Emergency Medicine: Pretest Flashcards
(188 cards)
Which medication is typically used to treat supraventricular tachycardias?
Adenosine
This is an ultrashort-acting AV nodal blocking agent. Because it is so fast-acting it must be delivered through a large vein with a rapid intravenous fluid bolus. In addition to adenosine, maneuvers that increase vagal tone have been shown to slow conduction through the AV node. Some of these maneuvers include carotid sinus massage, Valsalva maneuver, and facial immersion in cold water.
Large R waves and inverted T waves in leads V1-V3 are indicative of what?
Right heart strain
Dysuria in young men is almost always because of what?
Urethritis
This is commonly sexually transmitted.
What are the Ranson criteria and what are they used for?
The Ranson criteria are used for predicting mortality rates in patients with pancreatitis. The presence of more than 3 criteria equals 1% mortality, while the presence of 6 or more criteria approaches 100%.
Ranson criteria at admission:
- Age > 55
- WBC > 16,000
- Glucose > 200
- LDH > 350
- AST greater than 250
Ranson criteria within 48 hours of admission:
- Hematocrit fall > 10%
- BUN rise > 5
- Serum calcium less than 8
- Arterial PO2 < 60
- Base deficit > 4
- Fluid sequestration > 6L
A 50% chance of passage of a renal stone occurs when the stone is what size?
4-6mm
6mm stones pas 10% of the time.
What are the 3 zones of the neck?
- Zone I: Extends superiorly from the sternal notch and clavicles to the cricoid cartilage
- Zone II: Area between the cricoid cartilage and the angle of the mandible
- Zone III: Extends from the angle of the mandible to the base of the skull
Zone II injuries are taken directly to the operating room for surgical exploration.
What condition is described as a polymicrobial necrotizing fasciitis of the perineal subcutaneous tissue that originates from the skin, urethra, or rectum?
Fournier syndrome
What is the single most common drug that leads to death in overdose?
Acetaminophen
What is the treatment for isoniazid-induced seizures?
Pyridoxine (Vitamin B6)
What are the potential causes of anion gap metabolic acidosis?
- Methanol, metformin
- Uremia
- Diabetic ketoacidosis
- Paraldehyde
- Iron, isoniazid
- Lactate
- Ethylene glycol, ethanol
- Salicylate
This can be remembered by the pneumonic MUDPILES.
Profound hyperglycemia without ketonuria is suggestive of what diagnosis?
Nonketotic hyperosmolar crisis (NKHC)
This syndrome is more common in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Patients are profoundly dehydrated because of osmotic diuresis. The mainstay of NKHC therapy consists of replacing fluid losses.
Postpartum eclampsia needs to be managed with what?
Magnesium sulfate
Hypertension, bradycardia, and respiratory depression make up what triad?
Cushing reflex
This is observed in 1/3 of patients with a potentially lethal increase in intracranial pressure.
What is the gold standard diagnostic approach to mesenteric ischemia?
Angiography
Unlike any other diagnostic tool, it is capable of both diagnosing and treating the problem.
Any patient presenting to the emergency department in the second or third trimester of pregnancy with bleeding should have ultrasound performed before pelvic examination to rule out what?
Placenta previa
Placenta previa is a contraindication to digital examination of the cervix, as placental trauma from the examination itself can lead to prfuse vaginal bleeding.
What is the best method of diagnosing corneal abrasions?
Slit-lamp examination by observing fluorescein uptake in the area of the defect
Patients wearing contact lenses should be treated with topical antibiotics with antipseudomonal coverage.
What is the mainstay of treatment for pericarditis?
Anti-inflammatory medications (I.E. NSAIDs)
An echocardiogram should be performed to rule out a pericardial effusion and tamponade.
What 3 medications should be given to a patient with an anaphylactice reaction to an allergen?
- Epinephrine
- Antihistamine (I.E. diphenhydramine, ranitidine)
- Corticosteroid (I.E. methylprednisolone)
Antihistamines block the action of the circulating histamines at target tissue receptors. Corticosteroids have an onset of action of 4-6 hours after administration, and therefore are of limited value in the acute setting, but should be given since giving them early may blunt to biphasic reaction of anaphylaxis.
What drug can be given to decrease runs of torsades des pointes?
Magnesium sulfate
Altered mental status, hyperthermia, and muscle rigidity make up the classic triad for what condition?
Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS)
This is a rare, but fatal reaction commonly associated with the use of antipsychotics. The cornerstone of treatment is supportive care with rapid cooling, fluid and electrolyte repletion, and monitoring. Dantrolene, a nonspecific skeletal muscle relaxant, generally used in the treatment of malignant hyperthermia, is also effective for NMS.
What is the best method of diagnosing benign positional vertigo?
Dix-Hallpike maneuver
The maneuver involves having the patient go from sitting to a supine position with eyes open and head rotated to the affected side. The test is positive if the maneuver reproduces vertigo and the patient exhibits latent rotary nystagmus.
What intracompartmental pressure measured with a Stryker device is considered diagnostic of compartment syndrome?
> 30mmHg
The presence of a pulse does not rule out compartment syndrome. The only way to diagnose compartment syndrome is to measure intracompartmental pressure with a Stryker device.
Cardiac contusion most commonly occurs in what part of the heart?
Right ventricle
It is the most anterior aspect of the heart and closest to the sternum.
What is the fastest method of lowering intracranial pressure?
Hyperventilation
The onset of action is within 30 seconds.