Na+ and K+ in Addisons and Cushings

On the ward the other day 3 of us got very confused by the changes in K+ and Na+ in addisions, Cushings and Conns. We worked back to first principles and figured it out in the end, but to save time I thought of this blatant generalisation:

Addisions can kill you, Cushings and Conns can't.

Helps me to remember that K+ is high in addisions but low in Cushings and Conns (follows that Na+ is the opposite).

* disclaimer: I'm sure cushings and conns could kill you, and addisons might not. Anyway the point is how to remember the changes in K+ !

ECG Update

A while back I posted this about ECG's. Here's an update for those who found it useful - now including which coronary artery each lead relates to:

• Coffee Cup with circle around it = Latte = Lateral leads (supplied by CIRCumflex)
• Info sign = InfeRior, supplied by right coronary (infoRmation)
• Ant with football = Anterior leads, the ant is a bit of a "lad" (left anterior descending)
• Septal leads = equally supplied by RCA and LAD depending on anatomical variance.

Route planner

Here's a useful resource for anoyone on central london firms at Barts....