IM Flashcards
IM Key Points
patients aged 20 years or older with an LDL cholesterol level of 190 mg/dL (4.92 mmol/L) or higher should receive high-intensity statin therapy for primary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
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The decision to initiate breast cancer screening in women aged 40 to 49 years should be an individualized one based on patient context and values regarding specific benefits and harms.
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For patients undergoing orthopedic surgery without increased bleeding risk, postoperative dual venous thromboembolism prophylaxis low-molecular-weight heparin should be continued for up to 35 days.
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Gabapentinoids and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors are first-line therapy for neuropathic pain syndromes.
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Methylphenidate is a rapid-acting psychostimulant that is well tolerated and effective in the treatment of depression at the end of life; results can be seen as quickly as 24 to 48 hours after initiation.
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Bacterial conjunctivitis is characterized by redness of the conjunctival membrane obscuring the tarsal vessels, matting of both eyes in the morning, and thin mucopurulent discharge; treatment may include topical antibiotics, such as trimethoprim–polymyxin B or erythromycin.
Because of concerns about antimicrobial resistance and cost, topical fluoroquinolones (such as levofloxacin) are not first-line therapy
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The acceptability of the number needed to treat as a means of comparing one treatment with another depends on the risks associated with the condition, the cost and side effects of the treatment, and other treatments available.
(NNT = 1/absolute risk reduction)
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The most common infectious cause of acute bacterial prostatitis is Escherichia coli or other gram-negative bacilli; the treatment of choice is a prolonged course of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole or ciprofloxacin.
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Men younger than 35 years who are sexually active and men older than 35 years who engage in high-risk sexual behavior should be treated with regimens that cover Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis. Ceftriaxone and doxycycline, or ceftriaxone and azithromycin, would be appropriate treatment choices
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Health care workers are at increased risk for acquiring and transmitting measles, mumps, and rubella and should receive a second dose of the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine.
Health care workers born after 1957 are at increased risk for acquiring and transmitting measles, mumps, and rubella and should receive a second dose of the MMR vaccine at least 28 days after the first dose.
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Nerve root involvement of the cauda equina requires immediate imaging, preferably with MRI, and surgical intervention to prevent permanent neurologic damage.
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For women younger than 30 years with a low-risk breast mass, ultrasonography is usually the only imaging required.
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More than half of patients with bipolar disorder initially present with a depressive episode; however, recognition of previous manic or hypomanic episodes is crucial because the treatment of bipolar disorder requires mood stabilizers, either alone or in combination with antidepressants.
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Bariatric surgery should be considered in patients who do not lose weight with lifestyle modifications and have a BMI of 40 or greater, or a BMI of 35 or greater with obesity-related comorbid conditions, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, obstructive sleep apnea, or osteoarthritis.
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In patients with chronic cough who have a normal chest radiograph and are taking an ACE inhibitor, the first intervention is discontinuation of the ACE inhibitor.
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Patients who undergo direct-to-consumer genetic testing should be advised of the risks and limitations of these tests, including the possibility for misinterpretation.
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Tinnitus associated with unilateral sensorineural hearing loss suggests acoustic neuroma and requires advanced imaging with MRI.
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Pulmonary rehabilitation can provide significant benefits for patients with chronic lung disease and has been shown to improve subjective dyspnea in patients with severe COPD and following an acute exacerbation of COPD.
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Patients with decompensated liver disease should avoid elective surgery and be referred for liver transplant evaluation.
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A discharge summary that includes the evaluations performed, medication reconciliation, pending test results, required follow-up tests, and follow-up appointments is an important tool in the communication between the hospital and the follow-up clinician.
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Adhesive capsulitis is characterized by loss of shoulder movement accompanied by pain; examination discloses significant loss of both active and passive range of motion.
Patients with acromioclavicular joint degeneration typically report pain localized to the acromioclavicular joint. Physical examination findings include tenderness to palpation of the joint
Rotator cuff disease would not be expected to cause pain with both active and passive movement of the shoulder;
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The most effective pharmacologic options for premature ejaculation is the combination of a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor plus a phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor and topical anesthetics.
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Stress urinary incontinence is characterized by urine leakage associated with activities that cause increased intra-abdominal pressure, such as coughing, laughing, or sneezing; it is best managed with pelvic floor muscle training exercises.
Bladder training and suppressive therapy are recommended by the ACP for urgency and mixed incontinence.
Oxybutynin is a treatment for urgency urinary incontinence when bladder training is only partially successful or has failed
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