Rheumatology & Haematology — Flashcards

Flashcard 241: Antibiotic prophylaxis for asplenic children should be taken until at least _____ years old

Answer: 5

Flashcard 242: Consider _____ transfusion in bleeding patients with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) & fibrinogen levels < 1-1.5g/L

Answer: cryoprecipitate

Flashcard 243: _____ is a severe form of hyposplenism where the spleen "self destructs" causing physiological loss of splenic function

Answer: Autosplenectomy

Flashcard 244: Where possible, immunisations should be completed at least _____ prior to splenectomy

Answer: 2 weeks

Flashcard 245: Consider _____ transfusion in bleeding patients with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) & ↑ aPTT & ↑ PT

Answer: fresh frozen plasma

Flashcard 246: Why are patients with splenectomy/hyposplenism at risk of encapsulated bacteria? _____

Answer: The spleen filters blood, including bacteria. Encapsulated bacteria is opsinised, then specialised macrophages phagocytose them. The immune system finds difficulty detecting & destroying them without the spleen, thus making patients susceptible to encapsulated bacteria

Flashcard 247: Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is associated with thrombosis, resulting in _____ failure

Answer: organ

Flashcard 248: What is the most common cause of pancytopenia? _____

Answer: Megaloblastic anemia

Extra: In India and many developing countries, Megaloblastic anemia (Vitamin B12/Folate deficiency) is the most common cause of pancytopenia. Aplastic anemia is another significant cause.

Flashcard 249: Consider _____ transfusion in a patient with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) & bleeding

Answer: RBC

Flashcard 250: What is the management for a haemodynamically unstable patient with a spleen injury? _____

Answer: Splenectomy to prevent further haemorrhage