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Surgery Mnemonics

Abdominal Distension
The 5Fs

F at

F luid

F aeces

F latus

F etus

Acute Abdomen
MEDIC CURSES A MOP

M esenteric

E nteritis

D iverticulitis

I schaemic

C holecystitis

U lcers

R enal colic

S alpingitis

E ctopic pregnancy

S mall bowel obstruction

A ppendicitis

M eckel's diverticulum

O varian cyst

P ancreatitis

Rectal Bleeding
H-DRAIN

H emorroids

D iverticulitis

R adiation

A V malformation

I schaemia

N eoplasm

Symptoms of GI Obstruction
PV D&C

P ain

V omiting

D istension

C onstipation

Hematemesis
GUM BLEEDINGG astritis

U lcer

M allory-Weiss tear

B iliary (haemobilia)

L arge (esophageal) varices

E sophagitis

E ntero-aortic fistula

D uodenitis

I BD

N eovascularization

G astric carcinoma

Nasogastric (NG) Tube Removal Post-Op
The 4Ps

P eristalsis

P assage of flatus

P aucity of aspirate

P atient peckish

Leg Ulcers
VAIN PAIN

V enous

A rterial

I nfection (e.g. syphilis)

N europathic

P ressure sores

A rthritis (e.g. RA, PAN)

I njury

N eoplastic

Pancreatitis
GET SMASHED

G allstones

E thanol

T rauma (including surgery)

S teroids

M umps

A utoimmune (PAN)

S corpion bites

H yperlipidemia/-calcemia or hypothermia

E RCP

D rugs (e.g. azothioprine, thiazide diuretics)

Prophylactic Antibiotic Indications
APPLE

A mputations

P rosthesis

P enetrating wounds

L arge bowel surgery

E ndocarditis

Small Bowel Obstruction
SHAVIT

S tone

H ernia

A hesions

V olvulus

I ntussusception

T umor

Causes of Post-Op Fever
The 5Ws

W ind: pneumonia or atelectasis

W ound: surgical site infection

W ater: urinary tract infection

W alk: deep venous thrombosis

W onder drugs: drug-induced fever

Indications for CT Scan in setting of Trauma
"Uncle Nelson ARgues ABout KIDs"

U nconcious pt after head trauma

N eck injury

A ortic R upture

AB dominal penetrating wound

KID ney injury with hematuria

Conditions That Prevent Healing of GI Fistula
FETI3D

F oreign bodies

E pithelialization

T umors

I nfection

I rradiated tissue

I BD

D istal obstruction

DDx for Scrotal Swelling
THE THEATRES

T orsion

H ernia

E pididymytis, orchitis

T rauma

H ydrocele, varicocele, hematoma

E dema

A ppendix testes (torsion, hemorrhage)

T umor

R ecurrent leukemia

E pididymal cyst

S yphillis, TB

Immediate Post-Operative Complications
Post-op PROBS

P ain

P rimary hemorrhage

R eactionary hemorrhage

O liguria

B asal atelectasis

S epsis/shock

Causes of Generalized Edema
HILARI IS SAVE

H eart failure

I atrogenic

L iver causes (venous obstruction)

A ldosterone increased or ADH decreased

R enal causes

I nadequate protein in blood (hypoalbuminemia)

(Causes of hypoalbuminemia)

Intake inadequate (Kwashiorkor)

S ecretion from pancreas decreased (e.g. pancreatitis)

S ynthesis decreased (liver failure)

A bsorption decreased (e.g. Crohn's disease)

V omit

E xcretion increassed

Causes of Localized Edema
ALIVE

A llergic (angioedema)

L ymphatic (e.g. elephantiasis)

I nflammatory (e.g. infection, injury)

VEnous (e.g. DVT, chronic venous insufficiency)

GI Bleeding Causes
ABCDEFGHI

A ngiodysplasia

B owel cancer

C olitis

D iverticulitis/duodenal ulcer

E sophageal (cancer, esophagitis, varices)

F istula (anal, aortoenteric)

G astric (cancer, ulcer, gastritis)

H emorrhoids

I nfectious diarrhea/IBD/Ischemia

Melanoma Sites
Mel SEA (like "Mel C from the Spice Girls--whatever, don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about)

(in order to frequency)

S kin

E yes

A nus

Appendectomy Complications
WRAP IF HOT

W ound infection

R espiratory (atelectasis, pneumonia)

A bscess (pelvic)

P ortal pyemia

I leus (paralytic)

F ecal fistula

H ernia (r. inguinal)

O bstruction (intestinal from adhesions)

T hrombus (DVT)

Esophageal Cancer Risk Factors
PC BASTARDS

P lummer-Vinson syndrome

C eliac disease

B arrett's dysplasia

A lcohol

S moking

T ylosis

A chalasia

R ussian (geographic predilection)

D iet

S tricture

Disease Description: Organization
"In A Surgeon's Gown, Physicians May Make Some Clinical Progress"

I ncidence

A ge of onset

S ex predilection

G eopgraphic predilection

P redisposing factors

M acroscopic appearance

M icroscopic appearance

S pread (route of)

Clinical features

P rognosis

Abdomen: Inspection
The 5Ss

S ize

S hape

S cars

S kin lesions

S toma

Causes of Unilateral Leg Swelling
TV BAIL

T rauma

V enous (varicose, DVT, venous insufficiency)

B aker's cyst

A llergy

I nflammation (e.g. cellulitis)

L ymphoedema

Ulcers: Edge Types
F PURE

F lat (e.g. venous)

P unched-out (e.g. trophic, arterial)

U ndetermined (e.g. pressure, TB)

R olled (e.g. BCC)

E verted (e.g. SCC)

Pancreatitis Treatment
MACHINES

M onitor vital signs

A nalgesia/Antibiotics

C alcium gluconate (if necessary)

H2 receptor blockers

I V access/IV fluids

N il by mouth

E mpty gastric contents

S urgery if required

Appendicitis: Alvarado's Scoring System for Diagnosis
MANTRELS

M igratory pain (1 pt)

A norexia (1 pt)

N ausea (1 pt)

T enderness (2 pts)

R ebound tenderness (1 pt)

E levated temperature 1 pt)

L eukocytosis (2 pts)

S hift to left (1 pt)

Score 3-4 = no appendicitis

Score 5-6 = doubtful

Score 7 or more = appendicitis

TPN Indications
MISIPPI BURNing

M ajor visceral injury

I BD

S epsis

I leus

P ost-op

P aralysis

I ntestinal fistula

BURNs

Surgical Discharge Checklist
FLAG COUP

F (empty)

L ucid

A mbulatory

G P letter sent

C VS checked and stable (e.g. BP, pulse)

Operation site OK

Urinating OK

P rescriptions

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One Response to “Surgery Mnemonics”

  1. 1
    Dave:

    What about the p’s of acute arterial occlusion:
    Pain, pallor, pulseless, paresthesia

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