medical mnemonics

MEDICAL MNEmONICS
Olivary nuclei: ear vs. eye rolesSuperior Olivary nucleus: SOund localization.· Inferior olivary nucleus is therefore the one for sight [tactile, proprioception also].
HLA-B27 associated diseasesPAIR:PsoriasisAnkylosing spondylitisInflammatory bowel diseaseReiter's syndrome
Endotracheal tube: troubleshootingDOPEY:Displaced: esophagus, right mainstem, back of throat, etcObstructed: secretions, blood, mucus plug, kink, etcPneumothoraxEquipment: malfunctions, O2, ETT, BVM, ventilator, monitorYou: your approach, technique: missing something?
Hypernatremia: causes6 D's:DiureticsDehydrationDiabetes insipidusDocs (iatrogenic)DiarrheaDisease: kidney, sickle cell, etc
Imprinting diseases: Prader-Willi and Angelman"Pray to an Angel":Prader-Willi and Angelman are the 2 classic imprinting diseases.· Which disease results, depends on whether 15q deletion is maternal or paternal. Keep them straight by:Paternal is Prader-Willi.·Cerebellar damage symptomsVANISHED:VertigoAtaxiaNystagmusIntention tremorSlurred (or Staccato) speechExagerrated broad based gaitHypotonic reflexesDysdiadochokinesia.
Argyll-Robertson Pupil featuresArgyll Robertson Pupil (ARP)Read it from front to back: it is ARP, standing for Accomodation Reflex Present.Read it from back to front: it is PRA, standing for Pupillary Reflex Absent.
Einthoven's Triangle: organizationCorners are at RA (right arm), LA (left arm), LL (left leg).Number of L's at a corner tell how many + signs are at that corner [eg LL is ++].Sum of number of L's of any 2 corners tells the name of the lead [eg LL-LA is lead III].For reference axes, the negative angle hemisphere is on the half of the triangle drawing that has all the negative signs; positive angle hemisphere contains only positive signs.
Edwards' syndrome: characteristicsEDWARDS:Eighteen (trisomy)Digit overlapping flexionWide headAbsent intellect (mentally retarded)Rocker-bottom feetDiseased heartSmall lower jaw
Citric acid cycle compounds"Can I Keep Selling Sex For Money, Officer?":CitrateIsocitratealpha KetogluterateSuccinyl CoASuccinateFumerateMalateOxaloacetate
RLQ pain: differentialAPPENDICITIS:Appendicitis/ AbscessPID/ PeriodPancreatitisEctopic/ EndometriosisNeoplasiaDiverticulitisIntussusceptionCrohns Disease/ Cyst (ovarian)IBDTorsion (ovary)Irritable Bowel SyndromeStones
Endometrial carcinoma: risk factorsENDOMET:ElderlyNulliparityDiabetesObesityMenstrual irregularityEstrogen therapyhyperTension
Acute Coronary Syndrome: initial treatmentABCD:AspirinBeta blockerCoagulation (anticoagulation with heparin/LMW Heparin)Double product control (decrease heart rate and blood pressure)
Potter syndrome: featuresPOTTER:Pulmonary hypoplasiaOligohydrominiosTwisted skin (wrinkly skin)Twisted face (Potter facies)Extremities defectsRenal agenesis (bilateral)
Atrioventricular valves"LAB RAT":Left Atrium: BicuspidRight Atrium: Tricuspid
Cranial nerves: sensory, motor or both"Some Say Marry Money But My Brother Says Big Brains Matter More":· From I to XII:SensorySensoryMotorMotorBothMotorBothSensoryBothBothMotorMotor· Alternatives for "Brains": Boobs, Buns, Bras.
Deep tendon reflexes: root supply· God designed body reflexes according to a nursery rhyme:One, two-- buckle my shoe. Three, four-- kick the door. Five, six-- pick up sticks. Seven, eight-- shut the gate.S1,2 = ankle jerkL3,4 = knee jerkC5,6 = biceps and brachioradialisC7,8 = triceps
Cubital fossa contents"Really Need Booze To Be At My Nicest":· From lateral to medial:Radial NerveBiceps TendonBrachial ArteryMedian Nerve
Syncope causes, by systemHEAD 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
Axillary artery branches"Screw The Lawyer Save A Patient":Superior thoracicThoracoacromiolLateral thoracicSubscapularAnterior circumflex humeralPosterior circumflex humeralAlternatively: "Some Times Life Seems A Pain".
COPD: blue bloater vs. pink puffer diseasesemPhysema has letter P (and not B) so Pink Puffer.chronic Bronchitis has letter B (and not P) so Blue Bloater.
Pancreatitis: causesBAD S#!T:Biliary: gallstones, 1% of ERCP patientsAlcoholism/ AzotemiaDrugsScorpion bite/ Sea anenome/ SLEHyperlipidemia/ HypercalcemiaIdiopathic/ Infectious (mumps, coxsackie, salmonella, ascariasis)Tumor/ Trauma· The drugs are: penacillamine, furosemide, thiazides, ethacrynic acid, steroids, sulfas, ace inhibitors, N-SAIDs, erythromycin, estrogen.
Pneumonia: risk factorsINSPIRATION:ImmunosuppressionNeoplasiaSecretion retentionPulmonary oedemaImpaired alveolar macrophagesRTI (prior)Antibiotics and cytotoxicsTracheal instrumentationIV dug abuseOther (general debility, immobility)Neurologic impairment of cough reflex, (eg NMJ disorders)
Splenomegaly: causesCHIMP:CystsHaematological ( eg CML, myelofibrosis)Infective (eg viral (IM), bacterial)Metabolic/ Misc (eg amyloid, Gauchers)Portal hypertension
Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura: signsFAT RN:FeverAnemiaThrombocytopeniaRenal problemsNeurologic dysfunction
Autonomic Nervous System: Hypothalamic ControlAPPS:Anterior hypothalamic area controls Parasympathetic nervous systemPosterior hypothalamic area controls the Sympathetic.
Lithium: side effectsLITH:LeukocytosisInsipidus [diabetes insipidus, tied to polyuria]Tremor/ TeratogenesisHypothyroidism
Endotracheal tube: troubleshootingDOPEY:Displaced: esophagus, right mainstem, back of throat, etcObstructed: secretions, blood, mucus plug, kink, etcPneumothoraxEquipment: malfunctions, O2, ETT, BVM, ventilator, monitorYou: your approach, technique: missing something?Show Details / Rate It---Brenda L. Snyder, RN, CEN, PHRN George Washington University Hospital, Washington, D.C.
RLQ pain: differentialAPPENDICITIS:Appendicitis/ AbscessPID/ PeriodPancreatitisEctopic/ EndometriosisNeoplasiaDiverticulitisIntussusceptionCrohns Disease/ Cyst (ovarian)IBDTorsion (ovary)Irritable Bowel SyndromeStonesShow Details / Rate It---Anonymous Contributor
JVP: raised JVP differentialPQRST (EKG waves):Pericardial effusionQuantity of fluid raised (fluid over load)Right heart failureSuperior vena caval obstructionTricuspid stenosis/ Tricuspid regurgitation/ Tamponade (cardiac)Show Details / Rate It---Dr. Mohsin Maqbool Bahawal-Victoria Hospital, Bahawalpur
Syncope causes, by systemHEAD 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 sinusShow Details / Rate It---Bill Young MD University of Kentucky Dept of Emergency Medicine
Pneumothorax: causesSIT, 3 A's, 3 C's:Spontaneous (often tall thin men)IatrogenicTraumaAsthmaAlveolitisAIDSCOPDCarcinomaCystic fibrosisShow Details / Rate It---Jamal Khan Birmingham University Medical Student
Organophosphates poisoning: symptomsDUMBBELS:DiarrheaUrinationMiosisBradycardiaBronchospasmEmesisLacrimationSalivationShow Details / Rate It---Martin Herman Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center
Seizures: differentialSICK 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)Show Details / Rate It---Joseph Rogers, MD Duke University
PEA/Asystole (ACLS): etiologyITCHPAD:InfarctionTension pneumothoraxCardiac tamponadeHypovolemia/ Hypothermia/ Hypo-, Hyperkalemia/ Hypomagnesmia/ HypoxemiaPulmonary embolismAcidosisDrug overdoseShow Details / Rate It---Carl Roberts A.S.EMS, CCEMT-P, CFP US Army Special Forces
ARDS: diagnostic criteriaARDS:Acute onsetRatio (PaO2/FiO2) less than 200Diffuse infiltrationSwan-Ganz Wedge pressure less than 19 mmHgShow Details / Rate It---Fahed Al-Daour
Atrial fibrillation: causes of new onsetTHE ATRIAL FIBS:ThyroidHypothermiaEmbolism (P.E.)AlcoholTrauma (cardiac contusion)Recent surgery (post CABG)IschemiaAtrial enlargementLone or idiopathicFever, anemia, high-output statesInfarctBad valves (mitral stenosis)Stimulants (cocaine, theo, amphet, caffeine)