Pretest - Pre & post operative care Flashcards
58yo woman develops constipation postoperatively and self-medicates with milk of magnesia. she presents to clinic, at which time her serum electrolytes are checked, and she is noted to have an elevated serum magnesium level. which of the following represents the earliest clinical indication of hypermagneesemia?
a. loss of DTRs
b. flaccid paralysis
c. respiratory arrest
d. hypotension
e. stupor
A
high Mg = generalized neuromuscular depression
1) decreased DTRs
(VERY HIGH levels of Mg)
- progressive weakness –> flaccid quadriplegia –> respiratory arrest
- hypotention
- alterne MS –> somnolence –> coma
5d after an uneventful cholecystectomy, an asymptomatic middle-aged woman is found to have a serum sodium level of 125. which of the following is the most appropriate management strategy for this pt?
a. admnistration of hypertonic saline solution
b. restriction of free water
c. plasma ultrafiltration
d. hemodialysis
e. aggressive diuresis with furosemide
B
, likely due to appropriate stiimulation of ADH and accidental admiistration of excess free water in the first few postop days
but she has no sxs
–> woudld be HA, seizures, coma, signs of increased intracranial pressure
1) free water restriction
a 50yo pt presents with symptomatic nephrolithiasis. he reports that he underwent a jejunoileeal bypasss ffor morbid obesity when he was 39. which of the following is a complication of jejunoileal bypass?
a. pseudohyperparathyroidism
b. hyperuric aciduria
c. hungry bone syndrome
d. hyperoxaluria
e. sporadic unicameral bone cysts
D.
normally, FAs are absorbed by the terminal ileum, and Ca + oxalate into insoluble compound thatis not absorbed.
1) loss of ileum + intact colon –> risk of enteric hyperoxaluria –> due to excess absorption of oxalate from colon
2) unabsorbed FAs and bile acids in colon –> increased oxalate uptake by the colon
–> leading to absorbed oxalate excreted by the kidneys –> leading to kidney stones
hungry bone syndrome –> after parathyroidectomy for high PTH - chronically high levels then sudden cessation –> leads bones to take up a lot of Ca = reflextive hypocalcemia
Following surgery a pt develops oliguria. you believe the oliguria is due to hypovolemia, but you seek corroborative data before increasing intravenous fluids. which of the following values supports the diagnosis of hypovolemia?
a. urine Na of 28
b. urine Cl of 15
c. fractional excretion of Na <1
d. urine / serum creatinine ratio of 20
e. urine osmolality of 350
C
intense re-absorption of water
hypovolemia
1) FeNa <1 –> prerenal
2) urine sodium <20
3) urine osmolality > 500
4) urine / serum creatinine > 20
5) BUN/creatinine > 20
a 45yo woman with Crohn disease and a small intestinal fistula develops tetany during the second week of parenteral nutrition. the lab findings include: Na 135 K 3.2 Cl 103 HCO3 25 Ca 8.2 Mg 1.2 PO4 2.4 Albumin 2.4 an arterial blood gas sample reveals a H of 7.42, PCO2 of 38, and PO2 of 84. which of the following is the most likely cause of the pt's tetany a. hyperventilation b. hypocalcemia c. hypomagnesemia d. essential fattty acid deficiency e. focal seizure
C
hyperventilation –> low PCO2
hypomagnesemia –> <1.0
hypocalcemia –> <8
corrected Ca = 8.2 + 0.8 (4-2.4) = 8.2 + 0.8(1.6) = 9.5
hypomagnesemia is common in pts with malnutrition / large GI fluid loss
SIMILAR to hypocalcemia
- paresthesia, hyperreflexia, muscle spasm, tetany
–> prolonged QT & PR; ST segment depression, flattened / inverted p waves; torsade de pointes
hypocalcemia
- prolonged QT, T wave inversion, heart block
a pt with nonobstructing carcinoma of the sigmoid colon is being prepared for elective resection. which of the following reduces the risk of postoperative infectious complications?
a. a single preoperative parenteral dose of antibiotic effective against aerobes and anaerobes
b. avoidance of oral antibiotics to prevent emergence of C. difficile
c. postoperative administration for 48h of parenteral Abs effective against aerobes and anaerobes.
d. postoperative administration of parenteral antibiotics against aerobe and anaerobes until the pt’s intravenous lines and all other draines are removed
e. redosing of antibiotics in the OR if the case lasts for >2h
A
unasyn = ampicillin + sulbactam
within an hour of the procedure
Can redose, but A is definitely a better answer
a 75yo man with a hx of myocardial infarction 2y ago, peripheral vascular disease with sxs of claudication after walking half a block, HTna dn DM presents with a large ventral hernia. he wishes to have the hernia repaired. which of the following is the most appropriate next step in his preoperatve w/up?
a. he should undergo a ECG
b. he should undergo an exercise stress test
c. he should undergo coronary artery bypass prior to oeprative repair of his ventral heria
d. he should undergo a persantine thallium stress test and echocardiography
e. his hx of a MI within 3y is prohibitive for elective surgery. no further testing is necessary
D
b/c surgery is a big stress on the heart
to assess for need for coronary angiogram +/- angioplasty
can’t do a regular stress test b/c of his PAD –> so do a drug stress test instead
MI within the last 6mo would be the concern
a previously healthy 55yo man undergoes elective R hemicolectomy for a stage I (T2N0M0) cancer of the cecum. his postoperative ileus is somewhat prolonged, and on the 5th postoperative day his NG tube is still in place. PE reveals diminished skin turgot, dry mucous membranes, and orthostatic hypotension. pertinent lab values are as follows:
arterial blood gases - pH 7.56, PCO2 50, PO2 85
Serum electrolytes Na 132, K 3.1, Cl 80, HCO3 42
Urine electrolytes Na 2, K 5 Cl 66
What is the pt’s acid-base abnormality?
a. uncompensated metabolic alkalosis
b. respiratory acidosis with metabolic compensation
c. combined metabolic and respiratory alkalosis
d. metabolic alkalosis with respiratory compensation
e. mixed respiratory acidosis and respiratory alkalosis
D –> PCO2 is high; it’s not adequately compensated.
PCO2 would be normal if it was completely uncompensated
very dehydrated
alkalosis, metabolic
PCO2 = 1.5 (42) + 8 = 63+ 8 = 71 –> 69-73
a 52yo man with gastric outlet obstruction secondary to a duodenal ulcer presents with hyppochloremic, hypokalemic metabolic alkalosis. which of the following is the most appropriate therapy for this pt?
a. infusion of 0.9% NaCl with supplemental KCl until clinical signs of volume depletion are eliminated
b. infusion of isotonic (0.15N) HCl via a central venous catheter
c. clamping the NG tube to prevent further acid losses
d. administration of acetazolamide to promode renal excretion of bicarbonate
e. intubation and controlled hypoventilation on a volume cycles ventilator to further increase PCO2
A
likely due to excess vomiting
loss of hypertonic fluid
signifiant volume depletion –> contraction alkalosis, with excessive salt and water retension –> increased tubular aximum for bicarb reabsorption
Tx = correction of volume depletion = correction of bicarbonate –> via excretion of excess
23yo woman is brought tot he ED from a half-way house, where she apparently swallowed a handful of pills. The pt complains of SOB and tinnitus, but refuses to identify the pills she ingested. pertinent lab values are as follows:
arterial blood gases: pH 7.45, PCO2 12, PO2 126
serum electrolytes: Na 138, K 4.8, Cl 102, HCO3 8
an overdose of which of the following drugs would be most likely to cause the acid-base disturbance in this pt?
a. phenoformin
b. aspirin
c. barbituates
d. methanol
e. diazepam (Valium)
B
tinnitus –> aspirin
metabolic acidosis (accumulation of organic acids)
+ respiratory alkalosis (direct stimulation of respiratory center with tachypnea)
an 18yo previously healthy man is placed on IV heparin after having a PE after exploratory laparotomy for a small bowel injury following a motor vehicle collision. 5d later, his plt count is 90,000 and continues to fall over the next several days. the pt’s serum is positive for Abs to the heparin-plt factor complexes. which of teh following is the most appropriate next management step?
a. cessation of all anticoagulattion therapy
b. cessation of heparin and immediate institution of hihg-dose warfarin therapy
c. cessatin of heparin and institution of low-molecular weight heparin
d. cessation of heparin and institution of lepirudin
e. cessation of heparin and tranfusion with plts
D
Type 2 HIT –> stop heparin; add “gator” (agatroban)
warfarin should not be started until Plt > 100,000
Plt transfusion started at Plt ,10,000
–> b/c HIT results in thrombotic (NOT hemorrhagic complications)
65yo man undergoes a technically difficult abdominal perineal resection for a rectal cancer during which he receives 3 U of pRBCs. 4h later, in the ICU, he is bleeding heavily from his perineal wound. Emergency coagulation studies reveal normal prothrombin, partial thromboplastin, and bleeding times. the fibrin degradation are not elevated, but the serum fibrinogen content is depressed and the plt count is 70,000. which of the following is the most likely cause of his bleeding?
a. delayed blood transfusion rn
b. autoimmune fibrinolysis
c. a bleeding blood vessel in the surgical field
d. factor 8 deficiency
e. hypothermic coagulopathy
C
low fibrinogen, low plts –> likely because of loss of blood
Postop bleeding
transfusion rxn = fever, apprehension, HA
a 65yo man would have known about bleeding d/o beforehand, and would have caused a problem in the OR (& have worse coag numbers)
a 78yo man with a history of coronary artery disease and an asympomatic reducible inguinal hernia requests an elective hernia repair. which of the following would be a valid reason for delaying the proposed surgery?
a. coronary artery bypass 3 mo earlier.
b. a history of cigarette smoking
c. jugular venous distension
d. hypertenion
e. HLD
C
Contraindications
- likely fluid overloaded –> possible heart failure (JVD, S3, ectopicbeats)
- risk to the heart up to mo after recent MI.
- age > 70y
- emergency surgery
(POD 3) most perioperative infartcts occur postoperatively when the third-space fluids return to the circulation –> increased preload, myocardial O2 consumption
a 68yo man is admitted to the coronary care unit with an acute MI. his postinfarction course is marked by CHF and intermittent hypotension. on the 4th day in hospital, he develops severe midabdominal pain. on PE, BP 90/60 and pulse is 110 beats per minute and regular; the abdomen is soft with mild generalized tenderness and distention. BS are hypoactive, stool Hematest is positive. which of the following is the most appropriate next step in this pt’s management?
a. barium enema
b. upper GI series
c. angiography
d. ultrasonography
e. celiotomy
C
ischemic colitis - d/t lack of perfusion from MI
- systemic manifestations of arteriosclerotic vascular dz
- low CO states + abdominal pain OUT OF PROPORTION to physical exam
- -> embolic occlusion / thrombosis of SMA, low perfusion
Studies
1) CT scan
2) + Angiography - in the absence of peritoneal signs
- late: lactic acidosis / leukocytosis
- NOT Upper GI/ US
Treatment
1) Peritoneal signs –> emergent laparotomy
Risks
- small bowel infarction
30yo woman in her last trimester of pregnancy suddenly develops massive swelling of the L LE. which of the following would be the most appropriate workup and treatment at this time?
a. venography and heparin
b. duplex US and heparin
c. duplex US, heparin, and venal caval filter
d. duplex US, heparin, warfarin
e. impedance plethysomography
B
need both diagnostic study + heparin
DO NOT give warfarin to pregnant women —> b/c can cross placenta –> spontaneous abortion, birth defect
20yo woman with a FHx of von Willebrand disease is found to have an aPTT of 78 (nml = 32) on routine testing prior to cholecystectomy. Further investigation reveals a PT of 13 (nml = 12), a plt count of 350,000 and an abnormal bleeding time. which of the following should be administered in the perioperative period?
a. Factor 8
b. Plts
c. Vit K
d. Aminocaproic acid
e. Desmopressin (DDAVP)
E
PT = factor 7 aPTT = all other factors
likely factor 8 or von willebrand deficiency
VWF deficiency
- Type I = AD; decreased vWF
- Type II = variably inherited; defective vWF
- Type III - AR; absence vWF
- -> superficial bleeding (mucosal, petechiae, epistaxis, menorrhagia)
Studies- depressed ristocetin cofactor assay
Tx : DDAVP
1) activate receptors that cause release of vWF; shortens bleeding time in Type I & II.
2) wvl prevents inactivation of Factor 8 –> normalized Factor 8
65yo man undergoes a low anterior resection for rectal cancer. on the 5th day in the hospital, his PE shows a temp of 39C (102F) Bp 150/90, pulse of 110 BPM and regular, and RR of 28. a CT scan of the abdomen reveals an abscess in the pelvis. which of the following most accurately describes his present condition?
a. SIRS
b. sepsis
c. severe sepsis
d. septic shock
e. severe septic shock
B
SIRS
1) high temp
2) tachycardia
3) tachypnic
4) leuks? probably also high
Sepsis = SIRS + documented infection
but not hypotensive –> NO SHOCK
a victim of blunt abdominal trauma has splenic and liver lacerations as well as an unstable pelvic fracture. he is hypotensive and tachycardic with a HR of 150 despite receiving 2L of crystalloid en route to the hosiptal. he was intubated prior to arrivaal due ot declining mental status. he is taken emergently to the OR for exploratory laparotomy and external fixation for his pelvic fracture. which of the following is the best resuscitative strategy?
a. infusion of another L of crystalloid
b. infusion of 500mL of 5% albumin
c. infusion of pRBCs + fresh-frozen plasma + plts as indicated by the PT and plt counts in laboratory values
d. infusion of pRBCs and early administration of fresh-frozen plasma and plts prior to return of laboratory values
e. infusion of pRBCs and vitK
D
in distributive shock
it would take too long to get lab values
Class D heorrhagi shock = loss of >40% of circulating blood volume
large amt of banked blood transfusion
- dilutional thrombocytopenia
- deficiencies in factors 5 & 8
DO NOT
- give excessive crystalloid infusion - will dilute further
- VitK takes too long
62yo woman undergoes a pancreaticoduodenectomy for a pancreatic head cancer. a jejunostomy is placed to facilitate nutritional repletion as she is expected to have a prolonged recovery. which is the best method for delivering postop nutrition?
a. institution of enteral feeding via the jejunostomy tube after return of bowel function as evidenced by passage of flatus or a BM
b. institution of enteral feeding via the jejunostomy tube within 24h postop
c. institution of supplemental enteral feeding via the jejunostomy tube only if oral intake is inadequate after return of bowel fx
d. institution of combo of immediate trophic (15mL/h) eneral feeds via the jejunostomy tube and parenteral nutrition to provide total nutritional support
e. coplete nutritional support with TPN
B
TPN + tube feeds?
–> early enteral nutrition in pts who have prolonged recovery after surgery