Patient profile (PP)
Living situation/ Lifestyle
Anxiety
Depression
Daily activities (describe a typical day)
Environmental risks/ Exposure
Relationships
Support system/ Stress

 Mnemonic:
LADDERS

More mnemonics in this category

Abdominal Assessment
Distension: liver problems, bowel obstruction Rigidity (board like): bleeding Guarding: muscular tension when touched Eviseration/ Ecchymosis Rebound tenderness: infection Masses
Abdominal swelling causes
- 9 F's: Fat Feces Fluid Flatus
Altered Level of Consciousness: Reasons
Alcohol Epilepsy, Electrolytes, and Encephalopathy Insulin Overdose, Oxygen Underdose, Uremia Trauma, Temperature
Breast history checklist
Lump Mammary changes Nipple changes Other symptoms Patient risk factors
Cause of symptoms
Onset of the event Provocation or palliation Quality of the pain Region and radiation Severity Time
Clinical examination: initial Inspection of patient from end of bed
Appearance (SOB, pain, etc.) Behaviour Connections (drips, inhalers, etc. connected to patient) ABC
Differential diagnosis checklist
A and C stand for Acquired and Congenital VITAMIN stands for: Vascular Inflammatory (Infectious and non-Infectious) Trauma/ Toxins Autoimmune
Family history (FH)
Blood pressure (high) Arthritis Lung disease Diabetes Cancer Heart disease
Fetal Monitoring
FHR Pattern: Variable Early Deceleration Acceleration Late Deceleration
Four point physical assessment of a disease
Inspection Auscultation Percussion Palpation "I'm A People Person"
Glasgow coma scale: components and numbers
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)
Head Trauma: rapid neuro exam
- 12 P's: Psychological (mental) status Pupils: size, symmetry, reaction Paired ocular movements Papilloedema
Heart valve auscultation sites
Reading from top left: Aortic Pulmonary Tricuspid Mitral
History
Signs and Symptoms Allergies Medications Past medical history, injuries, illnesses Last meal/intake Events leading up to the injury and/or illness
Medical history: disease checklist
Myocardial infarction Jaundice Tuberculosis Hypertension Rheumatic fever/ Rheumatoid arthritis Epilepsy
Mental state examination: stages in order
Appearance and behaviour observe state, clothing... Mood recent spirit Speech rate, form, content Thinking thoughts, perceptions Behavioural abnormalities Perception abnormalities
Neurovascular Assessment
- 5 P's: Pain Pallor Paresthesia Pulse
Ocular bobbing vs. dipping
Bobbing is fast Dipping is slow In both, the initial movement is down. "Breakfast is fast, Dinner is slow, both go down"
Orthopaedic Assessment
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
Pain history checklist
Site Onset Character Radiation Alleviating factors/ Associated symptoms Timing (duration, frequency)
Past medical history (PMH)
Vices (tobacco, alcohol, other drugs, sexual risks) Allergies Medications Preexisting medical conditions Trauma Hospitalizations
Patient examination organization
Subjective: what the patient says. Objective: what the examiner observes. Assessment: what the examiner thinks is going on. Plan: what they intend to do about it SOAP
Physical exam for 'lumps and bumps'
Site, Size, Shape, Surface, Skin, Scar Tenderness, Temperature, Transillumination Consistency Attachment Mobility Pulsation
Physical examination - correct order
Inspection Palpation Percussion Auscultation "I Palpate People's Abdomens"
Pupillary dilation (persistent): causes
3rd nerve palsy Anti-muscarinic eye drops (e.g. to facilitate fundoscopy) Myotonic pupil 3AM
Short stature causes
Rickets Endocrine (cretinism, hypopituitarism, Cushing's) Turner syndrome Achondroplasia Respiratory(suppurative lung disease) Down syndrome
Sign vs. symptom
- sIgn: something I can detect even if patient is unconscious. sYMptom is something only hYM knows about.
Surgical sieve for diagnostic categories
Iatrogenic Neoplastic Vascular Endocrine Structural/ Mechanical Traumatic
Surgical sieve for diagnostic categories (alternate)
Psychological Autoimmune Spontaneous/idiopathic Toxic Metabolic Inflammatory
Toxicological seizures: Causes
Organophosphates Tricyclic antidepressants Isoniazid, Insulin Sympathomimetics Camphor, Cocaine Amphetamines
Trauma assessment
Deformities & Discolorations Contusions Abrasions & Avulsion Penetrations & Punctures Burns Tenderness
Vomiting: non-GIT differential
Acute renal failure Brain increased ICP Cardiac inferior MI DKA Ears labyrinthitis Foreign substances paracetamol, theo, etc.