Pathology EMQ template.

Name: Saqib Rahman

Candidate number:

Theme: Potassium Handling

OPTION LIST

A	Acute Renal Failure	I	Rhabdomyolysis
B	Addison’s disease	J	Renal tubular acidosis
C	Alcohol abuse	K	SIADH
D	Artefactual	L	Vomiting
E	Cushing’s syndrome	M
F	Diabetic Ketoacidosis	N
G	Diarrhoea	O
H	Diuretic use	P

For each scenario below, choose the most appropriate answer from the list above. Each option may be used once, more than once or not at all.

1. A 25 year old male with a history of tuberculosis presenting with a plasma osmolality of 205mmol/l, potassium of 6.3mmol/l and sodium of 115mmol/l.

2. A 76 year woman with known congestive cardiac failure presenting with digoxin toxicity

3. Following a severe car crash, a patient’s ECG shows a broad QRS complex with peaked T waves.

4. A 53 year old man in hospital following a minor operation was observed to have a potassium of 7.0mmol/l on a routine blood test but clinically well. A repeat test 4 hours later was 4.0mmol/l.

5. An 18 year old woman presents comatose, with a urinary pH of 3.5 and plasma potassium of 6.5mmol/l. 6 hours after treatment potassium drops to 3.1mmol/l.

ANSWERS

1. B

2. H

3. I

4. D

5. F