Author Archives: ovmcwp

AM Report: Rhabdomyolysis

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Thanks to Caleb Hsieh for an excellent morning report!

Learning Points:
-Common causes of rhabdomyolysis include muscle trauma or crush injury, extreme exertion, drugs and toxins.
-The mainstay of treatment of AKI due to rhabdomyolysis is aggressive fluid resuscitation and correction of electrolyte abnormalities.
Rhabdo Review Article: An excellent review of epidemiology, pathophysiology, and treatment of rhabdo.

AM Report: Atrial fibrillation

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Thanks to Nayiri for a great final AM report on atrial fibrillation!

Learning points:
– Etiology of atrial fib = PIRATES (Pulm, Ischemic, Rheumatic heart, Anemia/Atrial myxoma, Thyroid, Ethanol, Sepsis)
– Diamond-Forrester definition of typical angina = (1) substernal, (2) onset w/ exertion or emotional stress, (3) relieved w/ rest or nitrate
AFFIRM (2002): rate control had equivalent outcomes to rhythm control w/ less adverse events
RACE II (2010): lenient rate control (HR<110 at rest) as effective as strict (HR<80 at rest)

AM Report: Anti-Synthetase Syndrome

Anti-Synthetase Syndrome: Mechanic Hands and Interstitial Pneumonitis

Thanks to Jason Bahk for a great presentation today!

Today’s learning points:
– Anti-synthetase syndrome: +Anti-synthetase Ab, ILD, inflammatory myopathy, inflammatory polyarthritis
– On exam: fever, “Mechanics’ hands’, non-erosive arthritis, myopathy
– Multiple cardiac manifestations: conduction, CHF, perimyocarditis
– Ddx for rhabdo causes include trauma, overexertion, metabolic, drug/toxin, inflammatory myopathies
NEJM review on Inflammatory Muscle Diseases

Acute limb ischemia

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Learning Points:
• Acute limb ischemia is a sudden decrease in limb perfusion that threatens limb viability
• Etiology includes acute thrombosis, embolism from the heart, atherosclerosis, trauma and many more
• Assess the 6P’s: Pain, Pallor, Pulselessness, Parasthesia, Poikilothermia and Paralysis
• PROMPT diagnosis is necessary in an effort to salvage the limb
• Treatment options include anti-coagulation, endovascular revascularization vs surgical revascularization
• For more information, check out this article from NEJM.

AM report: Autoimmune hepatitis

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Learning points

1) Keep autoimmune hepatitis on your differential for a patient presenting with jaundice and hepatitis.
2) There is a wide spectrum of presentations, from mild asymptomatic AST/ALT elevations to fulminant liver failure.
3) Autoimmune hepatitis is a type of chronic hepatitis, more commonly seen in women of any age, but dx is most commonly in the 40-50 age range.
4) Antibodies commonly associated with the dx: ANA, Anti-Smooth Muscle, Anti-Mitochondrial, Anti-SLA/LP (soluble liver antibody/liver pancreas), and elevated IgG levels.
5) Treatment = Prednisone +/- Azathioprine

AM Report: Constrictive Pericarditis

Learning points:
1. Kussmaul’s sign refers to a jugular venous pulsation that rises with inspiration and is due to the constriction of pericardium

2. Ventricular interdependence is the classic echo finding of constrictive pericarditis where the volume in the left heart is dependent on the volume in the right heart

3. Constrictive cardiomyopathy often has both systolic and diastolic dysfunction with normal BNP while restrictive cardiomyopathy is pure diastolic dysfunction and elevation of BNP.

4. Click below for a great review from NEJM:

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Time-Sensitive Reminders!

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Step 3: Interns, you’re over halfway through intern year, but that also means you need to complete and PASS the USMLE Step 3 before July.  It is a program requirement to pass before advancing to R2 year.  If you have not yet taken or passed Step 3, please let the chiefs know now!

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CA Medical License: You must have your California Medical Board license before you start R3 year (or else you will be delayed – that’s a state rule)!! R2’s should have their license or your application in process right now.  If not, please alert the chiefs now and search your inbox for “shameless bolus.”

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Job Search: Graduating in June? Now is the time to start thinking about and applying for jobs. The chiefs and program directors are here to guide you and get you connected.  Please get in contact with us and think about what kind of career you see yourself in.

ABIM: Register now and choose your test date of choice.  There are only six exam dates coming up in August 2015 for the medical board exam.  Search your inbox for details. Regular registration closes February 15, 2015.

PGY-2’s: Start applying your CA License!

Save the Date: Afternoon of Wednesday, October 8, 2014
We will be having a Licensing Fair for all residents ready to apply for their California license (that means you PGY-‘s).  Come with your applications (complete or incomplete) and questions even if you’ve already submitted your application.  We will work on providing notary services!

To get started on your application, visit the Medical Board of California online.

And search your email inbox for “shameless bolus of useful information” for more details & tips.