The Home of Medicine podcast, brought to you by EFIM Academy in partnership with the European Federation of Internal Medicine (EFIM). Hosted by Dr. Amie Burbridge and Dr. Ben Lovell, both experienced Consultants in Acute and General Medicine in the UK, this podcast delves into complex medical cases faced in Acute and General Medicine.
Vomiting and poor intake can explain AKI, but they should not end the search. Recheck fluid response, dip urine, assess bladder and medicines, and add calcium or paraprotein testing when back pain, anaemia or hypercalcaemia point towards multiple myeloma.
Collapse followed by hallucinations or thought insertion needs a rebuilt timeline before anyone settles on psychosis. The strength here is witness history, formal mental state examination, and a clear plan for when MRI, EEG or lumbar puncture should test an encephalitis or epilepsy hypothesis.
The pitfall is reassuring yourself with age, manner, a clear chest X-ray or a half-finished examination. This case is worth hearing for the reminder that persistent fever, Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia and a murmur should push blood cultures, repeat cardiac examination and echocardiography up the list.
A patient who cannot weight bear with marked CRP elevation may still have septic arthritis even if the knee looks only modestly inflamed. Full examination, urgent aspiration, and early orthopaedic discussion matter more than anchoring on UTI, viral illness, or the fall itself.
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