High-Yield Medical Flashcards

Internal Medicine & Surgery high-yield flashcards focused on vocabulary terms, diagnostics, and clinical triads.

TAILS (Microcytic anemia differential)

Thalassemia, Anemia of chronic disease, Iron deficiency, Lead poisoning, Sideroblastic.

Most specific lab test for Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA)

Low Serum Ferritin level.

B12 vs Folate deficiency clinical & lab differentiation

B12 has neurological symptoms & elevated Methylmalonic Acid (MMA); Folate has normal MMA.

Treatment of choice for young patient with severe Aplastic Anemia

Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT).

Classic triad of Intravascular Hemolysis

Anemia, Jaundice, Hemoglobinuria (Dark urine).

Septic Shock First-line Vasopressor

Norepinephrine.

Initial fluid resuscitation choice in hypovolemic and septic shock

Crystalloids (Normal Saline or Lactated Ringer's).

Cushing's Triad of increased Intracranial Pressure (ICP)

Hypertension (with wide pulse pressure), Bradycardia, Irregular Respirations.

GCS score threshold requiring Endotracheal Intubation

$$GCS \le 8$$

Acute Anaphylactic Shock first-line immediate treatment

IM Epinephrine ($1:1000$) in anterolateral thigh.

Most specific autoantibodies for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)

Anti-dsDNA and Anti-Sm (Smith) antibodies.

Rheumatoid Arthritis first-line DMARD

Methotrexate.

Acute Gout vs Pseudogout Synovial fluid crystals

Gout: Negatively birefringent needle-shaped crystals. Pseudogout: Positively birefringent rhomboid crystals.

Giant Cell (Temporal) Arteritis Classic Triad

Unilateral headache, Jaw claudication, Visual disturbances (with high ESR).

Suspected Giant Cell Arteritis with visual symptoms immediate management

High-dose IV Corticosteroids immediately (before temporal artery biopsy).

Multiple Myeloma classic protein electrophoresis finding

M-protein spike (Monoclonal gammopathy) and Bence Jones light chains in urine.

Tumor Lysis Syndrome major complications

Hyperkalemia, Hyperphosphatemia, Hypocalcemia, Hyperuricemia.

Tumor Lysis Syndrome hyperuricemia first-line agent

Rasburicase (or Allopurinol) + Vigorous IV Hydration.

Status Epilepticus first-line acute pharmacological management

IV Lorazepam or IV Diazepam (Benzodiazepines).

Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) CSF finding

Albuminocytological dissociation (High protein, Normal WBC count).

Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS) Classic Triad

Microangiopathic Hemolytic Anemia, Thrombocytopenia, Acute Kidney Injury (AKI).

Acute Upper GIT Bleeding first-line resuscitation & drug therapy

IV Fluid resuscitation, IV Proton Pump Inhibitor (PPI) infusion, Urgent Endoscopy.

Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis (SBP) diagnostic criteria

Ascitic fluid PMN (neutrophil) count $\ge 250\,cells/mm^3$

Acute Adrenal Crisis emergency treatment

High-dose IV Hydrocortisone + IV Normal Saline resuscitation.

Early vs Late ECG signs of Hyperkalemia

Early: Peaked T waves. Late: QRS widening, Loss of P wave, Sine wave pattern.

Classic 6 Ps of Acute Limb Ischemia

Pain, Pallor, Pulselessness, Paresthesia, Paralysis, Poikilothermia.

Acute embolic arterial occlusion gold standard emergency procedure

Emergency Surgical Embolectomy using Fogarty catheter.

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) elective repair indications

AAA diameter $\ge 5.5\,cm$ in men ($\ge 5.0\,cm$ in women) or rapid growth ($> 0.5\,cm$ in 6 months).

Virchow's Triad (DVT risk factors)

Stasis, Hypercoagulability, Endothelial Injury.

Parkland Formula for Burn Fluid Resuscitation (24 hours)

$4\,mL \times \text{Weight (kg)} \times \%\,TBSA$ burned of Lactated Ringer's (give 1/2 in first 8 hours, 1/2 in next 16 hours).

Severe burn patient initial assessment priority

Airway assessment and maintenance (check for inhalation injury/facial burns).

Skin Graft vs Skin Flap fundamental difference

Graft relies on host bed for blood supply (no native vascular supply); Flap carries its own blood supply.

Small Bowel vs Large Bowel Obstruction most common causes

Small Bowel: Post-operative Adhesions. Large Bowel: Colorectal Cancer.

Acute Appendicitis classic physical exam signs

McBurney's point tenderness, Rovsing sign, Psoas sign, Obturator sign.

Charcot's Triad in Acute Cholangitis

Fever, Jaundice, Right Upper Quadrant (RUQ) abdominal pain.

Reynold's Pentad in Suppurative Cholangitis

Charcot's Triad + Hypotension + Altered Mental Status.

Acute Cholecystitis most sensitive diagnostic imaging

Abdominal Ultrasound (shows gallbladder wall thickening $> 4\,mm$, pericholecystic fluid, sonographic Murphy sign).

Tension Pneumothorax emergency management

Immediate Needle Decompression (2nd ICS mid-clavicular or 5th ICS mid-axillary) before chest X-ray, followed by Chest Tube.

Epidural vs Subdural Hematoma CT scan appearance

Epidural: Biconvex (lenticular), hyperdense, respects suture lines. Subdural: Crescent-shaped, crosses suture lines.

Epidural Hematoma classic presentation history

Head trauma followed by a "Lucid Interval" then rapid neurological deterioration (Middle Meningeal Artery tear).

Acute Compartment Syndrome classic pain presentation

Severe pain out of proportion to injury, exacerbated by passive stretch of muscles.

Acute Compartment Syndrome definitive treatment

Emergency Surgical Fasciotomy.

Femoral Neck Fracture classic clinical deformity

Shortened, Externally Rotated lower limb.

Monteggia vs Galeazzi fracture-dislocations

Monteggia: Proximal Ulnar fracture + Radial head dislocation. Galeazzi: Distal Radial fracture + Distal Radioulnar joint dislocation.

Intestinal Ischemia (Mesenteric Ischemia) presentation

Severe abdominal pain out of proportion to physical exam findings.

Initial drug treatment for Acute Anaphylaxis vs Asthma Exacerbation

Anaphylaxis: IM Epinephrine. Asthma Exacerbation: Inhaled Short-Acting Beta-2 Agonist (Salbutamol/Albuterol) + Systemic Corticosteroids.

Bacterial Meningitis classic diagnostic CSF pattern

High PMN Neutrophils, High Protein, Low Glucose ($< 40\%$ of serum glucose).

Indication for Thoracotomy in Hemothorax

Initial drainage $\ge 1500\,mL$ of blood OR ongoing bleeding $> 200\,mL/hour$ for 2-4 hours.

Direct vs Indirect Inguinal Hernia anatomical landmarks

Direct: Medial to Inferior Epigastric Vessels (through Hesselbach's triangle). Indirect: Lateral to Inferior Epigastric Vessels (through deep inguinal ring).

Variceal Acute Upper GIT Bleeding first-line management

Fluid resuscitation, IV Octreotide/Terlipressin, IV Antibiotic prophylaxis, Urgent Endoscopy (Banding).