Palliative Care in Non-Cancer Conditions — Flashcards

Flashcard 1: If the patient has presented to a non-PCI-capable hospital, a fibrinolytic agent is given within 30 minutes of the patient presenting if the anticipated time to PCI is >_____ minutes

Answer: 120

Flashcard 2: Which scoring (SOFA/qSOFA) is particularly useful in the ICU setting?_____

Answer: SOFA

Flashcard 3: What is the target SpO2 for a COPD patient receiving oxygen therapy (e.g., via Venturi mask)?

Answer: 88–92%

Extra: Targeting 88–92% SpO2 in COPD patients prevents oxygen-induced hypercapnia (due to loss of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction, the Haldane effect, and decreased respiratory drive).

Flashcard 4: In patients with neuromuscular disease (e.g., GBS, Myasthenia Gravis), what Vital Capacity (VC) threshold is typically used as an indication for mechanical ventilation?

Answer: < 10–15 mL/kg

Extra: Normal Vital Capacity is approximately 60–70 mL/kg. Indications for mechanical ventilation in neuromuscular respiratory failure (e.g., GBS, Myasthenia Gravis) include: - Vital Capacity (VC) < 15 mL/kg - Maximal Inspiratory Pressure (MIP) < -30 cm H2O - Maximal Expiratory Pressure (MEP) < 40 cm H2O

Flashcard 5: Diffuse esophageal spasms are treated with _____ and/or calcium channel blockers.

Answer: nitrates

Flashcard 6: Prognosis of ARDS is poor with _____% mortality rate

Answer: 40

Flashcard 7: What is the next step in mx of a patient of asthma with impending respiratory failure?_____

Answer: Endotracheal intubation

Flashcard 8: Dementia with gait disturbances and rigidity would point you to the diagnosis of _____

Answer: dementia with lewy bodies