This is a list of mnemonics used in medicine and medical science, categorized and alphabetized. A mnemonic is any technique that assists the human memory with information retention or retrieval by making abstract or impersonal information more accessible and meaningful, and therefore easier to remember; many of them are acronyms or initialisms which reduce a lengthy set of terms to a single, easy-to-remember word or phrase.
Mnemonics with wikipages
ABC — airway, breathing, and circulation AEIOU-TIPS — causes of altered mental status APGAR — a backronym for appearance, pulse, grimace, activity, respiration (used to assess newborn babies) ASHICE — age, sex, history, injuries/illness, condition, ETA/extra information FAST — face, arms, speech, time (stroke symptoms) Hs and Ts — causes of cardiac arrest IS PATH WARM? — suicide risk factors OPQRST — onset, provocation, quality, region, severity, time (symptom checklist often used by first responders) RICE — rest, ice, compression, elevation (generic treatment strategy for sprains and bruises) RNCHAMPS — types of shock RPM-30-2-Can Do — START triage criteria SOCRATES — used to evaluate characteristics of pain SOAP – a technique for writing medical records SLUDGE — salivation, lacrimation, urination, defecation, gastric upset, and emesis (effects of nerve agent or organophosphate poisoning)
Anatomy
Anaesthesiology Anaesthesia machine/room check MS MAID:
Monitors (EKG, SpO2, EtCO2, etc.) Suction Machine check (according to ASA guidelines) Airway equipment (ETT, laryngoscope, oral/nasal airway) IV equipment Drugs (emergency, inductions, NMBs, etc.)
Endotracheal intubation: diagnosis of poor bilateral breath sounds after intubation DOPE:
Displaced (usually right mainstem, pyriform fossa, etc.) Obstruction (kinked or bitten tube, mucous plug, etc.) Pneumothorax (collapsed lung) Esophagus
General anaesthesia: equipment check prior to inducing MALES:
Masks Airways Laryngoscopes Endotracheal tubes Suction/Stylette, bougie
Spinal anaesthesia agents "Little Boys Prefer Toys":
Lidocaine Bupivacaine Procaine Tetracaine
Xylocaine: where not to use with epinephrine "Ears, nose, hose, fingers, and toes" The vasoconstrictive effects of xylocaine with epinephrine are helpful in providing hemostasis while suturing; however, they may also cause local ischemic necrosis in distal structures such as the digits, tip of nose, penis, ears, etc. "Digital PEN" – digits, penis, ear, nose
Behavioral science/psychology Depression: major episode characteristics SPACE DIGS:
Sleep disruption Psychomotor retardation Appetite change Concentration loss Energy loss Depressed mood Interest wanes Guilt Suicidal tendencies
Depression: DSM-V criteria for major depressive disorder "SIG E CAPS":
Sleep disturbances Interest decreased (anhedonia) Guilt and/or feelings of worthlessness Energy decreased Concentration problems Appetite/weight changes Psychomotor agitation or retardation Suicidal ideation
Gain: primary vs. secondary vs. tertiary Primary: patient's psyche improved Secondary: symptom sympathy for patient Tertiary: therapist's gain
Kubler-Ross dying process: stages "Death always brings great acceptance":
Denial Anger Bargaining Grieving Acceptance
Middle adolescence (14–17 years): characteristics HERO:
Heterosexual/Homosexual crushes Education regarding short-term benefits Risk-taking Omnipotence
Narcolepsy: symptoms, epidemiology CHAP:
Cataplexy Hallucinations Attacks of sleep Paralysis on waking Usual presentation is a young male, hence "chap"
Suicide: risk screening SAD PERSONS scale:
Sex (male – completion, female – attempt) Age (adolescent or elderly) Depression Previous attempt Ethanol abuse Rational thinking loss Social support problems Organised plan No spouse Sickness (chronic illness)
Sleep stages: features Delta waves during Deepest sleep (stages 3 and 4, slow-wave)
dREaM during REM sleep
Impotence causes PLANE:
Psychogenic: performance anxiety Libido: decreased with androgen deficiency, drugs Autonomic neuropathy: impede blood flow redirection Nitric oxide deficiency: impaired synthesis, decreased blood pressure Erectile reserve: cannot maintain an erection
Male erectile dysfunction (MED): biological causes MED:
Medicines (propranolol, methyldopa, SSRIs, etc.) Ethanol Diabetes mellitus
Premature ejaculation: treatment 2 S's:
SSRIs Squeezing technique (glans pressure before climax)
More detail with 2 more S's:
Sensate-focus exercises (relieves anxiety) Stop and start method (5–6 rehearsals of stopping stimulation before climax)
Biochemistry B vitamin names "The rhythm nearly proved contagious":
In increasing order:
Thiamine (vitamin B1, also spelled thiamin) Riboflavin (vitamin B2) Niacin (vitamin B3, also called nicotinic acid) Pyridoxine (vitamin B6) Cobalamin (vitamin B12)
Essential amino acids "TIM HALL PVT. (Ltd.) always argue and never (get) tire":
Phe – phenylalanine Val – valine Thr – threonine Trp – tryptophan Ile – isoleucine Met – methionine His – histidine Arg – arginine Leu – leucine Lys – lysine Always argue: A is for Arg (Arginine) not Asp (Aspartic acid). 'Never tire': T is not Tyr (Tyrosine), but is both Thr (Theronine) and Trp (Tryptophan). †Note that this initialism uses single letters for each amino acid that are not the same as the standard single-letter codes commonly used in molecular biology to uniquely specify each amino acid; for example, though phenylalanine is represented here by the letter "P", it is formally represented by the letter "F" in most other contexts, and "P" is instead used to formally represent proline.
Fasting state: branched-chain amino acids used by skeletal muscles "Muscles LIVe fast":
Leucine Isoleucine Valine
Fat-soluble vitamins "The fat (fat-soluble vitamins) cat lives in the ADEK (vitamins A, D, E, and K) Or as fat soluble - ADEK = "All Dads Eat Kids" ."
Folate deficiency: causes A FOLIC DROP:
Alcoholism Folic acid antagonists Oral contraceptives Low dietary intake Infection with Giardia Celiac sprue Dilantin Relative folate deficiency Old Pregnant
Glycogen storage: Anderson's (IV) vs. Cori's (III) enzyme defect ABCD:
Anderson's = Branching enzyme Cori's = Debranching enzyme Otherwise, cannot really distinguish clinically.
Glycogen storage: names of types I through VI "Viagra pills cause a major hardon tendency":
Von Gierke's Pompe's Cori's Anderson's McArdle's Her's Tarui's
Enzyme classes
"'On The Hill, LIL' Transformers": 1 - Oxidoreductases 2 - Transferases 3 - Hydrolases 4 - Lyases 5 - Isomerases 6 - Ligases 7 - Translocases
Cardiology
Critical care / intensive care
Daily patient checks: FAST-HUGS FAST-HUGS is a mnemonic in critical care to ensure that essential aspects of patient management are reviewed daily.
F — Feeding (nutritional support) A — Analgesia (pain control) S — Sedation (appropriate sedation levels) T — Thromboprophylaxis (prevention of venous thromboembolism) H — Head up (elevate the head of bed to reduce aspiration risk) U — Ulcer prophylaxis (prevent stress-related mucosal damage) G — Glucose control (maintain adequate blood glucose levels) S — Spontaneous breathing trial (assess readiness for ventilator weaning)
Vital signs: THROB-C THROB-C is a mnemonic for vital signs in intensive care:
T — Temperature H — Heart rate R — Respiratory rate O — Oxygen saturation B — Blood pressure C — Consciousness
Emergency medicine Acute LVF management LMNOP:
Lasix (furosemide) Morphine (diamorphine) Nitrates Oxygen (sit patient up) Pulmonary ventilation (if doing badly)
Atrial fibrillation: causes of new onset THE ATRIAL FIBS:
Thyroid Hypothermia Embolism (P.E.) Alcohol Trauma (cardiac contusion) Recent surgery (post CABG) Ischemia Atrial enlargement Lone or idiopathic Fever, anemia, high-output states Infarct Bad valves (mitral stenosis) Stimulants (cocaine, theo, amphet, caffeine)
Well's criteria Secret little TIP (about) blood clots:
Signs/symptoms of PE (3)
PE is the most likely diagnosis (3)
Tachycardia >100bpm (1.5)
Iimmobilisation/surgery in the last 4 weeks (1.5)
Previous DVT/PE
Blood in sputum (haemoptysis) (1)
Active cancer (1)
Two tier score: PE likely > 4
Causes of life-threatening chest pain PET-MAC
P = Pulmonary embolism E = Esophageal rupture T = Tension pneumothorax M = Myocardial infarction A = Aortic dissection C = Cardiac tamponade
GCS intubation Under 8, intubate.
Ipecac: contraindications 4 C's:
Comatose Convulsing Corrosive hydrocarbon
JVP: raised JVP differential PQRST(EKG waves):
Pericardial effusion Quantity of fluid raised (fluid over load) Right heart failure Superior vena caval obstruction Tricuspid stenosis/tricuspid regurgitation/tamponade (cardiac)
MI: immediate treatment DOGASH:
Diamorphine Oxygen GTN spray Aspirin 300 mg Streptokinase Heparin
PEA/asystole (ACLS): cause ITCHPAD
Infarction
Tension pneumothorax
Cardiac tamponade
Hypovolemia/hypothermia/hypo-,hyperkalemia/hypomagnesmia/hypoxemia
Pulmonary embolism
Acidosis
Drug overdose
Rapid sequence intubation (RSI) SOAP ME
Suction
Oxygen
Airway equipment
Positioning
Monitoring & medications
EtCO2 & other equipment
Rapid sequence intubation medications (RSI) (CCRx)
Very calmly engage the respiratory system
Vecuronium 0.1 mg/kgDrug Information Handbook 19th edition 2010-2011
Cisatracurium 0.2 mg/kg
Etomidate 0.3 mg/kg
Rocuronium 0.6 mg/kg-1.2 mg/kg
Succinylcholine 1 mg/kg
Shock: signs and symptoms TV SPARC CUBE:
Thirst
Vomitting
Sweating
Pulse weak
Anxious
Respirations shallow/rapid
Cool
Cyanotic
Unconscious
BP low
Eyes blank
Shock: types RN CHAMPS (Alternatively: "MR. C.H. SNAP", or "NH CRAMPS"):
Respiratory
Neurogenic
Cardiogenic
Hemorrhagic
Anaphylactic
Metabolic
Psychogenic
Septic
Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) causes BATS:
Berry aneurysm
Arteriovenous malformation/adult polycystic kidney disease
Trauma
Stroke
Syncope causes, by system HEAD HEART VESSELS:
CNS causes include HEAD:
Hypoxia/hypoglycemia
Epilepsy
Anxiety
Dysfunctional brain stem (basivertebral TIA)
Cardiac causes are HEART:
Heart attack
Embolism (PE)
Aortic obstruction (IHSS, AS or myxoma)
Rhythm disturbance, ventricular
Tachycardia
Vascular causes are VESSELS:
Vasovagal
Ectopic (reminds one of hypovolemia)
Situational
Subclavian steal
ENT (glossopharyngeal neuralgia)
Low systemic vascular resistance (Addison's, diabetic vascular neuropathy)
Sensitive carotid sinus
Tension pneumothorax: signs and symptoms P-THORAX
Pleuritic pain
Tracheal deviation
Hyperresonance
Onset sudden
Reduced breath sounds (and dyspnea)
Absent fremitus
X-ray shows collapse
TWEED SASH Non-pharmacological analgesia. +Non-Pharmacological Analgesic StrategiesPsychological InterventionsTTherapeutic Touch (e.g. hand-holding)WWarn about painful interventionsEExplain what is, or is about to, happenEEye contactDDefend (patient) dignityPhysical InterventionsSStabilise fracturesAApply dressings to cover burnsSSoft surface (avoid rigid spinal boards or stretchers)HHypothermia avoidance
Ventricular fibrillation: treatment Shock, shock, shock, everybody shock, little shock, big shock, momma shock, poppa shock:
Shock= Defibrillate
Everybody= Epinephrine
Little= Lidocaine
Big= Bretylium
Momma= MgSO4
Poppa= Procainamide
Causes of fracture non-union SPLINT
Soft tissue interposition Position of reduction Location of fracture Infection Nutritional (damaged vessel/ diseased bone) Tumour (pathological fracture)
Classical signs of acute compartment syndrome The 6 P's of comPartment syndrome:
Pain. Paresthesia. Poikilothermia. Pallor. Paralysis. Pulselessness.
Endocrine Diabetes complications KNIVES:
Kidney – nephropathy
Neuromuscular – peripheral neuropathy, mononeuritis, amyotrophy
Infective – UTIs, TB