list of medical mnemonics list of medical mnemonics this is a list of mnemonics used in medicine and medical science, categorized and alphabetized. a mnemonic is any technique that assists the human memory with information retention or retrieval by making abstract or impersonal information more accessible and meaningful, and therefore easier to remember; many of them are acronyms or initialisms which reduce a lengthy set of terms to a single, easy-to-remember word or phrase. mnemonics with wikipages this is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. you can help by adding missing items with reliable sources. abc — airway, breathing, and circulation aeiou-tips — causes of altered mental status apgar — a backronym for appearance, pulse, grimace, activity, respiration (used to assess newborn babies) ashice — age, sex, history, injuries/illness, condition, eta/extra information fast — face, arms, speech, time (stroke symptoms) hs and ts — causes of cardiac arrest is path warm? — suicide risk factors opqrst — onset, provocation, quality, region, severity, time (symptom checklist often used by first responders) rice — rest, ice, compression, elevation (generic treatment strategy for sprains and bruises) rnchamps — types of shock rpm-30-2-can do — start triage criteria socrates — used to evaluate characteristics of pain soap – a technique for writing medical records sludge — salivation, lacrimation, urination, defecation, gastric upset, and emesis (effects of nerve agent or organophosphate poisoning) anatomy main article: list of anatomy mnemonics anaesthesiology anaesthesia machine/room check ms maid: monitors (ekg, spo2, etco2, etc.) suction machine check (according to asa guidelines) airway equipment (ett, laryngoscope, oral/nasal airway) iv equipment drugs (emergency, inductions, nmbs, etc.) endotracheal intubation: diagnosis of poor bilateral breath sounds after intubation dope: displaced (usually right mainstem, pyriform fossa, etc.) obstruction (kinked or bitten tube, mucous plug, etc.) pneumothorax (collapsed lung) esophagus general anaesthesia: equipment check prior to inducing males: masks airways laryngoscopes endotracheal tubes suction/stylette, bougie spinal anaesthesia agents "little boys prefer toys": lidocaine bupivacaine procaine tetracaine xylocaine: where not to use with epinephrine "ears, nose, hose, fingers, and toes" the vasoconstrictive effects of xylocaine with epinephrine are helpful in providing hemostasis while suturing; however, they may also cause local ischemic necrosis in distal structures such as the digits, tip of nose, penis, ears, etc. "digital pen" – digits, penis, ear, nose behavioral science/psychology depression: major episode characteristics space digs: sleep disruption psychomotor retardation appetite change concentration loss energy loss depressed mood interest wanes guilt suicidal tendencies depression: dsm-v criteria for major depressive disorder "sig e caps": sleep disturbances interest decreased (anhedonia) guilt and/or feelings of worthlessness energy decreased concentration problems appetite/weight changes psychomotor agitation or retardation suicidal ideation gain: primary vs. secondary vs. tertiary primary: patient's psyche improved secondary: symptom sympathy for patient tertiary: therapist's gain kubler-ross dying process: stages "death always brings great acceptance": denial anger bargaining grieving acceptance middle adolescence (14–17 years): characteristics hero: heterosexual/homosexual crushes education regarding short-term benefits risk-taking omnipotence narcolepsy: symptoms, epidemiology chap: cataplexy hallucinations attacks of sleep paralysis on waking usual presentation is a young male, hence "chap" suicide: risk screening sad persons scale: sex (male – completion, female – attempt) age (adolescent or elderly) depression previous attempt ethanol abuse rational thinking loss social support problems organised plan no spouse sickness (chronic illness) sleep stages: features delta waves during deepest sleep (stages 3 and 4, slow-wave) dream during rem sleep impotence causes plane: psychogenic: performance anxiety libido: decreased with androgen deficiency, drugs autonomic neuropathy: impede blood flow redirection nitric oxide deficiency: impaired synthesis, decreased blood pressure erectile reserve: cannot maintain an erection male erectile dysfunction (med): biological causes med: medicines (propranolol, methyldopa, ssris, etc.) ethanol diabetes mellitus premature ejaculation: treatment 2 s's: ssris squeezing technique (glans pressure before climax) more detail with 2 more s's: sensate-focus exercises (relieves anxiety) stop and start method (5–6 rehearsals of stopping stimulation before climax) biochemistry b vitamin names "the rhythm nearly proved contagious": in increasing order: thiamine (vitamin b1, also spelled thiamin) riboflavin (vitamin b2) niacin (vitamin b3, also called nicotinic acid) pyridoxine (vitamin b6) cobalamin (vitamin b12) essential amino acids "tim hall pvt. (ltd.) always argue and never (get) tire": phe – phenylalanine val – valine thr – threonine trp – tryptophan ile – isoleucine met – methionine his – histidine arg – arginine leu – leucine lys – lysine always argue: a is for arg (arginine) not asp (aspartic acid). 'never tire': t is not tyr (tyrosine), but is both thr (theronine) and trp (tryptophan). †note that this initialism uses single letters for each amino acid that are not the same as the standard single-letter codes commonly used in molecular biology to uniquely specify each amino acid; for example, though phenylalanine is represented here by the letter "p", it is formally represented by the letter "f" in most other contexts, and "p" is instead used to formally represent proline. fasting state: branched-chain amino acids used by skeletal muscles "muscles live fast": leucine isoleucine valine fat-soluble vitamins "the fat (fat-soluble vitamins) cat lives in the adek (vitamins a, d, e, and k)." folate deficiency: causes a folic drop: alcoholism folic acid antagonists oral contraceptives low dietary intake infection with giardia celiac sprue dilantin relative folate deficiency old pregnant glycogen storage: anderson's (iv) vs. cori's (iii) enzyme defect abcd: anderson's = branching enzyme cori's = debranching enzyme otherwise, cannot really distinguish clinically. glycogen storage: names of types i through vi "viagra pills cause a major hardon tendency": von gierke's pompe's cori's anderson's mcardle's her's tarui's enzyme classes "'on the hill, lil' transformers": 1 - oxidoreductases 2 - transferases 3 - hydrolases 4 - lyases 5 - isomerases 6 - ligases 7 - translocases cardiology main article: list of cardiology mnemonics emergency medicine acute lvf management lmnop: lasix (furosemide) morphine (diamorphine) nitrates oxygen (sit patient up) pulmonary ventilation (if doing badly) atrial fibrillation: causes of new onset the atrial fibs: thyroid hypothermia embolism (p.e.) alcohol trauma (cardiac contusion) recent surgery (post cabg) ischemia atrial enlargement lone or idiopathic fever, anemia, high-output states infarct bad valves (mitral stenosis) stimulants (cocaine, theo, amphet, caffeine) well's criteria secret little tip (about) blood clots: signs/symptoms of pe (3) pe is the most likely diagnosis (3) tachycardia >100bpm (1.5) iimmobilisation/surgery in the last 4 weeks (1.5) previous dvt/pe blood in sputum (haemoptysis) (1) active cancer (1) two tier score: pe likely > 4 causes of life-threatening chest pain pet-mac p = pulmonary embolism e = esophageal rupture t = tension pneumothorax m = myocardial infarction a = aortic dissection c = cardiac tamponade gcs intubation under 8, intubate. ipecac: contraindications 4 c's: comatose convulsing corrosive hydrocarbon jvp: raised jvp differential pqrst(ekg waves): pericardial effusion quantity of fluid raised (fluid over load) right heart failure superior vena caval obstruction tricuspid stenosis/tricuspid regurgitation/tamponade (cardiac) mi: immediate treatment dogash: diamorphine oxygen gtn spray aspirin 300 mg streptokinase heparin pea/asystole (acls): cause itchpad infarction tension pneumothorax cardiac tamponade hypovolemia/hypothermia/hypo-,hyperkalemia/hypomagnesmia/hypoxemia pulmonary embolism acidosis drug overdose rapid sequence intubation (rsi) soap me suction oxygen airway equipment positioning monitoring & medications etco2 & other equipment rapid sequence intubation medications (rsi) (ccrx) very calmly engage the respiratory system vecuronium 0.1 mg/kg cisatracurium 0.2 mg/kg etomidate 0.3 mg/kg rocuronium 0.6 mg/kg-1.2 mg/kg succinylcholine 1 mg/kg shock: signs and symptoms tv sparc cube: thirst vomitting sweating pulse weak anxious respirations shallow/rapid cool cyanotic unconscious bp low eyes blank shock: types rn champs (alternatively: "mr. c.h. snap", or "nh cramps"): respiratory neurogenic cardiogenic hemorrhagic anaphylactic metabolic psychogenic septic subarachnoid hemorrhage (sah) causes bats: berry aneurysm arteriovenous malformation/adult polycystic kidney disease trauma stroke syncope causes, by system head heart vessels: cns causes include head: hypoxia/hypoglycemia epilepsy anxiety dysfunctional brain stem (basivertebral tia) cardiac causes are heart: heart attack embolism (pe) aortic obstruction (ihss, as or myxoma) rhythm disturbance, ventricular tachycardia vascular causes are vessels: vasovagal ectopic (reminds one of hypovolemia) situational subclavian steal ent (glossopharyngeal neuralgia) low systemic vascular resistance (addison's, diabetic vascular neuropathy) sensitive carotid sinus tension pneumothorax: signs and symptoms p-thorax pleuritic pain tracheal deviation hyperresonance onset sudden reduced breath sounds (and dyspnea) absent fremitus x-ray shows collapse tweed sash non-pharmacological analgesia. non-pharmacological analgesic strategies psychological interventions t therapeutic touch (e.g. hand-holding) w warn about painful interventions e explain what is, or is about to, happen e eye contact d defend (patient) dignity physical interventions s stabilise fractures a apply dressings to cover burns s soft surface (avoid rigid spinal boards or stretchers) h hypothermia avoidance ventricular fibrillation: treatment shock, shock, shock, everybody shock, little shock, big shock, momma shock, poppa shock: shock= defibrillate everybody= epinephrine little= lidocaine big= bretylium momma= mgso4 poppa= procainamide endocrine diabetes complications knives: kidney – nephropathy neuromuscular – peripheral neuropathy, mononeuritis, amyotrophy infective – utis, tb vascular – coronary/cerebrovascular/peripheral artery disease eye – cataracts, retinopathy skin – lipohypertrophy/lipoatrophy, necrobiosis lipoidica hematology/oncology anterior mediastinal masses 4 t's: teratoma thymoma testicular-type t-cell / hodgkin's lymphoma dermatomyositis or polymyositis: risk of underlying malignancy risk is 30% at age 30. risk is 40% at age 40, and so on. lung cancer: main sites for distant metastases blab: bone liver adrenals brain esophageal cancer: risk factors abcdef: achalasia barret's esophagus corrosive esophagitis diverticuliis esophageal web familial lung cancer: notorious consequences speech: superior vena cava syndrome paralysis of diaphragm (phrenic nerve) ectopic hormones eaton-lambert syndrome clubbing horner syndrome/ hoarseness mole: signs of trouble abcde: asymmetry border irregular colour irregular diameter usually > 0.5 cm elevation irregular prognotic factors for cancer: general prognosis: presentation (time & course) response to treatment old (bad prog.) good intervention (i.e. early) non-compliance with treatment order of differentiation (>1 cell type) stage of disease ill health spread (diffuse) pituitary endocrine functions often affected by pituitary-associated tumor "go look for the adenoma please": tropic hormones affected by growth tumor are: gnrh lsh fsh acth prolactin function interviewing / physical exam abdominal assessment to assess abdomen, palpate all 4 quadrants for dr. germ: distension: liver problems, bowel obstruction rigidity (board like): bleeding guarding: muscular tension when touched evisceration/ ecchymosis rebound tenderness: infection masses altered level of consciousness: reasons aeiou tips alcohol epilepsy, electrolytes, and encephalopathy insulin overdose, oxygen underdose, uremia trauma, temperature infection psychogenic, poisons stroke, shock deep tendon reflexes (dtr's) one two, put on my shoe - s1/2 roots for achilles reflex (foot plantarflexion) three four, kick the door - l3/4 roots for patellar reflex (knee extension) five six, pick up sticks - c5/6 roots for brachioradialis and biceps brachii reflexes (elbow flexion) seven eight, shut the gate - c7/8 roots for triceps brachii reflex (elbow extension) cause of symptoms opqrst (works well for cardiac, and respiratory patients.) onset of the event provocation or palliation quality of the pain region and radiation severity time fetal monitoring veal chop fhr pattern:variableearly decelerationaccelerationlate deceleration meaning:cord compressionhead compressiono2placental insufficiency neurovascular assessment 5 p's: pain pallor paresthesia pulse paralysis trauma assessment dcap-btls deformities & discolorations contusions abrasions & avulsion penetrations & punctures burns tenderness lacerations swelling & symmetry toxicological seizures: causes otis campbell organophosphates tricyclic antidepressants isoniazid, insulin sympathomimetics camphor, cocaine amphetamines methylxanthines pcp, propoxyphene, phenol, propranolol benzodiazepine withdrawal, botanicals ethanol withdrawal lithium, lidocaine lindane, lead vomiting: non-git differential abcdefghi: acute renal failure brain cardiac dka ears foreign substances glaucoma hyperemesis gravidarum infection heart valve auscultation sites "all patients take meds": reading from top left: aortic pulmonary tricuspid mitral glasgow coma scale: components and numbers scale types is 3 v's: visual response verbal response vibratory (motor) response scale scores are 4,5,6: scale of 4: see so much more scale of 5: talking jive scale of 6: feels the pricks (if testing motor by pain withdrawal) mental state examination: stages in order "assessed mental state to be positively clinically unremarkable": appearance and behaviour mood speech thinking behavioural abnormalities perception abnormalities cognition understanding of condition history sample history signs and symptoms allergies medications past medical history, injuries, illnesses last meal/intake events leading up to the injury and/or illness opqrst history onset of symptoms provocation/pallitive quality or character of pain region of pain or radiation signs, symptoms and severity time of onset, duration, intensity orthopaedic assessment cloride fpp character: sharp or dull pain location: region (joint) of origin onset: sudden vs. gradual radiation: intensity: how severe (scale 1–10), impact on adls (activities of daily living), is it getting better, worse or staying the same? duration: acute vs. chronic events associated: falls, morning stiffness, swelling, redness, joint clicking or locking, muscle cramps, muscle wasting, movement