Medical Mnemonics & Notes

Heart Origin (Left-Lung/Right-Rest) Right-side Failure (HEAD) Left-side Failure (CHOP) L- Left side of the heart H- Hepatomegaly C- Cough L- Lung has edema E- Edema (Bipedal) H- Hemoptysis R- Right side of the heart A- Ascities O- Orthopnea R- Rest of the body has edema D- Distended Neck Veins P- Pulmonary Congestion (crackles/rales) Vascular Disease DVT (HIS Leg Might Fall Off) Raynaud’s Symptoms (COLD HAND) H- History of DVT in the past C- Cryoglobulins/Cryofibrogens I- Immobility O- Obstruction/Occupational S- Surgery L- Lupus erythematosus, other connective tissue disease L- Leg: Varicose Veins D- Diabetes Mellitus M- Malignancy H- Hematologic problems (polycythemia, leukemia) F- Fracture A- Arterial problems (atherosclerosis) N- Neurologic problems (vasuclar tone) D- Disease of unknown origin (idiopathic) Trauma TRAUMATIC (complications) ABC (Assessment/Emergency) T- Tissue perfusion problems A- Airway R- Respiratory problems B- Breathing A- Anxiety C- Circulation U- Unstable clotting factors M- Malnutrition A- Altered body image T- Thromboembolism/Fat embolism I- Infection C- Coping Problems Shock TV SPARC CUBE T- Thirst V- Vomiting S- Sweating P- Pulse Weak A- Anxious R- Respirations shallow/rapid C- Cool C- Cyanotic U- Unconscious B- BP low E- Eyes blank Ambulation AIDS Canes (COAL) Crutches ( Good leg up/Bad leg down) Walkers (Wandering Wilma Always Late) C- Cane G- Up W- Walker O- Opposite B- Down W- With A- Affected A- Affected L- Leg L- Leg Anemia Types of Anemia (Always Introduce Special Patients) Sickle Cell (HOP to the hospital) A- Aplastic H- hemodilution (IVF,PRBC’s) I- Iron Deficiency O- Oxygen supplement S- Sickle Cell P- Pain relief P- Pernicious Hyperkalemia Causes (MACHINE) Signs and Symptoms (MURDER) Management (AIRED) M- Medications- ACE inhibitors, NSAIDS, K+ sparing diuretics M- Muscle weakness A- Administer IV Ca++ to immediately cardiac toxicity A- Acidosis- Metabolic and Respiratory U- Urine- oliguria, anuria I- Increase excretion- via both stool (kayexlate) & urine (diuretics) C- Cellular destructionburns, traumatic injury, hemolysis R- Respiratory Distress R- Remove sources of K+ -IV. Enternal, parenteral, PO H- Hypoaldosteronism Addison’s D- Decreased cardiac contractility D- Dialysis- emergent response for pt’s with lethal hyperkalemia I- Intake- excessive E- ECG changes N- Nephrons- renal failure R- Reflexes- hyperreflexia, or areflexia (flaccid) E- Excretion- impaired Hypokalemia S&S’s (6 L’s) Treatment Emergency Lethargy K++ - potassium chloride- IV Leg cramps KCL, slow K, Klor Con, KTAB Limp muscles Low, shallow respirations Lethal cardia dysrythmias Lots of urine (polyuria) Hypernatremia S&S (SWINE) Causes (MODEL) S- sleepy, lethargy (1st sign) M- medications/meals W- weakness O- osmotic diuretics (mannitol) I- irritability D- diabetes insipidus N- neuromuscular excitability E- excessive water loss (why??) E- edema L- low water intake Hyponatremia SALT LOSS S- stupor/coma/AMS A- anorexia, N&V L- lethargy T- tendon relfexes decreased L- limp muscles (weakness) O- orthostatic hypotension S- seizures/headache S- stomach cramping Hyper/Hypocalemia Hypo (CATS) Hyper (Groans, Moans, Bones, Stones, Overtones) C- convulsions G- constipation A- arrhythmias M- joint pain T- tetany B- loss of CA++ from bones S- spasms and stridor S- kidney stones O- Psychiatric overtones (confusion/depression) Addison’s/ Cushing’s STEROID STRESSED S- sugar and sodium low S- skin fragile T- tired and muscle weakness T- truncle obesity with small arms E- electrolyte imbalance of high K+ & high Ca+ R- rounded face R- reproductive change E- ecchymosis, elevated blodd pressure O- low blood pressure S- striae on extremities and abdomen (purplish) I- increased pigmentation of the skin S- sugar extremely high D- diarrhea, nausea, depression E- excessive body high (esp. In females), electrolyte imbalance: hypokalemia D- dorsocervical fat pad (buffalo hump), depression Hyper/HypoThyroidism SWEATING MOM’S SO TIRED S- sweating M- memory loss W- weight loss O- obesity E- emotional lability M- malar flush A- appetitie increased S- Slowness (mentally and physically) T- tremor/ tachycardia S- skin and hair dryness I- intolerance of heat O- onset gradual N- nervousness T- tiredness G- gi problems I- intolerance to cold R- raised blood pressure E- energy levels fall D- depression/delayed relaxation of reflexes Maternal REEDA BUBBLEHE VEAL CHOP R- redness B- breast V- variable decels C- cord compression E- edema U- uterus E- early decels H- head compression Ddischarge,drainage B- bowel A- accelerations O- okay A- approximation B- bladder L- late decels P- placenta insufficiency L- lochia E- episiotomy H- homan’s/clonus E- emotional status/ education