General Surgery Flashcards
What is the definition of a fistula?
An abnormal connection (1) between two epithelial surfaces (1)
What operation describes removal of the rectosigmoid colon with closure of the anorectal stump and formation of a colostomy?
Hartmann’s procedure (1)
What operation involves removal of the head of the pancreas, duodenum, gallbladder and bile duct?
Whipple procedure (1)
What incision is used for an open cholecystectomy?
Kocher incision (1)
What incision is used for a renal transplant?
Hockey-stick incision (1)
What is a Gridiron incision used for?
Open appendicectomy (1)
What two incisions may be used for a caesarean section?
Pfannenstiel (curved) (1) or Joel-Cohen (straight) (1)
What type of diathermy involves the use of a diathermy probe and a grounding plate under the leg or buttock?
Monopolar diathermy (1)
What type of suture technique involves a single absorbable suture side to side just below the skin to pull the skin edges together?
Subcuticular (1)
What checklist is used immediately before and after an operation?
WHO Surgical Safety Checklist (1)
What system classifies the physical status of the patient for anaesthesia?
American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grading system (1)
What pre-operative investigation is required in all patients over 65 years?
ECG (1)
What pre-operative investigation is required specifically in diabetic patients?
HbA1c within the last 3 months (1)
How long should patients avoid food or feeds and avoid any clear fluids before surgery?
6 hours no food or feeds (1) and 2 hours no clear fluids (1)
What is used to reverse the effects of warfarin?
Vitamin K (1)
How long should the combined contraceptive pill be stopped prior to surgery?
4 weeks (1)
What complication is metformin associated with in the perioperative period?
Lactic acidosis (1)
What complication can SGLT2 inhibitors (e.g., dapagliflozin) cause in dehydrated or acutely unwell patients?
Diabetic ketoacidosis (1)
What four criteria are used to assess a patient’s capacity to make a decision?
Their ability to understand (1), retain the information (1), weight up the pros and cons (1) and communicate the decision (1)
What legal status can be given to a nominated person to allow them to make decisions on a patients behalf if they lack capacity?
Lasting power of attorney (1)
What are the contraindications to NSAIDs?
Asthma (1), renal impairment (1), heart disease (1) and stomach ulcers (1)
When would you avoid using ondansetron as a treatment for post-operative nausea and vomiting?
Patients at risk of prolonged QT interval (1)
Name the process of removing and patient’s catheter and assessing whether they can pass urine normally?
Trial without catheter (TWOC) (1)
Name the process of meeting a patient’s full nutritional needs via an intravenous infusion?
Total parenteral nutrition (TPN) (1)
What word describes where a portion of the lung collapses due to under-ventilation?
Atelectasis (1)
What describes where there is separation of the surgical wound, particularly after abdominal surgery?
Wound dehiscence (1)
What complication of surgery involves fluctuating confusion and particularly affects older patients?
Delirium (1)
Why do patients need a post-operative full blood count?
To assess for anaemia (1)
What group of people are likely to refuse blood transfusions?
Jehovah’s Witnesses (1)
What proportion of total body fluids are in the intracellular and extracellular spaces?
2/3 intracellular (1) and 1/3 extracellular (1)
What are the three extracellular spaces?
The intravascular (1), interstitial (1) and “third” (1) spaces
What space is full of fluid with ascites?
Peritoneal cavity (1)
What are common reasons for a patient to be on a fluid restriction?
Heart failure (1), renal failure (1) and hyponatraemia (1)
What term refers to fluid output that is difficult to measure, such as via respiration, stools, burns and sweat?
Insensible fluid losses (1)
Where can you find information on the patient’s fluid intake and output?
Fluid balance chart (1)
What are the main indications for IV fluids?
Resuscitation (1), replacement (1) and maintenance (1)
What are the two main groups of IV fluid?
Crystalloids (1) and colloids (1)
What is the concentration of sodium in normal 0.9% saline?
154 mmol/L (1)
Give two key complications of excessive normal 0.9% saline?
Hypernatraemia (1) and hyperchloraemic metabolic acidosis (1)
What term refers to the osmotic pressure gradient between two fluids across a membrane?
Tonicity (1)
Give three examples of fluids that may be used for resuscitation.
Normal 0.9% saline (1), Hartmann’s solution (1) and Plasma-Lyte 148 (1)
What is the approximate daily maintenance requirements of water?
25-30 ml/kg/day (1)
What is the approximate daily maintenance requirements of sodium, potassium and chloride?
1 mmol/kg/day (1)
What is the approximate daily maintenance requirements of glucose?
50-100g (1)
What volume and type of maintenance fluid do the NICE guidelines suggest starting with?
25-30 ml/kg/day (1) of 0.18% sodium chloride in 4% glucose with 27 mmol/l of added potassium (1)
What needs monitoring daily for patients on a maintenance fluids?
Fluid status (1), fluid balance chart (1) and U&E blood tests (1)
What infusion rate is used to give 1 litre of fluid over 8 hours?
125 ml/hour (1)
What are the key causes of acute right upper quadrant pain?
Biliary colic (1) , acute cholecystitis (1) and acute cholangitis (1)
What are the key causes of acute unilateral testicular pain?
Testicular torsion (1) and epididymo-orchitis (1)
What do guarding and rigidity on examination suggest?
Peritonitis (1)
What examination finding involves rapidly releasing pressure on the abdomen with worse pain than the pressure itself?
Rebound tenderness (1)
What underlying condition is associated with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis?
Ascites in patients with liver disease (1)
What initial assessment is used for acutely unwell patients?
ABCDE assessment (1)
What blood test specifically indicates inflammation of the pancreas?
Amylase (1)
What blood test gives an indication of the synthetic function of the liver and the patient’s clotting function?
International normalised ratio (INR) (1)
What blood test is used in females of child bearing age presenting with abdominal pain? Why?
Serum human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) (1) to exclude pregnancy (1)
What investigation and finding can be used to assess for intra-abdominal perforation?
Erect chest x-ray (1) showing air under the diaphragm (1)
What is the name of the tender point on examination in appendicitis?
McBurney’s point (1) Where is this located? One third of the distance from the anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS) to the umbilicus (1)
What scoring system can be used to calculate the probability of appendicitis?
Alvarado score (1)
What is the name of the condition where the omentum surrounds and sticks to the inflamed appendix, forming a mass in the right iliac fossa?
Appendix mass (1)
What is the usual definitive management of acute appendicitis?
Laparoscopic appendicectomy (1)