signs and symptoms

1. HYPERNATREMIA
"You Are Fried"
F - Fever (low), flushed skin
R - Restless (irritable)
I - Increased fluid retention &
increased BP
E - Edema (peripheral andpitting)
D - Decreased urinary output, dry
mouth
Can also use this one:
SALT
S = Skin flushed
A = Agitation
L = Low-grade fever
T = Thirst
Hyperkalemia
Signs & Symptoms Increased
Serum K+
MURDER
M - Muscle weakness
U - Urine, oliguria, anuria
R- Respiratory distress
D - Decreased cardiac
contractility
E - ECG changes
R - Reflexes, hyperreflexia,
or areflexia (flaccid)
HYPERKALEMIA Causes of
Increased Serum K+
“Machine"
M - Medications - ACE inhibitors,
NSAIDS
A - Acidosis - Metabolic andrespiratory
C - Cellular destruction - Burns,
traumaticinjury
H – Hypoaldosteronism/
hemolysis
I - Intake - Excessive
N - Nephrons, renal failure
E - Excretion - Impaired
HYPOCALCEMIA
“CATS”
C - Convulsions
A- Arrhythmias
T - Tetany
S - Spasms and stridor
Sx’s minor bleeding:
BEEP
B: Bleeding gums
E: Ecchymoses (bruises)
E: Epistaxis (nosebleed)
P: Petechiae (tiny purplish
spots)
. "HOOK" for serum sickness:
each letter stands for a key sign
or symptom of serum sickness.
F: Fever
A: Arthralgias
R: Rash
M: Malaise
Cancer Assessment
CAUTION
C: Change in bowel/ bladder
habits
A: A sore that doesn’t heal
U: Unusual bleeding or discharge
T: Thickening or lump
I: Indigestion or difficulty
swallowing
O: Obvious changes in a wart or
mole
N: Nagging cough or hoarseness.
ABG's:
ROME
Respiratory Opposite
Metabolic Equal
Respiratory depression
inducing drugs
"STOP breathing":
Sedatives and hypnotics
Trimethoprim
Opiates
Polymyxins

2. COPD:
blue bloater vs. pink puffer diseases
emPhysema has letter P (and not
B) so Pink Puffer.
chronic Bronchitis has letter B
(and not P) so Blue Bloater.
Croup: symptoms
3 S's:
Stridor
Subglottic swelling
Seal-bark cough
Neonatal resuscitation:
successive steps
"Do What Pediatricians Say To, Or
Be Inviting Costly Malpractice"
Drying
Warming
Positioning
Suctioning
Tactile stimulation
Oxygen
Bagging
Intubate endotracheally
Chest compressions
Medications
Asthma acute attack:
5 life threatening signs SHOCK:
Silent chest
Hypotension
One third of best/predicted PFR
Cyanosis
Konfusion
Pneumonia: risk factors
INSPIRATION:
Immunosuppression
Neoplasia
Secretion retention
Pulmonary oedema
Impaired alveolar
macrophages
RTI (prior)
Antibiotics & cytotoxics
Tracheal instrumentation
IV dug abuse
Other (general debility,
immobility)
Neurologic impairment of
cough reflex, (eg NMJ
disorders)
Asthma: management of acute
severe
“O-SHIT”
O- oxygen (high dose: >60%)
S- salbutamol (5mgvia oxygen-driven
nebuliser)
H- Hydrocortisone (or prednisolone)
I - Ipratropium bromide (if life
threatening)
T- theophylline (or preferably
aminophylline-if life threatening
RDS -Respiratorydistress syndrome in
infants: major risk factors PCD
(Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia, a
cause of Respiratory distress
syndrome):
Prematurity
Cesarean section
Diabetic mother
Lung cancer: main sites for distant
metastases BLAB:
Bone
Liver
Adrenals
Brain
Pneumothorax: sx
P-THORAX:
Pleuretic pain
Trachea deviation
Hyperresonance
Onset sudden
Reduced breath sounds (&
dypsnea)
Absent fremitus
X-ray shows collapse

3. Bronchi: which one is more
vertical
"Inhale a bite, goes down the
right"
Inhaled objects more likely to
lodge in right bronchus, since it is
the one that is more vertical.
Beta-1 vs Beta-2 receptor
location
"You have 1 heart and 2
lungs":
Beta-1 are therefore primarily
on heart.
Beta-2 primarily on lungs.
Wheezing: causes ASTHMA:
Asthma
Small airways disease
Tracheal obstruction
Heart failure
Mastocytosis or carcinoid
Anaphylaxis or allergy
Shortness of breath: short
differential AAAA PPPP:
Airway obstruction
Angina
Anxiety
Asthma
Pneumonia
Pneumothorax
Pulmonary Edema
Pulmonary Embolus
Respiratory co anaesthesia:
patients at risk COUPLES:
COPD
Obese
Upper abdominal surgery
Prolonged bed rest
Long surgery
Elderly
Smokers
Dyspnea: differential
3A's: Three Airways: Airway
obstruction,Anaphylaxis, Asthma
3P's: Three Pulmonary's:
Pneumothorax, PE, Pulmonary edema
3C's: Three Cardiacs: Cardiogenic
pulmonary edema, Cardiac ischemia,
Cardiac tamponade
3M's: Three Metabolics: (DOC) DKA,
Organophosphates, Carbon monoxide
poisoning
TB: antibiotics used
STRIPE:
STreptomycin
Rifampicin
Isoniazid
Pyrizinamide
Ethambutol
Ascultation: crackles (rales)
"PEBbles":
Pneumonia
Edema of lung
Bronchiti
drugs to treat viral respiratory
infections "You'd get a respiratory
infection if you shoot an ARO (arrow)
laced with viruses into the lungs":
ARO:
Amantadine
Rimantadine
Oseltamivir
Pulmonary edema: tx
MAD DOG
Morphine
Aminophylline
Digitalis
Diuretics
Oxygen
GGases in blood (ABG's)
Kubler-Ross dying process:
stages
"Death Always Brings Great
Acceptance":
Denial
Anger
Bargaining
Grieving
Acceptance