Hemoptysis: CausesMnemonic: CAVITATES:

CHFAirway disease, bronchiectasisVasculitis/ Vascular malformationsInfection (eg TB)TraumaAnticoagulationTumourEmbolismStomach

Amiodarone: action, side effectsMnemonic: 6 P’s:

Prolongs action potential durationPhotosensitivityPigmentation of skinPeripheral neuropathyPulmonary alveolitis and fibrosisPeripheral conversion of T4 to T3 is inhibited -> hypothyroidism

SAH (Subarachnoid Hemorrhage): CausesMnemonic: BATS:

Berry aneurysmArteriovenous malformation/ Adult polycystic kidney diseaseTrauma (eg being struck with baseball bat)Stroke

SEIZURES: CausesMnemonic: SICK DRIFTER:

Substrates (sugar, oxygen)Isoniazid overdoseCations (Na, Ca, Mg)Kids (ecclampsia)Drugs (CRAP: Cocaine, Rum (alcohol), Amphetamines, PCP)Rum (alchohol withdrawl)Illnesses (chronic seizure disorder or other chronic disorder)Fever (meningitis, encephalitis, abscess)Trauma (epidural, subdural, intraparynchymal hemorrhage)Extra: toxocologic

(TAIL: Theo, ASA, Isoniazid, Lithium) and 3 Anti‘s: (Antihistamine overdose,Antidepressant overdose,

Anticonvulsants (too high dilanitin, tegretol) or benzo withdrawl.

Rat poison (organophospates poisoning)

ETOH (Alcohol) Withdrawal: Signs & SymptomsMnemonic: “S#IT“:

Shakes/ Seizures/ Sweats/ Stomach pains (n/v)Hallucinosis (auditory)Increased vitals/ InsomniaTremens (delirium tremens-the lethal part)

Head trauma: rapid neuro examMnemonic: 12 P’s:

Psychological (mental) statusPupils: size, symmetry, reactionPaired ocular movememtsPapilloedemaPressure (BP, increased ICP)Pulse and rateParalysis, ParesisPyramidal signsPin prick sensory responsePee (incontinent)Patellar reflex (and others)Ptosis_ Reevaluate patient every 8 hrs.

Symptoms of Bell’s PalsyMnemonic: BELL’S Palsy:

Blink reflex abnormalEaracheLacrimation [deficient, excess]Loss of tasteSudden onsetPalsy of VII nerve muscles_ All symptoms are unilateral.

Down Syndrome: PathologyMnemonic: DOWN:

Decreased alpha-fetoprotein and unconjugated estriol (maternal)One extra chromosome twenty-oneWomen of advanced ageNondisjunction during maternal meiosis

Cerebellar Damage: SymptomsMnemonic: VANISHeD:

VertigoAtaxiaNystagmusIntention tremorSlurred speechHypotonic reflexesDysdiadochokinesia.

VERTIGO: CausesMnemonic: VOMITS:

VestibulitisOtotoxic drugsMeniere’s diseaseInjuryTumorSpin (benign positional vertigo)

DOWN Syndrome: CharacteristicsMnemonic: “My CHILD HAS PROBLEM!”:

Congenital heart disease/ CataractsHypotonia/ HypothyroidismIncure 5th finger/ Increased gap between 1st and 2nd toeLeukemia risk x2/ Lung problemDuodenal atresia/ Delayed developmentHirshsprung’s disease/ Hearing lossAlzheimer’s disease/ Alantoaxial instabilitySquint/ Short neckProtruding tongue/ Palm creaseRound face/ Rolling eye (nystagmus)Occiput flat/ Oblique eye fissureBrushfield spot/ BrachycephalyLow nasal bridge/ Language problemEpicanthic fold/ Ear foldedMental retardation/ Myoclonus

LOC (Loss Of Consciousness): CausesMnemonic: FISH SHAPED:

FaintedIllness/ Infantile febrile convulsionsShockHead injuriesStroke (CVE)Heart problemsAsphxiaPoisonsEpilepsyDiabetes

PNEUMOTHORAX: CausesMnemonic: SIT, 3 A’s, 3 C’s:

Spontaneous (often tall thin men)IatrogenicTraumaAsthmaAlveolitisAIDSCOPDCarcinomaCystic fibrosis

Pulmonary Fibrosis: CausesMnemonic: SCAR:

_ Upper lobe:Silicosis/ SarcoidosisCoal worker pneumonconiosisAnkylosing spondylitisRadiation

_ Lower lobe:Systemic sclerosisCyptogenic fibrosing alveolitisAsbetosisRheumatoid arthritis

ARDS: DiagnosticMnemonic: ARDS:Acute onsetRatio (PaO2/FiO2) less than 200Diffuse infiltrationSwan-Ganz Wedge pressure less than 19 mmHg

Spinal AnesthesiaMnemonic: “Little Boys Prefer Toys”:

LidocaineBupivicaineProcaineTetracaine

Intubation ChecklistMnemonic: MS MAID:

Monitors (EKG, SpO2, EtCO2, etc)SuctionMachine check (according to ASA guidelines)Airway equipment (ETT, laryngoscope, oral/nasal airway)IV equipmentDrugs (emergency, inductions, NMBs, etc)

Symptoms of depressionMnemonics: BAD CRISES:

Behavioural change (slowing down or agitation)Appetite change (weight loss or weight gain in the young)Depressed look (looking down)Concentration decrease (does not do serial 7s well)Ruminations (constant negative thoughts, hopelessness good indicator of suicidality)Interest (reduced interest in what is normally pleasurable)Sleep change (insomnia or hypersomnia, sleeping early, waking up at night, waking up feeling tired)Energy change (fatigue)Suicide

TB: antibiotics usedMnemonic: STRIPE:

STreptomycinRifampicinIsoniazidPyrizinamideEthambutol

AV Node Blocking agentsMnemonics: “Do Block AV“:

DigoxinB-blockersAdenosineVerapamil

Broca’s vs. Wernick’s area: effect of damage to speech center

Mnemonic: “Broca”: your speech machinery is Broken.

Broca is wanting to speak, but articulation doesn’t work, and very slow.

“Wer-nick“: “were” and “nick” are both words of English language, but together they are nonsensical.

Conscious sedation ChecklistMnemonic: SOAP:

SuctionOxygenAirwayPharmacology

Thrombolytic agentsMnemonic: USA:UrokinaseStreptokinaseAlteplase (tPA)

Warfarin: action, monitoringMnemonic: WEPT:Warfarin works on the Extrinsic pathway and is monitored by PT.

SUICIDE: Risk FactorsMnemonic: SAD PERSONS:

Sex: maleAge: young, elderlyDepressionPrevious suicide attemptsEthanol and other drugsReality testing/ Rational thought (loss of)Social support lackingOrganized suicide planNo spouseSickness/ Stated future intent

ACE inhibitor: side effects:Mnemonic: CAPTOPRIL:

CoughAngioedema/ AgranulocystosisProteinuria/ Potassium excessTaste changesOrthostatic hypotensionPregnancy contraindication/ Pancreatitis/ Pressure drop (first dose hypertension)Renal failure (and renal artery stenosis contraindication)/ RashIndomethacin inhibitionLeukopenia/ Liver toxicity

Pulmonary Edema: CausesMnemonic: MAD DOG:

MorphineAminophyllineDigitalisDiureticsOxygenGases in blood (ABG’s)

STATUS ASMATICUS: ManagementMnemonic: “O S#!T“:

Oxygen (high dose: >60%)Salbutamol (5mg via oxygen-driven nebulizer)HydrocortisoneIpratropium bromideTheophylline

DYSPNEA : Causes 3A’s: Three Airways: Airway obstruction, Anaphylaxis, Asthma3P’s: Three Pulmonary’s: Pneumothorax, PE, Pulmonary edema3C’s: Three Cardiacs: Cardiogenic pulmonary edema, Cardiac ischemia, Cardiac tamponade3M’s: Three Metabolics: (DOC) DKA, Organophosphates, Carbon monoxide poisoning

SYNCOPE: causesMnemonic: HEAD HEART VESSELS:_ CNS causes include HEAD:

Hypoxia/ HypoglycemiaEpilepsyAnxietyDysfunctional brain stem (basivertebral TIA)

_ Cardiac causes are HEART:Heart attackEmbolism (PE)Aortic obstruction (IHSS, AS or myxoma)Rhythm disturbance, ventricularTachycardia

_ Vascular causes are VESSELS:VasovagalEctopic (reminds one of hypovolemia)SituationalSubclavian stealENT (glossopharyngeal neuralgia)Low systemic vascular resistance (Addison’s, diabetic vascular neuropathy)Sensitive carotid sinus

SYNCOPE: causes Alternate Mnemonic: UNCONSCIOUS:

Units of insulinNarcoticsConvulsionsOxygenNonorganicStrokeCocktailICPOrganismUreaShock

Confusion/Disorientation in the ICU: CausesMnemonic: ICU CONFUSION:

ICU psychosisCardiac output low [hypotension, post cardiac arrest]Uncontrolled temperature [hypo/hyperthermia]Convulsion [post ictal]Oxygen [hypoxia, hypercarbia]Nociception [pain]Full bladderUremiaSugar [hypo/hyperglycemia]InfectionOpiatesNatremia [hypo/hyper]

COMA: CausesMnemonic: COMA:

CO2 and CO excessOverdose: TCAs, Benzos, EtOH, insulin, paracetamol, etc.Metabolic: BSL, Na+, K+, Mg2+, urea, ammonia, etc.Apoplexy: stroke, SAH, extradural, subdural, Ca, meningitis,

encephalitis, cerebral abscess, etc.

Mnemonic: PCD (Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia, a cause of Respiratory distress syndrome):

PrematurityCesarean sectionDiabetic mother

MIOSIS / Pin-Point Pupils: CausesMnemonic: CPR ON SLIME:

ClonidinePhenothiazinesResting (deep sleep)OpiatesNarcoticsStroke (pontine hemorrhage)Lomotil (diphenoxylate)InsecticidesMushrooms/ Muscarinic (inocybe, clitocybe)Eye drops

Dementia: CausesMnemonic: DEMENTIA:

DiabetesEthanolMedicationEnvironmental (eg CO poisoning)NutritionalTraumaInfectionAlzheimer’s

Temperature control: cerebral regions Mnemonics: “High Power Air Conditioner”:

Heating = Posterior hipothalamo [hypothalamus].Anterior hipothalamo [hypothalamus] = Cooling.

Stroke: young patient’s likely causesMnemonic: 7 C’s:

CocaineCancerCardiogenic embolhyperCoagulationCNS infection [eg: HIV conditions]Congenital arterial lesionConsanguinity

[familial such as neurofibromatosis and von Hippel-Lindau]

Parkinson’s disease: symptomsMnemonic: PQRST:

Paucity of expressionparQinsonRigidity (cogwheel)Stooped postureTremor at rest

_ If can’t remember that Parkinson’s tremor is the one that is “resting tremor”, look at the last 3 letters: RST.

FAS (Fetal Alcohol Syndrome): CharacteristicsMnemonic: FAS:

Facial hypoplasia/ Forebrain malformationAttention defecit disorder/ Altered jointsShort stature/ Septal defects/ Small I.Q

Tetrology of FallotMnemonic: “Don’t DROP the baby”:

Defect (Ventricular Septal Defect)Right ventricular hypertrophyOverriding aortaPulmonary stenosis