Medical science, drawn into focus.

Pre-menstrual Syndrome (PMS)

Overview Premenstrual syndrome is defined as recurrent moderate psychological and physical symptoms that occur during the luteal phase of menses and resolve with menstruation. Most women of reproductive age experience one or more mild emotional or physical symptoms for one to two days before the onset of menses. These symptoms, such as breast soreness and bloating,…

Inguinal Hernia

Overview Higher incidence among men 40 to 59 years of age. Although there are many different types of hernias, they are usually related to the abdomen, with approximately 75% of all hernias occurring in the inguinal region. Hernia contains omentum (90% of cases) or intestine (10% of cases). Inguinal hernias are at risk of irreducibility or incarceration, which…

Pre-operative Care

Overview Definition Perioperative Management refers to the period of time extending from the day prior to surgical intervention to several days after said intervention. It consists of the preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative period. Patient education Investigation used at surgery Coagulation status (ie. INR <2) Imaging scans for day of surgery Pre-operative care Aims: to provide…

Mesenteric Ischaemia

Aetiology and Risk Factors Aetiology Acute mesenteric ischemia can result from occlusion of a mesenteric vessel arising from an embolus, which may emanate from an atheroma of the aorta or cardiac mural thrombus, or from primary thrombosis of a mesenteric vessel, usually at a site of atherosclerotic stenosis. Embolic occlusion is more common in the…

Cushing's Disease

Overview Cushing's disease is a ACTH dependent syndrome characterised by excess corticosteroid production from the adrenal glands. It is ACTH dependent because it is triggered by an ACTH-secreting pituitary tumour. Cushing's syndrome is an over arching term to describe hypercortisolaemia dependent of independent of ACTH. Adrenal Cushing's syndrome is different because it is hypercortisolaemia independent…

Liver Cirrhosis Complications

Portal Hypertension Overview   Normal portal vein pressure is 5–10mmHg. Portal hypertension develops when the portal pressure is greater than 12mmHg. Mechanism of disease Increased Intrahepatic resistance of blood flow through the liver due to cirrhosis Increased splanchnic blood flow secondary to vasodilation leading to increased portal flow through liver Cirrhosis is the most common…

Asthma (Adults)

Clinical features of asthma such as dyspnoea, chest tightness and wheezing can mimic other respiratory conditions. It is important to take a careful history and examination and ideally demonstrate reversible airflow obstruction. Other clinical features of asthma arise during periods of bronchoconstriction (ie. exercise, smoking, stress, cold air). Exacerbation of asthma confounds the breathing difficulty, cough and wheeze in patients.

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