P.E. and other emboli.
An embolus is defined as---
First coined by Virchow in 1848
This CXR is from an IV drug user who suffered Staph emboli. Where are the emboli likely to have originated from?
She developed a vegetation on her tricuspid valve which repeatedly embolised septic material into her lungs.
Which of the following is TRUE about woman who develop amniotic fluid emboli.
It tends to occur in woman <25yrs age and in short labours. Amniotic fluid embolus is the number 1 cause of maternal mortality in Australia.
What is thought to be the increased risk of having a stroke if you have atrial fibrillation?
It is believed that atrial fibrillation causes 15% of strokes.
Which is the following is FALSE about fat embolism?
It does of course occur after long bone and pelvic trauma---but not commonly. The GURD criteria has both major and minor parts.
Which one of these people did NOT die of a pulmonary embolus.
Serena Williams did suffer a pulmonary embolus after giving birth---but survived.
In acute decompression sickness what causes the emboli?
If these bubbles enter the lungs it is known as the "chokes". If they enter the joints you get the "bends".
What is the most common ECG finding in a pulmonary embolus?
The ECG shows an S1Q3T3 and a right bundle branch pattern.
You are asked to do an urgent ECHO on a patient with a possible large PE. Does this short axis view support the presumptive diagnosis of PE?
The right ventricle is on the left of the screen, the left ventricle on the right. You can see the right ventrcle is bigger than the left ventricle and it's high pressure is distorting the left ventricle shape.
What is a "paradoxical" embolus?
Rare but can be devastating clinically.
The first person to correctly tell me why there is a picture of shoes for this question gets a free coffee-----answers to alan.giles@health.nsw.gov.au