Ace Your General Surgery Classes and Exams with Picmonic: #1 Visual Mnemonic Study Tool for Physician Assistant (PA) Students
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General Surgery | Physician Assistant (PA) School Study Aid
History & Physical Exam Skills
15 Picmonics to Learn | 23 mins
Acute Abdomen Differential Diagnosis: Lower Quadrants
- Right Lower Quadrant
- Appendicitis
- Salpingitis
- Left Lower Quadrant
- Sigmoid Volvulus
- Sigmoid Diverticulitis
- Lower Quadrant (Both/Either)
- Ectopic Pregnancy
- Ovarian Torsion
- Renal Calculi
- Pyelonephritis
2 mins
Acute Abdomen Differential Diagnosis: Midepigastrium and Diffuse
- Midepigastrium
- Peptic Ulcer Disease
- Pancreatitis
- Aortic Dissection
- Myocardial Infarction
- Any Place
- Peritonitis
- Hemorrhage or Perforation
- Bowel Obstruction
- Strangulation
- Acute Hepatitis
2 mins
Acute Abdomen Differential Diagnosis: Upper Quadrants
- Right Upper Quadrant
- Cholecystitis
- Biliary Colic
- Cholangitis
- Perforated Duodenal Ulcer
- Acute Hepatitis
- Left Upper Quadrant
- Splenic Rupture
- IBS (Splenic Flexure Syndrome)
2 mins
WBC Differential Lab Value
- White Blood Cells (WBC)
- 5-10 (5,000-10,000)
- Leukocyte Differential
- Neutrophils (50%-70%)
- Bands (2%-5%)
- Segs (50%-70%)
- Lymphocytes (20%-40%)
- Monocytes (4%-8%)
- Eosinophils (2%-4%)
- Basophils (0.5%-1.5%)
2 mins
Casts in Urine (Differential Diagnosis)
- Characteristics
- RBC Casts
- Glomerular Disease
- WBC Casts
- Acute Interstitial Nephritis
- Acute Pyelonephritis
- Fatty Casts
- Maltese Cross Sign
- Nephrotic Syndrome
- Granular Muddy Brown Casts
- Acute Tubular Necrosis (ATN)
- Waxy Casts
- End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) (Chronic Renal Failure)
- Hyaline Casts
- Non-Specific
2 mins
Sepsis Assessment
- Signs and Symptoms
- Systemic Infectious Process
- Fever
- Hypotension
- Change in LOC
- Increased WBC
- Shift to the Left
- Tachycardia
- Tachypnea
- Hyperglycemia
- Edema
2 mins
Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock Assessment
- Microthrombi
- DIC
- Decreased Oxygen Saturation
- Decreased WBC
- Oliguria
- High Output Heart Failure
- Multiple Organ Failure
2 mins
Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC)
- Pathophysiology
- Bleeding State
- Activation of Clotting Factors
- Deficiency of Clotting Factors
- Causes
- Sepsis
- Trauma
- Obstetric Complications
- Acute Pancreatitis
- Malignancy
- Nephrotic Syndrome
- Transfusion
2 mins
Motor Neuron Signs UMN and LMN
- Upper Motor Neuron (Increases)
- Increased DTRs
- Positive Babinski
- Spastic Paralysis
- Clasp-Knife Reaction
- Lower Motor Neuron (Decreases)
- Decreased DTRs
- Negative Babinski
- Flaccid Paralysis
- Muscle Atrophy
- Fasciculations
2 mins
Glasgow Coma Scale
- LOC Assessment
- Score of 3 to 15
- 8 or Less = Coma
- Eye Opening
- Verbal Response
- Motor Response
1 min
Lung Sounds - Wheezes
- Location
- Throughout Lung
- Description
- High Pitched
- Sounds Like
- Musical
- Cause
- Air Moving through Narrowed Airways
38 secs
Lung Sounds - Crackles
- Location
- Lower Lobes
- Description
- Fine/Coarse
- Sounds Like
- Fine: Twisting Hair through Fingers
- Coarse: Velcro
- Cause
- Collapsed Small Airways and Alveoli "Popping Open"
1 min
Lung Sounds - Rhonchi
- Location
- Trachea and Bronchi
- Description
- Low Pitched Rumbling
- Sounds Like
- Gurgling
- Cause
- Narrowed Airway
- Secretions or Bronchospasm
49 secs
Neurovascular Assessment 6 P's
- Pain
- Paresthesia
- Pulse
- Pallor
- Pressure
- Paralysis
1 min
Lung Sounds - Pleural Friction Rub
- Location
- Anterior Lateral Lung
- Description
- Dry, Rubbing, or Squeaking
- Sounds Like
- Rubbing a Balloon with Finger
- Cause
- Inflamed Pleura
50 secs
Ace Your Physician Assistant (PA) Classes & Exams with Picmonic:
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