Study group discussion: Red cell Distribution Width (RDW)

Let's discuss Red cell Distribution Width (RDW) today!

RDW represents variation in RBC size.

If the RDW is large, it says that the cells are different in sizes.

Analogy: If RDW is large, we know the RBCs are all unity in diversity. Like India :P

What's the clinical significance?

Study group discussion: Different sized spherocytes

The difference in size of spherocytes has significance. It is assessed manually, on peripheral smear examination.

What's the importance of assessing size difference of spherocytes?

Wilsons disease mnemonic

So this bed time story was told to me by my granma in 2000 (who can see the future and knows who the POTUS will be in 2016 :P)
Its a story about a guy who uses a "WILSON's" racquet to play tennis. And you all probably know this legend right?

CT appearance of subdural and epidural hematoma mnemonic

Hello!

Subdural is crescent or semilunar shaped.

Epidural is biconvex lens shaped.

Phimosis and paraphimosis mnemonic

What is phimosis and paraphimosis?

Phimosis is constriction of the preputial orifice. In phimosis, the foreskin can not be retracted.

In paraphimosis, the foreskin can not be reduced back on the glans. It may cause a painful glans swelling going on to proceed to a gangrene. 

I always mix up the two, so mnemonic!

Another mnemonic - Call Paramedics if paraphimosis because it's a surgical emergency. 

This one was submitted by SG on our study group, "PAra is PAinful." 

That's all!
-IkaN

Step 2 CK: Management of liver laceration

Hello!

Say you have a hemodynamically unstable patient with a gunshot wound or blunt trauma to the RUQ.
Why shouldn't you simply suture and close deep liver lacerations?

Because of the risk of hemobilia and abscess formation.

Here's what a surgeon must do:

Polyarteritis nodosa mnemonic

Heyy!

Polyarteritis nodosa is a necrotizing vaculitis of small and medium sized muscular arteries.

Immune cells and brain development

Hello!

Do you know about microglia? OK think and tell..

Neurogenic claudication

Hey!

Did you know there is something called as neurogenic claudication?

Behcet's syndrome mnemonic

Hey guys! 

So I wanted to write something about Behcets and created a lame mnemonic for it.

Let's start :D

Anakinra mnemonic

Hello!

Anakinra is an IL-1 receptor antagonist used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Types of arthritis

Causes of polyarticular symmetric arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis
Systemic lupus erythematosus
Viral arthritis (Hepatitis, parvovirus EBV)

Causes of monoarticular arthritis

Antiphospholipid Syndrome mnemonic

Hello!

Lemme tell you about APLA today :)

It is an autoantibody-mediated acquired thrombophilia characterized by recurrent arterial or venous

thrombosis and/or pregnancy morbidity.