Arab Board EM Part 1 flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Defibrillation energy for VF

Biphasic 120-200 J (or monophasic 360 J) for ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia; resume CPR immediately after shock for 2 minutes.

Epinephrine dose in cardiac arrest

1 mg IV/IO every 3-5 minutes for asystole, PEA, and after defibrillation attempts in VF/pulseless VT.

Door-to-balloon time

Target time from hospital arrival to primary PCI in STEMI is less than 90 minutes at a PCI-capable center.

Tension pneumothorax treatment

Immediate needle decompression without waiting for imaging, followed by tube thoracostomy; signs include hypotension, distended neck veins, and absent breath sounds.

CURB-65 components

Confusion, Urea >7 mmol/L, Respiratory rate ≥30/min, Blood pressure <90/60 mmHg, Age ≥65 years; each scores 1 point.

ARDS Berlin PaO2/FiO2 criteria

Mild 200-300, moderate 100-200, severe <100 mmHg with PEEP ≥5 cmH2O; onset within 1 week and bilateral opacities not fully explained by heart failure.

Stroke thrombolysis window

Intravenous alteplase within 4.5 hours of symptom onset for eligible acute ischemic stroke; mechanical thrombectomy up to 24 hours in selected large-vessel occlusion.

Status epilepticus first-line

Benzodiazepine (lorazepam 0.1 mg/kg IV or midazolam 10 mg IM) as initial therapy, followed by second-line antiepileptic if seizures persist.

Serotonin syndrome triad

Altered mental status, autonomic instability, and neuromuscular hyperactivity (clonus, hyperreflexia); stop serotonergic drugs and give benzodiazepines.

SBP diagnostic threshold

Ascitic fluid polymorphonuclear cell count ≥250/µL diagnoses spontaneous bacterial peritonitis; treat with cephalosporin and albumin.

KDIGO AKI creatinine criterion

Increase in serum creatinine ≥0.3 mg/dL within 48 hours or ≥1.5 times baseline within 7 days, or urine output <0.5 mL/kg/h for 6 hours.

Hyperkalemia with ECG changes

Give IV calcium gluconate first for membrane stabilization, then insulin/glucose and beta-agonist; dialysis for refractory cases.

ATLS primary survey sequence

Airway with cervical spine protection, Breathing, Circulation with hemorrhage control, Disability, Exposure/Environment.

Massive transfusion ratio

1:1:1 ratio of packed red blood cells, plasma, and platelets; add tranexamic acid 1 g within 3 hours of injury.

Compartment syndrome pressure threshold

Intracompartmental pressure >30 mmHg or within 30 mmHg of diastolic pressure indicates need for urgent fasciotomy.

Acetaminophen antidote

N-acetylcysteine, most effective within 8 hours of ingestion; use Rumack-Matthew nomogram at 4 hours to assess risk.

TCA overdose treatment

Sodium bicarbonate for QRS >100 ms or ventricular arrhythmia; avoid class IA and IC antiarrhythmics.

Organophosphate poisoning antidote

Atropine titrated until secretions dry, plus pralidoxime early; syndrome includes SLUDGE and DUMBELS.

Pediatric defibrillation energy

2 J/kg for first shock and 4 J/kg for subsequent shocks in pediatric cardiac arrest.

Croup treatment

Dexamethasone 0.15-0.6 mg/kg and nebulized epinephrine for moderate to severe croup; barking cough and stridor are typical.

Kawasaki disease treatment

IVIG 2 g/kg and aspirin; diagnosis requires fever ≥5 days plus 4 of 5 clinical criteria.

Ectopic pregnancy methotrexate criteria

Hemodynamically stable, unruptured mass <4 cm, no fetal cardiac activity, and hCG <5000 mIU/mL; unstable patients need surgery.

Magnesium sulfate toxicity antidote

Calcium gluconate 1 g IV; signs include loss of deep tendon reflexes, respiratory depression, and cardiac arrest.

Postpartum hemorrhage first-line

Uterine massage and oxytocin; then methylergonovine, carboprost, misoprostol, and tranexamic acid if bleeding persists.

DKA insulin and potassium

Start insulin infusion 0.1 U/kg/h after initial bolus; replace potassium when K <5.2 mEq/L; add dextrose when glucose <200-250 mg/dL.

Adrenal crisis treatment

Hydrocortisone 100 mg IV immediately, plus IV fluids; suspect with hypotension unresponsive to fluids, hyponatremia, and hyperkalemia.

Thyroid storm treatment

Beta-blocker, thionamide (PTU), iodine load after thionamide, and glucocorticoid; use Burch-Wartofsky score for diagnosis.

Sepsis-3 definition

Suspected infection plus SOFA score increase ≥2; septic shock requires vasopressors for MAP ≥65 mmHg and lactate >2 mmol/L despite fluids.

Sepsis antibiotic timing

Broad-spectrum antibiotics within 1 hour for septic shock; obtain blood cultures before antibiotics without delaying therapy.

Necrotizing fasciitis treatment

Immediate surgical debridement plus broad-spectrum antibiotics including clindamycin; pain out of proportion and systemic toxicity are clues.

FAST exam windows

Pericardial, perihepatic, perisplenic, and pelvic views; repeat examination increases sensitivity for free fluid.

Thoracentesis safe limit

Drain no more than 1-1.5 L to prevent reexpansion pulmonary edema; enter superior to the rib to avoid intercostal vessels.