Articles
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25 results found
Article
APPEND score
The APPEND score is a clinical decision rule and predictor of the likelihood of acute appendicitis.
Criteria
Each of the following is worth 1 point 1:
male gender
anorexia
migratory pain
localized peritonism
elevated CRP >15 mg/L
neutrophilia >7.5x109/L
APPEND refers to the mnemonic:
A...
Article
Retroperitoneal organs (mnemonic)
A useful mnemonic to remember which organs are retroperitoneal is:
SAD PUCKER
Mnemonic
S: suprarenal (adrenal) gland
A: aorta/IVC
D: duodenum (second, third and fourth parts)
P: pancreas (except tail)
U: ureters
C: colon (ascending and descending)
K: kidneys
E: (o)esophagus
R: rectum
Article
Causes of pancreatitis (mnemonic)
A catchy and early learnt mnemonic for recalling some of the causes of pancreatitis is:
I GET SMASHED
Mnemonic
I: idiopathic
G: gallstones, genetic - cystic fibrosis
E: ethanol (alcohol)
T: trauma
S: steroids
M: mumps (and other infections)/malignancy
A: autoimmune
S: scorpion stings/s...
Article
3-6-9 rule (bowel)
The 3-6-9 rule is a simple aide-memoire describing the normal bowel caliber:
small bowel: <3 cm
large bowel: <6 cm
appendix: <6 mm
cecum: <9 cm
Above these dimensions, the bowel is generally considered dilated, and obstruction or an adynamic/paralytic ileus should be considered.
Article
Rule of 2s in Meckel diverticulum
The rule of 2s is a useful mnemonic for the features of Meckel diverticulum, although the figures do have a broad range:
occur in 2% of the population
are 2 inches (5 cm) long
are 2 feet (60 cm) from the ileocecal valve
2/3 have ectopic mucosa
2 types of ectopic tissue are commonly present ...
Article
Abdominal distension (mnemonic)
A mnemonic for causes of abdominal distension (6 Fs) is:
F: fat
F: fluid
F: flatus
F: feces
F: fetus
F: fulminant mass
Article
MEN1 triad (mnemonic)
Mnemonics to remember the classic triad of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) are:
PPP
PiParPanc
ParaPanPit
Mnemonics
PPP
P: pituitary adenoma: prolactinoma is commonest
P: pancreatic endocrine tumors
P: parathyroid proliferative disease
parathyroid hyperplasia (most common)
pa...
Article
Acute pancreatitis severity criteria (mnemonic)
A mnemonic to remember the severity criteria for acute pancreatitis is:
PANCREAS
Mnemonic
P: PAO2 <8 kpA
A: age >55 years
N: neutrophilia (WBC >15 x 109 / L)
C: calcium <2 mmol/L
R: renal (urea >16 mmol/L)
E: enzymes (LDH >600 IU/L and AST >200 IU/L)
A: albumin (serum) <32 g/L
S: sugar...
Article
Abdominal paracentesis contraindications (mnemonic)
A mnemonic to remember the contraindications to abdominal paracentesis is:
CAPSID
Mnemonic
C: coagulopathy (INR >2.0)
A: abdominal wall cellulitis
P: pregnancy
S: surgical abdomen (absolute contraindication) / severe thrombocytopenia (platelet count <50 x 103/μL)
I: intra-abdominal adhes...
Article
Pneumatosis intestinalis (mnemonic)
A helpful mnemonic for remembering the causes of pneumatosis intestinalis is:
ChIPS
Mnemonic
C: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
I: ischemia
P: pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis
S: scleroderma/steroids
Article
Order of structures in the porta hepatis (mnemonic)
A useful mnemonic to help remember the order of structures in the porta hepatis from anterior to posterior is:
DAVE
Mnemonic
D: ducts (right and left hepatic duct branches)
A: arteries (right and left hepatic artery branches)
V: vein (portal vein)
E: epiploic foramen (of Winslow)
Article
Abnormal collection of barium anywhere (mnemonic)
A mnemonic used for abnormal collection of barium anywhere in the body:
FED UP
Mnemonic
F: fistula
E: extravasation
D: diverticulum
U: ulcer
P: perforation
Article
Adynamic ileus (mnemonic)
A mnemonic for the common causes of adynamic ileus is:
5 Ps
Mnemonic
The classic "5 Ps" are:
P: postoperative
P: peritonitis
P: potassium: low (also disturbances of other electrolytes)
P: pelvic and spinal fractures
P: parturition
However, there are a few further Ps that can be included...
Article
High density GI lesions on CT (mnemonic)
There are several mnemonics to remember the causes of high density lesions in the gastrointestinal tract on CT:
CHIPES
COINS
PIG BEACH
Mnemonics
CHIPES
C: chloral hydrate/cocaine packets
H: heavy metals
I: iodinated compounds, e.g. contrast media, iron
P: phenothiazines
E: enteric-coat...
Article
Hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (ultrasound measurements mnemonic)
Hypertrophic pyloric stenosis can be characterized on ultrasound by the measurements of the hypertrophic muscle. Although the criteria can vary from publication to publication, an easy way to keep in mind the values is using a mnemonic which relies upon remembering the first digits of the number...
Article
Bochdalek hernia features (mnemonic)
A helpful mnemonic for remembering the features of a Bochdalek hernia is:
5 Bs
Mnemonic
B: Bochdalek
B: big
B: back and lateral, usually on the left side
B: baby
B: bad (associated with pulmonary hypoplasia)
To remember the side in which a Bochdalek hernia more commonly occurs (and to co...
Article
Skin changes of mercury poisoning (mnemonic)
A mnemonic for the skin changes associated with mercury poisoning is:
5 Ps
Mnemonic
P: pink
P: puffy
P: painful
P: paresthesia
P: peeling
Article
Esophageal mass (mnemonic)
A mnemonic to remember the causes of an esophageal mass is:
CALL the MVP
Mnemonic
C: carcinoma
A: adenoma
L: lymphoma
L: leiomyoma
M: metastasis
V: varices
P: papilloma/polyp
Article
Marginal artery of Drummond and arc of Riolan (mnemonic)
Remembering the colon vascular supply can be confusing because of inconstant collateral vascularization, therefore mnemonics can be helpful.
One way to remember the location of the marginal artery of Drummond is to remember that it runs distally to the root of the mesentery (near the colon).
I...
Article
Generalized colitis (mnemonic)
A mnemonic to remember the causes of generalized colitis is:
I3NR
Mnemonic
I: infectious colitis e.g. E. coli, cytomegalovirus
I: inflammatory, e.g. pseudomembranous colitis, Crohn disease, ulcerative colitis
I: ischemic colitis
N: neoplastic, e.g. lymphoma
R: radiation colitis
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