Scenario
A 62 year old, previously well woman is referred to your ED with a letter from her doctor that states:
“She has a 6 week history of increasing lethargy, malaise, weight gain and peripheral oedema. BP 180/120. See electrolyte results enclosed. She is currently taking no medication.”
Question
Describe and interpret her investigations (100%)
Investigation Results
Answer
FACEM VAQ Exam 2008.1 – Question 3
- The overall pass rate for this question was 49/62 (79.0%).
- Both examiners felt that this was a very good question.
- Good responses identified the multiple abnormalities, stressed the potentially life threatening hypokalaemia, suggested mineralocorticoid excess as a potential cause and integrated the findings into relevant differential diagnoses.
- Poor answers failed to address one or more of the above facets.
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