Foreword, ix Preface, xi Acknowledgements, xiii Reviewers, xv Abbreviations, xvii Normal Reference Ranges, xix Icons Explained, xxi About the Companion Website, xxiii 1 Introduction: The Skeleton Laid Bare, 1 Part I Respiratory Medicine, 11 2 History Taking: A Breath of Fresh Air, 13 3 Clinical Examination: The Rustle of Leaves, 20 4 Interpretation of Chest Radiographs: The Light Through the Tunnel, 22 5 Interpretation of Arterial Blood Gases and Pleural Fluid Results: Needling it Out, 26 6 Chronic Cough, 30 7 Acute Breathlessness, 37 8 Acute Chest Pain, 45 9 Acute Haemoptysis, 50 Part II Cardiovascular Medicine, 55 10 History Taking: The Three Pillow Dilemma, 57 11 Clinical Examination: The Orchestra of Sounds, 62 12 Interpretation of Chest Radiographs: Let There Be Light, 67 13 Interpretation of Electrocardiograms: The Rhythm of Life, 70 14 Palpitations, 75 15 Worsening Breathlessness, 80 16 Vague Systemic Symptoms, 85 17 Acute Chest Pain, 89 18 Blurring the Margins, 94 Part III Nephrology, 99 19 History Taking: Blood in the Urine, 101 20 Clinical Examination: Why Is the Kidney Failing?, 107 21 Renal Investigations: The Case of the Frothy Urine, 110 22 Hypertension, 115 23 Haematuria, 120 24 Oedema, 124 25 Non?Specific Symptoms, 128 Part IV Endocrinology, 133 26 History Taking: Why Am I Losing Weight Doctor?, 135 27 Clinical Examination: Looking at the Person as a Whole, 137 28 Investigations: Seeing the Wood for the Trees, 143 29 Weight Gain, 147 30 Palpitations, 151 31 Weight Loss, 155 32 Thirsty and Confused, 159 Part V Neurology, 163 33 History Taking: What a Headache, 165 34 Clinical Examination: Walking Straight, 169 35 Investigations: The Light Bulb, 178 36 Headache, 185 37 Diplopia, 190 38 Leg Weakness, 195 39 Unilateral Weakness, 201 Part VI Geriatric Medicine, 205 40 History Taking: The Haze of Confusion, 207 41 Clinical Examination: Why Do I Keep Falling?, 212 42 Urinary Continence, 215 43 Falls, 220 44 Acute Confusion, 225 45 Dementia, 231 Part VII Gastroenterology, 237 46 History Taking: Where is the Pain?, 239 47 Clinical Examination: I Have Turned Yellow Doctor!, 246 48 Investigations: Journey to the Centre of the Abdomen and Beyond, 250 49 Weight Loss and Diarrhoea, 257 50 Jaundice, 262 51 Haematemesis and Melaena, 266 52 Abdominal Pain, 271 Part VIII Rheumatology, 277 53 History Taking: My Joints Hurt, 279 54 Clinical Examination: A Hot Swollen Joint, 282 55 Investigations: A Glimpse into the Creaky Bones, 286 56 Muscle Aches, 291 57 Joint Pain, 296 58 Back Pain, 301 59 Multi?System Disease, 305 Part IX Common Clinical Conditions, 311 60 Common Clinical Conditions, 313 61 Respiratory Block, 314 62 Cardiology, 318 63 Nephrology, 323 64 Neurology, 326 65 Gastroenterology, 330 66 Geriatric Medicine, 333 67 Endocrinology, 335 68 Rheumatology, 337 Index, 338
