PassMed May & June Flashcards
(136 cards)
What would appropriate flexion to pain score (GCS)?
4 for movement
What is a differentiating feature of encephalitis from meningitis - how should you treat?
Abnormalities in brain function (e.g. confusion, personality change etc.)
IV Acyclovir
What is most likely to be causing new onset rounding of the face, abdominal weight gain, straiae, easy bruising and low libido in a heavy smoker with new and persistent cough?
Small cell lung carcinoma - will secrete ACTH leading to cushing’s syndrome
What are the characteristic features of rheumatic fever?
Joint pain, fever, erythema marginatum, dyspnoea, Sydenham’s chorea and S/C nodules following strep infection (often tonsillitis)
Mx for rheumatic fever?
Oral penicillin V and NSAIDs
What is the most likely cause of sudden painless vision loss preceded by floaters/dark spots in the vision in a diabetic
Vitrous Haemorrhage
What should you give alongside Allopurinol (when starting treatment to prevent gout)?
NSAIDs or Colchicine (Allopurinol can cause an acute flare up!)
How can you differentiate biochemically between T1DM and T2DM?
C-peptide levels will be raised in T2DM but not in T1DM
Anti-GAD autoantibodies will be present in T1DM but not T2DM
Thiazide like diuretics can cause increased renal reabsorption of calcium. How would you expect this to present?
Hypercalcaemia
Kidney/biliary stones, bone pain, abdo pain, constipation/urinary frequency, muscle weakness/hyporeflexia, depression, anxiety and confusion
In what circumstances should you ALWAYS give antibiotics in otitis media?
<2 years old with bilateral OM or any age with otorrhoea (discharge following ear drum perforation)
What should you suspect in a patient with a new onset heart murmur and infective symptoms? How can you confirm this diagnosis biochemically?
Infective Endocarditis
Conduct 3 sets of separate blood cultures
Sx of IE?
Fever, Roth spots, Oslers nodes, Murmur, Janeway lesions, Anaemia, Nail bed haemorrhages, Emboli
How can you differentiate between oslers nodes and janeway lesions?
Oslers nodes = painless, on pads of fingers/toes
Janeway lesions = painful, on the palms/soles
What is an atrial myxoma? How does it present?
Benign tumour of the left atrium
Mitral valve obstruction, systemic embolisms, breathlessness, fever and weight loss
Describe the NYHA class?
I = no symptoms, no limtation
II = mild symptoms, slight limitation of physical activity
III = moderate symptoms, marked limitation of physical activity but comfortable at rest
IV = severe symptoms even at rest
What may be the cause of raised ferritin WITHOUT iron overload?
Inflammation, alcohol excess, liver disease, CKD and malignancy
What does a bilateral boggy purple swelling of the septum suggest? How should you manage this?
Septal haematoma
Urgent ENT review
Why is Hartman’s better than normal saline when large volumes of fluids are going to be needed?
0.9% NaCl can cause hyperchloremic acidosis
What is the classic triad of symptoms seen in Cardiac Tamponade?
Hypotension, raised JVP, muffled heart sounds
How should you deliver oxygen to a critically ill patient (even if they are a CO2 retaining COPD patient)?
High flow oxygen
Classic Sx of viral labyrinthitis?
Sudden onset vertigo, hearing loss and dizziness preceded by viral infection
When should you 2WW an over 60s patient for bladder cancer?
Unexplained visible haematuria
Unexplained non-visible haematuria with dysuria or raised WCC
How should you treat VTE and for how long?
DOAC
3/12 if provoked
6/12 if unprovoked or active cancer
How long should you give Vareniciline for before the stop date?
Start 1 week before the stop date and use for 12 weeks