e-UKCG flashcards

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

Glasgow-Blatchford score

A pre-endoscopy risk score for upper GI bleeding using urea, haemoglobin, systolic BP, pulse, melaena, syncope and comorbidity; a score of 0-1 identifies patients suitable for outpatient care.

qSOFA criteria

Respiratory rate ≥22/min, altered mentation, and systolic BP ≤100 mmHg; two or more criteria in suspected infection flag high risk of poor outcome in sepsis.

CURB-65

Pneumonia severity score: confusion, urea >7 mmol/L, respiratory rate ≥30, low systolic or diastolic BP, and age ≥65; guides site of care and admission.

Parkland formula

Burn resuscitation formula: 4 mL/kg body weight per percent total body surface area burned over 24 hours, with half given in the first 8 hours from injury.

Rule of nines

Estimates burn surface area in adults: head 9%, each arm 9%, each leg 18%, anterior trunk 18%, posterior trunk 18%, perineum 1%; paediatric proportions differ because of larger heads.

Anaphylaxis first-line treatment

Intramuscular adrenaline 500 micrograms of 1:1000 solution into the anterolateral thigh, repeated after 5 minutes if needed, alongside oxygen, IV fluids and trigger removal.

Sepsis-3 septic shock

Persisting hypotension requiring vasopressors to maintain MAP ≥65 mmHg plus serum lactate >2 mmol/L despite adequate fluid resuscitation.

KDIGO AKI staging

Stage 1: creatinine rise ≥26 micromol/L in 48 h or 1.5-1.9× baseline; stage 2: 2.0-2.9×; stage 3: ≥3× or creatinine ≥354 micromol/L or anuria.

Wells score for PE

Clinical probability score for pulmonary embolism incorporating signs of DVT, PE as likely diagnosis, tachycardia, immobilisation or surgery, previous VTE and haemoptysis; guides D-dimer testing.

CHA2DS2-VASc score

Stroke risk score in atrial fibrillation: congestive heart failure, hypertension, age ≥75 (2 points), diabetes, stroke/TIA (2 points), vascular disease, age 65-74, female sex.

Holliday-Segar maintenance fluids

Paediatric hourly maintenance fluid: 4 mL/kg for the first 10 kg, 2 mL/kg for the next 10 kg, and 1 mL/kg for each kilogram thereafter.

Gillick competence

A legal test in England and Wales for whether a child under 16 has sufficient understanding and intelligence to make their own decision about treatment.

Magnesium sulfate in eclampsia

First-line treatment for eclamptic seizures and prophylaxis in severe pre-eclampsia, given as a loading dose followed by infusion with monitoring of reflexes and respiratory rate.

Discriminatory hCG level

In suspected ectopic pregnancy, a transvaginal ultrasound should show an intrauterine sac when hCG is between 1000 and 2000 IU/L; an empty uterus at this level is suspicious.

Burch-Wartoff score

Clinical scoring system for thyroid storm using temperature, heart rate, CNS and GI symptoms, and precipitant; a score of 45 or more is highly suggestive.

Kawasaki disease criteria

Fever for at least 5 days plus four of five features: conjunctivitis, rash, mucosal changes, cervical lymphadenopathy and extremity changes; treated with IV immunoglobulin and aspirin.

Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale

A 10-item self-report questionnaire used to screen for postnatal depression; a score of 13 or more suggests probable depression and warrants further assessment.

Neuroleptic malignant syndrome

A rare reaction to antipsychotics with rigidity, hyperthermia, autonomic instability and raised creatine kinase; management is stopping the drug, cooling and dantrolene or bromocriptine.

QRISK3

A UK cardiovascular risk prediction tool estimating 10-year risk of heart attack or stroke; a score of 10% or more usually triggers a statin offer.

Centor score

Clinical score for streptococcal pharyngitis using tonsillar exudate, tender anterior cervical nodes, fever and absence of cough; low scores do not warrant antibiotics.

Sick day rules

Guidance to temporarily stop certain medicines (ACE inhibitors, diuretics, NSAIDs, metformin) during acute dehydrating illness to reduce the risk of acute kidney injury.

NICE NG12 referral

UK guidance listing symptoms that warrant urgent suspected-cancer referral, such as postmenopausal bleeding or unexplained weight loss with abdominal pain over 40.

SBAR handover

A structured communication tool: Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation; used for escalation and clinical handover to reduce error.

SPIKES framework

A six-step framework for breaking bad news: Setting, Perception, Invitation, Knowledge, Empathy, and Strategy or summary.

Teach-back method

A communication technique where the clinician asks the patient to explain the plan in their own words, confirming understanding and correcting misunderstandings.

Calgary-Cambridge model

A consultation framework covering initiating the session, gathering information, physical examination, explanation and planning, and closing the session.

Mental Capacity Act 2005

UK law that presumes capacity, requires support for decision-making, and permits best-interests decisions for adults who lack capacity, using the least restrictive option.

Duty of candour

A professional and statutory duty to be open and honest with patients when something goes wrong, including an apology, explanation and information about further steps.

Yellow Card scheme

The UK system for reporting suspected adverse drug reactions and medical device incidents to the MHRA; reporting is mandatory for black triangle medicines.

Number needed to treat

The reciprocal of the absolute risk reduction; it estimates how many patients must be treated for one additional patient to benefit.

Positive predictive value

The proportion of people with a positive test result who truly have the disease: true positives divided by true positives plus false positives; it rises with disease prevalence.

PDSA cycle

Plan-Do-Study-Act: a small-scale iterative test of change used in quality improvement to learn quickly before spreading a change.