sounds rate will occur.
What is the mechanism of pulsus alternans in severe LVF?
Due to heterogeneity of refractoriness of the failed myocardium.
What is meant by “pulsus paradoxus”?
Inspiratory decrease in pulse volume. It is an exaggeration of normal. It is caused by: Constrictive pericarditis.
Cardiac tamponade.
COPD.
How to diagnose pulsus paradoxus by sphygmomanometer?
Expiratory SBP > Inspiratory SBP by > 10 mmHg.
What are abnormal pulse characters?
Water Hammer: AR.
Bispherience: DA, AR, HOCM.
Parvus et tardus (plateau): AS.
Pulsus alternans: Severe LVF.
Pulsus paradoxus: COPD.
Pulsus bigeminy: Digitalis toxicity.
Pulsus trigeminy: Digitalis toxicity.
What is the syn. of W.H.P.?
Collapsing pulse (when DBP is low).