The general principles of history taking
1,2 The history is also, of course, the least expensive way of making a diagnosis. Changes in medical education mean that much student teaching is now conducted away from the…
Atrial Fibrillation
Chapter 1 Atrial Fibrillation Key Points 1 Atrial fibrillation is an irregular supraventricular arrhythmia that may cause thromboembolism, hypotension, and cardiac ischemia or infarction. 2 Risk factors for thromboembolism include…
Unstable Angina and Non‐ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction
Chapter 3 Unstable Angina and Non-ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction Key Points 1 Unstable angina and non-ST elevation myocardial infarction are usually caused by non-occluding thrombus forming on a ruptured plaque…
Adrenal Insufficiency
Chapter 4 Adrenal Insufficiency Key Points 1 The most common cause of adrenal insufficiency (AI) is exogenous glucocorticoid use in patients taking more than the equivalent of prednisone 5 mg…
Cellulitis and Diabetic Foot Infections
Chapter 11 Cellulitis and Diabetic Foot Infections Key Points Cellulitis 1 Most cases of cellulitis are caused by gram-positive cocci (Streptococcus pyogenes and Staphylococcus aureus). 2 Patients with unusual exposures…
Acute Lower Gastrointestinal Bleed
Chapter 6 Acute Lower Gastrointestinal Bleed Key Points General 1 Lower gastrointestinal (GI) bleed has a mortality rate of approximately 5%. 2 Diverticulosis is the most common cause of hematochezia….
Acute Upper Gastrointestinal Bleed
Chapter 8 Acute Upper Gastrointestinal Bleed Key Points General 1 Acute upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleed has a mortality rate of approximately 10%. 2 Gastroduodenal ulcers are the most common cause…
Hyponatremia
Chapter 19 Hyponatremia Key Points 1 Hyponatremia is defined as a serum sodium concentration below 135 mmol/L. 2 Hyponatremia is the most common electrolyte abnormality in hospitalized patients. 3 Patients…
Clostridium Difficile Infection
Chapter 12 Clostridium Difficile Infection Key Points 1 Recent antibiotic use and inpatient hospitalization are major risk factors for Clostridium difficile infection. 2 Cytotoxin assay is the gold standard for…
Acute Pancreatitis
Chapter 7 Acute Pancreatitis Key Points General 1 On admission, obtain: • Serum amylase and lipase. Levels three times the upper limit of normal are diagnostic. • Serum calcium and…
