Surgery Mnemonics: Precision Learning for Aspiring Surgeons
A
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)
- Author: Sami Almusawa JUST
C
Compartment syndrome: signs and symptoms: 5 P’s:
- Pain
- Palor
- Pulseless
- Paresethesia
- Pressure (increased)
- Author: Michelle Zetoony Medical Student 2003, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
F
Fistulas: conditions preventing closure: FRIEND:
- Foreign body
- Radiation
- Infection/ Inflammation (Crohn)
- Epithelialization
- Neoplasia
- Distal obstruction
- Author: Danny Rosin and Adam W. Beck, M.D. Unspecified and UT-Southwestern Hospital Systems
G
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
- Author: Lau Yue Young Geoffrey HKU
O
Oesophageal cancer risk factors: PC BASTARDS:
- Plummer-Vinson syndrome
- Coeliac disease
- Barrett’s
- Alcohol
- Smoking
- Tylosis
- Achalasia
- Russia (geographical distribution)
- Diet
- Stricture
- Author: John Holme
P
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
- Reference: http://medicalmnemonics.com/
Post-operative complications (immediate): “Post-op PROBS“:
- Pain
- Primary haemorrhage
- Reactionary haemorrhage
- Oliguria
- Basal atelectasis
- Shock/ Sepsis
- Author: Jacob George University of Sheffield, UK
M
Melanoma sites: “Mel SEA” (Pronounced “Mel C” from the Spice Girls)
- Melanoma sites, in order of frequency:
- Skin
- Eyes
- Anus
- Author: Lior Greenberg Technion Faculty of Medicine, Haifa, Israel
V
Varicose veins: symptoms: AEIOU:
- Aching
- Eczema
- Itching
- Oedema
- Ulceration/ Ugly (LDS, haemosiderin, varicosities)
- Author: Jamal Khan Birmingham University Medical Student
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