This document provides mnemonics and acronyms to help remember important clinical information about various respiratory and cardiac conditions. Some examples include "FRIED" for the signs of hypernatremia, "MURDER" for the signs of hyperkalemia, "CATS" for the signs of hypocalcemia, and "O-SHIT" for the management of acute severe asthma. It also includes mnemonics for lung cancer metastasis sites ("BLAB"), pneumonia risk factors ("INSPIRATION"), and the stages of dying according to Kubler-Ross ("DABGA").

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