Miscellaneous Mnemonics

Miscellaneous Mnemonics

Resistor colour codes "Bad Boys Rape 
Our Young Girls But Violet Gives Willingly
- Get Some Now":
· In ascending resistor value order:
Black: 0
Brown: 1
Red: 2
Orange: 3
Yellow: 4
Green: 5
Blue: 6
Violet: 7
Grey: 8
White: 9
Gold: 5%
Silver: 10%
None: 20%

Visible spectrum colors in order ROY G. BIV
· In order from low end of spectrum:
Red
Orange
Yellow
Green
Blue
Indigo
Violet
Alternatively: "Richard Of York Gained Battles
In Vain" (Richard III was an English king defeated in 1485).

Ohm's Law "Virgins Are Rare":
Volts = Amps x Resistance
· Note: can then rearrange to more common form Resistance = Volts / Amps.

Ideal gas law "Pure Virgins Never Really
Tire":
PV=nRT

Electric units "Vaulting John Says: 'Ann
Can Sing OVA'. What Just Sing? And
Vault.":
Volts = Joules/Sec
Amps = Coulombs/Sec
Ohms = Volts/Amp
Watts = Joules/Sec=Amps x Volts

Ideal gas law [for All My Children fans] "Pine Valley
is Not Real Time"
PV=nRt

Work: formula "Lots of Work gets me Mad!":
Work = Mad:
M=Mass
a=acceleration
d=distance

Syncope (fainting) treatment If the face is red,
raise the head.
If the face is pale, raise the tail.

Hospice facets HOSPICE:
Home
Outpatient
Support groups
Pain medication/ Physical needs
Inpatient
Counseling
End-stage (terminal) illness/ Emotional needs

Healthy lifestyle modification DRAINS:
Diet
Reduce weight
Alcohol reduced
Improve circulation (exercise)
No other disease
Smoking stopped

Clinical essay plan "During Exams Please
Say Silently I Must Prepare F***ing 
Well":
Definition
Epidemiology
Pathology
Signs and Symptoms
Investigations
Management
Prognosis
Further Work

Safety factors SETUP:
Stop
Environment
Traffic
Unknown hazards
Protect yourself, patient, bystanders

Admission orders: general ADA VAN DISSEL:
· In order of writing on the hospital admission form:
Admit (to which ward)
Diagnosis
Allergies
Vital signs
Activities
Nursing orders (wind, wound, and water)
Diet
Intravenous
Sedation
Sleep
Elimination
Lab work

Quality of life measurement in patients FIDOH:
Functional status
Impairment
Death/ Duration of life
Opportunity
Health perception
· Functional status: Social function (limitations in usual roles, degree of
social interaction, sexual function); psychological function (affective and
cognitive); physical function.
· Impairment: Symptoms, signs, self reported disease, physiological changes.
· Death/ Duration of life: Mortality, life expectancy, disease adjusted years of
life lost
· Opportunity: How the disease has influenced the patient's ability to
participate in society as well as their psychological resilience
· Health perception: Satisfaction with health; general feeling on a day to day
basis.

Surgery Mnemonics

Surgery Mnemonics

Pancreatitis: treatment MACHINES:
Monitor vital signs
Analgesia/ Antibiotics
Calcium gluconate (if deemed necessary)
H2 receptor antagonist
IV access/ IV fluids
Nil by mouth
Empty gastric contents
Surgery if required/ Senior review

Appendicitis: Alvarado's scoring system for diagnosis 
MANTRELS:
Migratory pain (1)
Anorexia (1)
Nausea (1)
Tenderness (2)
Rebound tenderness (1)
Elevated temperature (1)
Leucocytosis (2)
Shift to left (1)
· Score 3-4 = no appendicitis. Score 5-6 = doubtful. Score 7 or more =
appendicitis is confirmed.

Post operative order list check-up FLAVOR:
Fluids
Laboratories
Activity
Vital signs
Oral allowances
Rx [medications]

Child-Pugh classification "Pour Another Beer
At Eleven":
PT
Albumin
Bilirubin
Ascites
Encephalopathy
·Scoring (each is either 1, 2 or 3 points):
PT (greater than 12 sec.): 1-3 or 4-6 or >6.
Albumin: >3.5 or 2.8-3.5 or less than 2.8
Bilirubin: less than 2 or 2-3 or >3.
Ascities: none or slight or moderate
Encephalopathy: none or 1-2 (subjective) or 3-4 (subjective)
· Interpretation:
Class A: 5-6 points (candidate for surgical liver resection).
Class B: 7-9 points (consider chemoembolization or RFA).
Class C: 10-15 points (consider options in B or no therapy).

Hernias of Abdominal Wall Think of the abdomen as a bucket,
or PAIL that contains the viscera. These are the four groups of hernias:
Pelvic hernias: obturator, perineal, sciatic
Anterior hernias: epigastric, incisional, Spigelian, supravesical,
umbilical
Inguinal hernias: indirect, direct, femoral
Lumbar hernias: inferior lumbar triangle (Petit), superior lumbar
triangle (Grynfelt)

Hernias: abdominal wall: pelvic The end products of
metabolism that are released through the pelvis, are "Pee Or Stool":
Perineal hernia
Obturator hernia
Sciatic hernia

Hernias: abdominal wall: lumbar triangles (with eponyms) 
PIGS:
Petit aka Inferior lumbar triangle
Grynfelt aka Superior lumbar triangle

TPN indications "MISIPPI Burning":
Major visceral injury
IBD
Sepsis
Ileus
Post-op
Paralysis
Intestinal fistula
Burns

Surgical discharge checklist FLAG COUP:
Lucid
Ambulatory
GP letter sent
CVS checked (BP, pulse
Operation site OK
Urinating OK
Prescription

Compartment syndrome: signs and symptoms · 5 P's:
Pain
Palor
P ulseless
Paresethesia
Pressure (increased)

Oesophageal cancer risk factors PC BASTARDS:
Plummer-Vinson syndrome
Coeliac disease
Barrett's
Alcohol
Smoking
Tylosis
Achalasia
Russia (geographical distribution)
Diet
Stricture

Abdominal aortic aneurysm: genetic component AAA (3
A's) is sometimes due to a defect in the gene encoding for type III
procollagen.

Disease description: organization of answer "In A
Surgeon's Gown, Physicians May Make Some
Clinical Progress":
Incidence
Age
Sex
Geography
Predisposing factors
Macroscopic appearance
Microscopic appearance
Spread
Clinical features
Prognosis

Inguinal mass: differential "Hernias Very Much
Like To Swell":
Hernias (inguinal, femoral)
Vascular (femoral aneurysm, sapheno varyx)
Muscle (psoas abscess)
Lymph nodes
Testicle (ectopic, undescended)
Spermatic cord (lipoma, hydrocoele)

Haematocele: etiology 3T's and 2 H's:
Tumor
Torsion
Trauma
Hydrocele as a complication
Haemophilia (blood diseases)

Abdomen: inspection 5 S's:
Size
Shape
Scars
Skin lesions
Stoma

Varicose veins: symptoms AEIOU:
Aching
Eczema
Itching
Oedema
Ulceration/ Ugly (LDS, haemosiderin, varicosities)

Swollen leg: unilateral swelling causes TV BAIL:
Trauma
Venous (varicose veins, DVT, venous insufficiency)
Baker's cyst
Allergy
Inflammation (cellulitis)
Lymphoedema

Ulcers: edge types F PURE:
Flat (eg venous)
Punched-out (eg trophic, arterial)
Undetermined (eg pressure, TB)
Rolled (eg BCC)
Everted (eg SCC)

Post-operative fever causes Six W's:
Wind: pulmonary system is primary source of fever first 48 hours, may
have pneumonia
Wound: infection at surgical site
Water: check IV for phlebitis
Walk: deep venous thrombosis, due to pelvic pooling or restricted
mobility related to pain and fatigue
Whiz: urinary tract infection if urinary catheterization
Wonder drugs: drug-induced fever

Scrotum: scrotum swelling differential THE THEATRES:
Torsion
Hernia
Epididymytis, orchitis
Trauma
Hydrocoele, varicocele, hematoma
Edema
Appendix testes (torsion, hemorrhage)
Tumour
Recurrent leukemia
Epididymal cyst
Syphilis, TB

Post-operative complications (immediate) "Post-op 
PROBS":
Pain
Primary haemorrhage
Reactionary haemorrhage
Oliguria
Basal atelectasis
Shock/ Sepsis

Fistulas: conditions preventing closure FETID:
Foreign body
Epithelialization
Tumor
Infection
Distal obstruction

Oedema causes: generalised "HILARI IS SAVE" (Hilary):
Heart failure
Iatrogenic
Liver causes
Aldosterone increased/ ADH increased
Renal cause
Inadequate protein in blood (hypoalbuminaemia)
· Causes for the inadequate protein in blood are:
Intake Inadequate (Kwashiorkor)
Secretion fro pancreas decreased (pancreatitis)
Synthesis decreased (liver failure)
Absorption decreased (Crohn's disease)
Vomit (pyloric stenosis)
Excretion increased (nephrotic)

Oedema causes: localised ALIVE:
Allergic (angio-oedema)
Lymphatic (elephantiasis)
Inflammatory (infection, injury)
VEnous (DVT, chronic venous insufficiency)

GI bleeding: causes ABCDEFGHI:
Angiodysplasia
Bowel cancer
Colitis
Diverticulitis/ Duodenal ulcer
Epitaxis/ Esophageal (cancer, esophagitis, varices)
Fistula (anal, aortaenteric)
Gastric (cancer, ulcer, gastritis)
Hemorrhoids
Infectious diarrhoea/ IBD/ Ischemic bowel

Melanoma sites "Mel SEA" (Pronounced "Mel C" from the
Spice Girls)
· Melanoma sites, in order of frequency:
Skin
Eyes
Anus

Fistulas: conditions preventing closure FRIEND:
Foreign body
Radiation
Infection/ Inflammation (Crohn)
Epithelialization
Neoplasia
Distal obstruction

Appendicectomy: complications WRAP IF HOT:
Wound infection
Respiratory (atelectasis, pneumonia)
Abscess (pelvic)
Portal pyemia
Ileus (paralytic)
Fecal fistula
Hernia (r. inguinal)
Obstruction (intestinal due to adhesions)
Thrombus (DVT)

Social & Preventive Medicine Mnemonics

Social & Preventive Medicine Mnemonics

Cigarette smoke: major carcinogens PANT:
Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons
Aromatic amines
Nitrosamines
Tar
· Nicotine and Carbon monoxide are Non-Carcinogenic.

Error: type I (alpha) vs. type II (beta) Type I
(Alpha) Error:
"There Is An Effect" where in reality there is none.

Reliability Random Error
REduces
REliability (REproducibility)

Suicide risk factors in order of risk SOARS:
· Top 6 risk factors in order of highest to lowest risk:
Serious previous attempt
Older than 45
Alcohol
Rage history
Sex (male)

Incidence vs. prevalence Incidence: Initiate
Infection In Interval.
Prevalence: Population's Percentage Positive.

Prevention: primary vs. secondary vs. tertiary Primary:
Predisposing factors decreased.
Secondary: Severity decreased.
Tertiary: Therapy, Training.

Recall bias REcall bias is a problem with
REtrospective studies and is based on ability to
REmember.

Hill criteria for causality " 'Clowns Pursuing
Epidemiology' Commonly Behind The Silly Samples":
Consistency
Plausibility
Experimentation
Biological gradient
Coherence
Temporality
Strength of association
Specificity

Informed consent: requirements, exceptions "Sign this DOC
before we can start":
Discussion
Obtain agreement
Coercion-free
· Exceptions to informed consent are WIPE:
Waiver
Incompetent
Privilege (therapeutic privilege)
Emergency

Accuracy of test: sensitivity vs. specificity seNsitivity
of a test: related to the rate of false Negatives.
sPecificity of a test: related to the rate of false Positives.
· Alternatively written:
seNsitive: No Non-Negatives.
sPecific: Puny Psuedo-Positives.

Poisson distribution formula MNEMONIc: M to
the Nth power times E to the Minus nth Over N
factorial
Formula is: ((m^n) * (e^-n) ) / n!
· Note: the factorial (!) at the end is an inverted lowercase letter i.

Pi: value to 31 decimal places "How I want a drink,
alcoholic of course, after the heavy chapters involving quantum mechanics. One
is, yes, adequate even enough to produce some fun and pleasure for an instant,
miserably brief":
The number of letters in each subsequent word of these two sentences give the
value of pi to 3.141592653589793238462643383279
Alternatively: If only want first 6 decimal places, use the sentence "How I wish
I could calculate Pi! "

Suicide risk factors SAD PERSONS:
Sex: male
Age: young, elderly
Depression
Previous suicide attempts
Ethanol and other drugs
Reality testing/ Rational thought (loss of)
Social support lacking
Organized suicide plan
No spouse
Sickness/ Stated future intent

Rheumatology Mnemonics

Rheumatology Mnemonics

Ankylosing spondylitis: extra-articular manifestations 6
A's:
Atlanto-axial subluxation
Anterior uveitis
Apical lung fibrosis
Aortic incompetence
Amyloidosis (kidneys)
Autoimmune bowel disease (UC)

Gout: drugs and foods raising uric acid levels Drugs are 
FACT:
Frusemide
Aspirin/ Alcohol
Cytotoxic drugs
Thiazide diuretics
Foods are SALTS:
Shellfish
Anchovies
Liver and kidney
Turkey
Sardines

Joint pain causes SOFTER TISSUE:
Sepsis
Osteoarthritis
Fractures
Tendon/muscle
Epiphyseal
Referred
Tumor
Ischaemia
Seropositive arthritides
Seronegative arthritides
Urate
Extra-articular rheumatism (such as polymylagia)

SLE (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) diagnosis "MD SOAP 'N
HAIR":
Malar rash
Discoid rash
Serositis
Oral ulcer
Arthritis
Photosensitivity
Neurologic abnormality
Hematologic abnormality
ANA (+)
Immunologic abnormality
Renal involvement

Asthma: treatment ASTHMA:
Adrenergics
Steroids
Theophylline
Hydration
Mask [O2 at 24%]
Antibiotics

Osteoporosis risk factors ACCESS:
Alcohol
Corticosteroid
Calcium low
Estrogen low
Smoking
Sedentary lifestyle

SLE (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) diagnosis (ARA criteria)
DAMP AS RHINO:
Discoid rash
ANA (+)
Malar rash
Photosensitivity
Arthritis
Serositis (pleural, pericardial)
Renal involvement
Hematologic abnormality
Immunologic abnormality
Neurologic abnormality (seizures, psychosis)
Oral / nasal ulcer, Observed

Henoch schonlein purpura: signs and symptoms NAPA:
Nephritis
Arthritis, arthralgias
Purpura, palpable (especially on buttocks and lower extremities)
Abdominal pain (need to rule out intussusception)

Arthritis: juvenile idiopathic: differential ARTHRITIS:
Anxiety
Rickets and metabolic
Tumor
Hematological
Reactive arthritis
Immunological (SLE)
Trauma
Injury
Sepsis

Felty's syndrome: components SANTA:
Splenomegaly
Anaemia
Neutropenia
Thrombocytopenia
Arthritis (rheumatoid)

Carpal tunnel syndrome TINel's sign:
TINgling sensation after
Tapping on
Traumatized nerve in carpal
Tunnel syndrome

Arthritis: seronegative spondyloarthropathies PEAR:
Psoriatic arthritis
Enteropathic arthritis
Ankylosing sponylitis
Reiter's/ Reactive

Radiology Mnemonics

Radiology Mnemonics

Chest X-ray interpretation · Preliminary is ABCDEF:
AP or PA
Body position
Confirm name
Date
Exposure
Films for comparison
· Analysis is ABCDEF:
Airways (hilar adenopathy or enlargement)
Breast shadows/ Bones (rib fractures, lytic bone lesions)
Cardiac silhoutte (cardiac enlargement)/ Costophrenic angles
(pleural effusions)
Diaphragm (evidence of free air)/ Digestive tract
Edges (apices for fibrosis, pneumothorax, pleural thickening or plaques)/
Extrathoracic tissues
Fields (evidence of alveolar filling)/ Failure (alveolar air space
disease with prominent vascularity with or without pleural effusions)

Chest X-ray: cavitating lesions differential "If you see 
HOLES on chest X-ray, they are WEIRD":
Wegener's syndrome
Embolic (pulmonary, septic)
Infection (anaerobes, pneumocystis, TB)
Rheumatoid (necrobiotic nodules)
Developmental cysts (sequestration)
Histiocytosis
Oncological
Lymphangioleiomyomatosis
Environmental, occupational
Sarcoid
· Alternatively: L=Left atrial myxoma

T2 vs. T1 MRI scan "WW 2" (World War II):
· Water is White in a T2 scan.
· Conversely, a T1 scan shows fat as being whiter.

Elbow ossification centers, in sequence CRITOE:
Capitellum
Radial head
Internal epicondyle
Trochlea
Olecranon
External epicondyle
· In order: appear at 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11
years; each closes 2 years later.

Chest radiograph: checklist to examine ABCDEFGHI:
Aorta
Bronchus
Cord, spinal
Diaphragm (look for hyperinflation)
Eosphagus (look for foreign body)
Fracture (ribs)
Gas (look for pneumothorax)
Heart (look for cardiomegaly)
Iatrogenic (subclavian line, pacemakers)

Osteoarthritis: x-ray signs LOSS:
Loss of joint space
Osteopyhtes
Subcondral sclerosis
Subchondral cysts

MR imaging/ spectroscopy: important metabolites "Lying
Lazy No Good Crooks Collected My insurance":
Lipid: abnormal
Lactate: abnormal
NAA
Glutamine/glutamate
Creatinine/phosphocreatinine
Choline containing compounds
Myoinositol

Chest x-ray: differential diagnoses of shadow on the upper zones of
lung fields 5 Ts:
Thymoma
Thyroid (retrosternal)
Tuberculosis
Terrible lymphoma
Teratoma

Neck sagittal x-ray: examination checklist ABCD:
Anterior: look for swelling
Bones: examine each bone for fractures
Cartilage: look for slipped discs
Dark spots: ensure not abnormally big, or could mean excess blood

Head CT scan: evaluation checklist "Blood Can
Be Very Bad":
Blood
Cistern
Brain
Ventricles
Bone

Anterior mediastinal masses 4 T's:
Teratoma
Thymoma
Testicular-type
T-cell / Hodgkin's lymphoma

Chest radiograph: checklist to examine "Pamela Found
Our Rotation Particularly Exciting; Very Highly
Commended Mainly 'Cus She Arouses":
Patient details
Film details
Objects (eg. lines, electrodes)
Rotation
Penetration
Expansion
Vessels
Hila
Costophrenic angles
Mediastinum
Cardiothoracic Ratio
Soft tissues and bones
Air (diaphragm, pneumothorax, subcut. emphysema)

Upper/apical lobe infiltration/shadowing/fibrosis: causes 
BREASTS:
Beryllium
Radiation
Extrinsic allergic alveolitis
Ankylosing spondylitis/ Aspergillus
Sarcoidosis
TB
Siliconiosis