Pleural Fluid Analysis
Pleural fluid analysis distinguishes exudates from transudates using Light’s criteria. Further testing clarifies cause, guiding management of infection, malignancy, or systemic disease.
Category Investigations
BHCG, Rhesus D and Progesterone
15% of the population are Rhesus negative; Rh D immunoglobulin is administered to non-sensitised Rh D negative women to prevent the development of Rh D antibodies and in so doing prevent Rh D induced haemolytic disease of the newborn.
Hypercalcaemia DDx
Hypercalcaemia: Nature: Bones, stones, groans and psychic moans. Usually associated with increased calcium release form bones and impaired renal removal and malignancy
Urine Colour
Normally, urine is some shade of yellow with acid urine usually a darker colour than alkaline urine. Pathologically, it may be any colour.
Right Ventricular Function and Echo
Right Ventricular Function and Haemodynamic Assessment Echocardiography
ICE008: ABG Puzzler
A femoral arterial blood gas sample is obtained from a 41 year old man...obtained when the barometric pressure was 272mmHg and the PiO2 47mmHg
ICE 007: Abdominal pain investigations
A 57 year old man presents to the ED with 18 hours of severe upper abdominal pain, fever, nausea and vomiting. He looks jaundiced, his HR is 120bpm, BP 110/60, RR 22 and his temperature is 37.8oC. He is tender and guarded in his right upper quadrant on abdominal palpation.
Hyponatraemia CCC
Cause of HYPOnatraemia Click to enlarge Clinical Severity of symptoms associated with rapidity of loss and extent of fall Complication Correction Depends on rapidity of onset and clinical symptoms Calculations: Na deficit= (desired Na-current Na) x (0.6 x body weight)…
Hypernatraemia CCC
Water loss in excess of salt deficit. Hypernatremia is usually due to insufficient water (primarily in patients who either do not experience thirst normally, or cannot act on it). Hypernatraemia occurs less commonly associated with excess salt
Abnormal LFTs Post Vascular Surgery
CAUSES pre-existing liver disease (+/- exacerbation) drug induced (paracetamol, statins, amiodarone, antibiotics, NSAIDs, beta-blockers, ranitidine, volatiles) ischaemic (post clamping above hepatic artery, thrombosis, embolic, hypotension) surgical injury nutrition (TPN, EN) acalculous cholecystitis transfusion related hepatitis ASSESSMENT History pre-operative liver function…
SIADH
Syndrome Of Inappropriate ADH secretion (SIADH) is hyponatraemia due to an increase in concentration of ADH inappropriate to the current osmotic or volume status. The differential diagnosis includes ADH analogues
Hypokalaemia
Hypokalaemia: the most common electrolyte abnormality in hospitalised patients; mostly caused by drugs and GI disease