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clinical mnemonics from all specialties!

brought to you by:

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increased anion gap acidosis, differential — MUDPILErS — Methanol, Uremia, Diabetic ketoacidosis, Paraldehyde, Isoniazid, Lactic acidosis, Ethylene glycol, rhabdomyolysis, Salicylates

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normal anion gap acidosis, differential — SHARDS — Spironolactone, Hyperalimentation, Acetazolamide/Addison’s disease, Renal tubular acidosis, Diarrhea, Saline infusion

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hydrocephalus, symptoms — wet, wobbly, and wacky! — urinary incontinence, ataxia/instability and altered mental status

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hypercalcemia, symptoms — bones, stones, groans, thrones and psychiatric overtones — bone pain, renal stones, abdominal pains, constipation/polyuria, psychosis/delirium

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chest x-ray interpretation, systematic approach— ABCDEFGHi — Airway, Bones, Cardiac silhouette, Diaphragm, Effusions, Fields, Gastric bubble, Hilum, interpretation/impression

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microcytic anemia, differential — TAILs — Thalassemia, Anemia of chronic disease, Iron deficiency, Lead poisoning, sideroblastic anemia

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fetal heart rates, associated causes — VEAL CHOP — Variable deceleration => Cord compression, Early deceleration => Head compression, Acceleration => Okay!, Late deceleration => Placental insufficiency

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abnormal uterine bleeding, causes — PALMeCOIN — Polyp, Adenomyosis,  Leiomyoma; Malignancy/hyperplasia, endometrial, Coagulopathy, Ovulatory dysfunction, Iatrogenic, Not yet classified

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depression, screening questions— SIGeCAPS — Sleep decrease, Interest loss, Guilt, energy decrease, Concentration difficulties, Appetite loss, Psychomotor changes, Suicidal ideation

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manic episode, features— DIG FAST — Distractibility, Irresponsibility, Grandiosity, Flight of ideas, Activity increase, Sleep deficit, Talkativeness

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fetal transmissible diseases, pathogens— ToRCHeS — Toxoplasma gondii, Rubella, CMV, HIV, Herpes simplex virus 2, Syphilis

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reactive arthritis, symptoms — can’t pee, can’t see, can’t climb a tree — first urinary symptoms (urethritis), then ocular symptoms (conjunctivitis), and musculoskeletal symptoms (arthritis, back pain, etc.) 

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Alport syndrome, symptoms — can’t pee, can’t see, can’t hear a buzzing bee — glomerulonephritis, retinopathy/lens dislocation, sensorineural deafness

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anti-hypertensives, used during pregnancy — Hypertensive mothers love nifedipine — Hydralazine, α-Methyldopa, Labetalol, Nifedipine

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anticholinergic syndrome, symptoms — mad as a hatter, red as a beet, blind as a bat, full as a flask, dry as a bone — hallucinations, vasodilation, mydriasis, urinary retention, dry mucous membranes

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dialysis, indications — AEIOU — Acidosis, Electrolytes, Intoxication, Overload, Uremia

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anterior mediastinal mass, differential — Four T’s — Thymoma, Teratoma, Thyroid (ectopic), Terrible lymphoma

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pellagra, symptoms — Four D’s — Diarrhea, Dementia, Dermatitis, Death

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postoperative fever, causes— 5 W’s— Wind (atelectasis), Water (UTI), Wound, Walking (lack thereof, thus leading to DVT or PE), Wonder drug (drug/transfusion reaction)

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cardiac auscultation, valves — All Physicians Take Money — Aortic, Pulmonary, Tricuspid, Mitral

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endotracheal intubation, Glasgow coma scale — under 8? intubate! — scored as follows ([eyes, 1-4 points] + [verbal, 1-5 points] + [motor,1-6 points])

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Parkinson's disease, symptoms — TRAPS — Tremor (pill-rolling, at rest), Rigidity (cogwheel), Akinesia (or bradykinesia), Postural instability, Shuffling gait

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increased anion gap acidosis, differential: — GOLDMARK — Glycols (ethylene and propylene), Oxoproline, L-lactate, D-lactate, Methanol, Aspirin, Renal failure, Ketoacidosis

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