Miscellaneous 1 Flashcards
What are the 4 main risks of IV contrast administration?
Anaphylaxis/allergy Renal impairment Lactic acidosis (secondary to metformin) Extravasation
What is the annual background radiation in Sieverts?
2.4mSV per year
What frequency would be used to look at deep structures in ultrasound?
Lower frequency
What is Duplex US?
Allows for velocity of a substance e.g. blood to be determined, assessing flow patters of blood within a vessel
Why is ultrasound not good at looking at bowel?
Waves don’t travel well through gas and become distorted resulting in significant artefact
What part of the adrenal is affected primarily in Addison’s disease?
Adrenal cortex - destruction via autoantibodies
4 causes of primary hypoadrenalism?
TB Bilateral adrenalectomy Metastatic Ca deposits WHFS (menigococcal sepsis)
What is the biochemical difference between primary and secondary hypoadrenalism? Why?
In secondary, e.g. due to long term steroids, aldosterone secretion is maintained and fluid/electrolyte disturbances less marked (aldosterone secreted in relation to RAS)
6 functions of glucocorticoid hormones?
Maintenance of immune system Stimulate gluconeogenesis Stimulate glycogenolysis Stimulate lipolysis Mobilise amino acids Inhibit glucose uptake by muscles
How would you manage adrenal insufficiency peri-operatively?
Pre-op assessment, do first on list Give usual AM medications and hydrocortisone IV at induction Depending on procedure and post-op recovery, double hydrocortisone dose for 24-48 hours before established back on usual oral medications Local hospital protocol
Management of Addisonian crisis?
ABCDE Correct hypoglycaemia IV Fluid resuscitation and correct electrolyte abnormalities Hydrocortisone 200mg stat then 100mg QDS Fludrocortisone 0.1mg OD Look for precipitants
Typical starting regime of steroids for primary adrenal insufficiency?
Hydrocortisone 20mg / 10mg per day Fludrocortisone 0.05-0.1mg OD
How is cardiopulmonary exercise testing performed?
Ramped protocol test using cycle ergometer, with cardiac monitoring attached and soft rubber facemask. Cycle for 3 mins unloaded then gradually increase load until symptomatic or after 10 minutes
What key piece of surgically relevant information does cardiopulmonary exercise give?
Anaerobic threhold, occuring at 47-64% of VO2Max - roughly equating to physiological reserve and risk of surgery
What is the relevance of VO2Max to surgical risk?
Over 20ml/kg/min = no increased risk 10-15ml/kg/min = increased risk Less than 10ml/kg/min = very high risk
How accurate is pulse oximetry to true HbSat level? When is it less reliable/not useful?
Accurate within 2%, however less at working out severity of hypoxia or in vasoconstriction or carbon monoxide poisoning. Also can’t provide information on alveolar hypoventilation
What 3 syndromes may phaeochromcytoma occur as part of?
NF1 VHL MEN2
Diagnosis of phaeochromocytoma is made by?
24 hour urine collection of catecholamine hormones and metabolites Plasma metanephrines
Imaging options for phaeochromoctyoma?
CT - contrast historically said to trigger crisis MRI I-MIG - radionucleotide scan to localise lesion and detect extra-adrenal lesions
Procedure of choice for phaeochromocytoma?
Laparosopic adrenalectomy
What is the biggest concern/operative risk for phaeochromcytoma surgery?
Hypertensive crisis - manage by ensuring alpha (phenoxybenzamine) then beta blockade
What is the order of blockade required in surgical management of phaeochromocytoma? What is used?
Alpha blockade first via phenoxybenzamine Then beta blockade
What BP changes can occur during phaeochromocytoma surgery? When?
Changes can occur during manipulation of gland (hypertensive) Hypotension may occur when adrenal veins secured
What forces govern the accumulation of fluid in the interstitium? What makes these up?
Starling’s Forces - capillary pressure, plasma colloid oncotic pressure vs interstitial fluid pressure and interstitial fluid osmotic pressure




