Basicmedical Key

11 Respiratory Disorders Acute breathlessness Case history (1) You are called by the nurses to see a 63-year-old man who has become breathless. As you walk over to the ward…

10 Cardiology Syncope Simple faints are a common and benign condition. However, anyone witnessing a faint will know that patients can look awful and it is not surprising that they…

9 Kidney and Urinary Tract Disease Presentation of kidney and urinary tract disease • Patients’ complaints are directly related to the urinary tract or urine output, e.g. frequency, dysuria, burning micturition,…

8 Rheumatology Osteoarthritis (OA) Case history A 75-year-old woman attends the A&E department with pain in the left groin. The pain has been present for several months but she has…

6 Haematology and Oncology Microcytic and macrocytic anaemia Definition of anaemia Anaemia is present when the level of haemoglobin in the blood is below the normal range. The normal range…

15 Neurology Diplopia Diplopia (double vision) occurs when there is an acquired defect of movement of an eye (paralytic squint). It is maximal in the direction of action of the…

14 Endocrinology and Diabetes Diabetes mellitus Diabetes mellitus is a syndrome of chronic hyperglycaemia due to relative insulin deficiency or resistance or both. Case history (1) You are telephoned by…

17 Dermatology A swollen red leg Case history The A&E officer asks you to come and see a 50-year-old man who is unwell and has a red, swollen leg. He…

4 Gastroenterology Vomiting Vomiting centres are located on the lateral reticular formation of the medulla and are stimulated by chemoreceptors trigger zones on the floor of the 4th ventricle and…

7 Care of the Elderly Blackouts This implies either altered consciousness, with or without falling, or sometimes a visual disturbance. Case history An 86-year-old woman is brought into A&E with…