LE4 Surgery >:( Flashcards
Among the different zones of cutaneous burn wounds which can be reversed by prompt and adequate treatment? *
A. Hyperemic zone
B. Stasis zone
C. Coagulation zone
D. A and B
E. All of the above
D. A and B
The stasis zone (zone of stasis) is the area surrounding the most severely burned skin (zone of coagulation) and can potentially be salvaged with prompt and adequate treatment.
Which among the following statement/s is/are true? *
A. Clothing does not retain the heat on the skin for a longer period in scald burn
B. thick soups and sauces causes deep burns because it remain in contact longer with the skin
C. exposed areas tend to be burned less deeply than areas covered with thin clothing
D. A and B
E. C and B
B. thick soups and sauces causes deep burns because it remain in contact longer with the skin
Most common cause of cutaneous burns: *
A. Scald burns
B. Flame burns
C. Flash burns
D. Contact burn
A. Scald burns
Scald burns from hot liquids are the most common cause of burn injuries, especially in children.
Which of the following can create the deepest form of scald burn *
A. Boiling water
B. Brewed coffee
C. Hot oil
D. Asphalt
E. None of the above
C. Hot oil
Hot oil can cause deeper burns than boiling water or brewed coffee due to its higher temperature and the ability to retain heat longer.
Which cause of cutaneous burn is clothing usually considered as protective? *
A. Scald burns
B. Flame burns
C. Flash burns
D. Contact burn
E. All of the above
E. All of the above
Clothing can provide a protective barrier to some extent against scald burns, flame burns, flash burns, and contact burns, though its effectiveness varies with the type of exposure and material of the clothing.
25 y/o male accidentally spilled a water with a temperature of 100 degrees centigrade. What is the most probable depth of burn? *
A. Superficial Dermal Burns
B. Deep Dermal Burns
C. Full thickness Burns
D. First degree burns
E. Fourth degree burns
C. Full thickness Burns
Asphalt injury can cause what type of burns? *
A. Scald burns
B. Flame burns
C. Flash burns
D. Contact burns
A. Scald burns
Severity of injury caused by burns is proportionate to the size of the following except: *
A. Total burn
B. Depth of the burn
C. Age of the patient
D. Etiology of the burn
E. None of the above
D. Etiology of the burn
The severity of a burn injury is generally determined by the total burn surface area, depth of the burn, and the patient’s age, not directly by the etiology of the burn.
Moderate burns are defined as the following
EXCEPT: *
A. Burns with associated medical diseases
B. Superficial burns 15 to 25% TBSA in adults
C. Full thickness burns of <10% TBSA in adults
D. Burns not involving the eyes, ears, face, hands, feet or perineum
A. Burns with associated medical diseases
Which of the following should be the preferred mode of transportation if the distance is 150 km to the nearest hospital with burn unit? *
A. ground ambulance
B. helicopter transport
C. aircraft
D. none of the above
B. helicopter transport
Helicopter transport is usually faster and more suitable for critically injured patients over such distances.
Small burns may be treated initially with? *
A. cool water
B. ice water
C. mentholated creams
D. toothpaste
E. tomatoes
A. cool water
Immediate cooling with cool water can help reduce the severity of the burn and alleviate pain.
Which of the following are signs of inhalational
injury? *
A. Coughing
B. Expiratory wheezes
C. Sneezing
D. Hoarseness
B. Expiratory wheezes
OR
AOTA
Coughing, expiratory wheezes, and hoarseness are signs of inhalational injury. (Note: “Sneezing” is not typically a primary sign of inhalational injury, but it was not listed as an option to choose from in the provided answers.)
A 40 y/o female was brought to the emergency room after sustaining a 40% TBSA deep dermal burn from a scald burn. What should be the first priority at the ER? *
A. Secure airway
B. Breathing
C. Circulation
D. Burn wound management
E. Referral to a burn unit
A. Secure airway
Airway management is the top priority in the initial treatment of severe burns to ensure the patient can breathe.
Which of the following are sure signs of inhalation injury? *
A. Expiratory wheezing
B. Carbonaceous sputum
C. Acrid smell of smoke on a victim’s throat
D. Burn in an enclosed area
E. All of the above
E. All of the above
Expiratory wheezing, carbonaceous sputum, and burns in an enclosed area are indicators of potential inhalation injury.
What is the minimum percent burn needed to cause local inflammatory cytokine activation in the circulation causing a systemic inflammatory response? *
A. 15%
B. 50%
C. 20%
D. 40%
E. none of the above
C. 20%
Burns affecting more than 20% TBSA can lead to a systemic inflammatory response, characterized by the release of cytokines and other mediators into the circulation. This threshold is recognized in the context of adult burn injuries, where burns exceeding 20% TBSA are associated with increased risk of systemic complications, including SIRS, sepsis, and multi-organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS).
Which of the following should be done to a 4 year old patient with complete immunization suffering from a 30% TBSA superficial burn? *
A. Admission to a burn unit
B. Cutdown of lower extremity for IV line
C. Tetanus prophylaxis
D. A & C
E. B &
D. A & C
Admission to a burn unit for specialized care and tetanus prophylaxis, even with complete immunization, are appropriate steps.
In a 35 year old male with a 25% TBSA deep dermal burn, fluid resuscitation would be monitored by: *
A. Urine output
B. Central venous pressure
C. Swan Ganz catherter monitoring
D. All of the above
D. All of the above
Fiberoptic bronchoscopy is needed to diagnose
smoke inhalation injury. *
A. True
B. False
A. True
Explanation: Fiberoptic bronchoscopy can be a crucial diagnostic tool for assessing airway injuries, identifying soot, and evaluating the extent of damage in smoke inhalation injuries.
Pain medications should be given orally in burn
patients. *
A. True
B. False
B. False
Explanation: In severe burn patients, especially in the acute phase, pain management often requires routes other than oral due to issues with absorption, the severity of pain, and the potential for gastrointestinal dysfunction. IV administration is commonly preferred for immediate and effective pain control.
Deep dermal burns does not cause wound scarring.
*
A. True
B. False
B. False
Explanation: Deep dermal burns often result in significant scarring. They can lead to hypertrophic scars and require interventions like skin grafting or reconstructive surgery.
Severity of injury caused by burns is proportionate to
the size of age of the patient. *
A. True
B. False
B. False
Explanation: The severity of burn injuries is influenced by the age of the patient (with very young and older patients generally being more vulnerable to severe outcomes), but the phrasing “size of age” seems incorrect. Age and the total body surface area (TBSA) burned are important factors in determining the severity of burn injuries.
Severity of injury caused by burns is proportionate to
associated medical problems or injuries. *
A. True
B. False
A. True
Explanation: The overall severity of burn injuries and the prognosis can be significantly affected by associated medical problems or injuries, which can complicate treatment and recovery.
The primary rule for the emergency physician is to ignore the burn. As with any form of trauma, the airway, breathing, and circulation protocol must be
strictly followed. *
A. True
B. False
A. True
Explanation: The statement is somewhat misleadingly phrased but essentially true. The initial approach in treating a burn patient, like any trauma patient, is to prioritize the ABCs (Airway, Breathing, Circulation) before addressing burn-specific treatments. “Ignore the burn” means to not let the presence of burns distract from these life-saving steps.
Because of the high incidence of septic thrombophlebitisin burn patients, lower extremities may be used as portals for peripheral intravenous lines *
A. True
B. False
B. False
Explanation: The statement is misleading. While septic thrombophlebitis is a concern, the choice of IV line placement is based on the accessibility and condition of veins rather than a specific avoidance of the lower extremities due to septic thrombophlebitis.
Burns are the only truly quantifiable form of trauma. *
A. True
B. False
B. False
Explanation: While burns can be quantified in terms of total body surface area (TBSA) affected, other forms of trauma can also be quantified using various scales and measurements (e.g., the Glasgow Coma Scale for neurological injuries).
The single most important factor in predicting burn- related mortality, need for specialized care, and the type and likelihood of complications is the depth of the burn. *
A. True
B. False
B. False
Explanation: While the depth of the burn is critically important, the total body surface area (TBSA) affected is generally considered the single most important factor in predicting burn-related mortality and the need for specialized care.
Even when using precise diagrams in determining burn size, interobserver variation may vary by as much as ±10%. *
A. True
B. False
A. True
Explanation: There is inherent variability in estimating burn size, even with the use of diagrams and standardized methods, due to subjective interpretation.
An observer’s experience with burned patients, rather than educational level, appears to be the best predictor of the accuracy of burn size estimation. *
A. True
B. False
A. True
Explanation: Experience with burn patients can improve the accuracy of burn size estimation more effectively than theoretical knowledge alone.
Adult patients with major thermal injuries require a urine output of approximately 1000 to 1500 mL/24 h.
*
A. True
B. False
B. False
Explanation: The recommended urine output for adults with major burns for adequate resuscitation is generally around 0.5 to 1 mL/kg/hr. For a 70 kg adult, this would be 840 to 1680 mL/24 h, but the specific target can vary based on individual patient needs and conditions.
The essential pathologic feature of burn wound sepsis is invasion of organisms into viable tissue, which is diagnosed via biopsy and quantitative tissue culture demonstrating greater than 10^5 organisms per gram of tissue. *
A. True
B. False
A. True
Explanation: Burn wound sepsis is diagnosed when there is microbial invasion into viable tissues beneath the burn, with >10^5 organisms per gram of tissue being a diagnostic criterion.
Acids tend to “tan” the skin, creating an impermeable barrier of coagulation necrosis debris along the leading edge of the chemical burn that limits further penetration. *
A. True
B. False
A. True
Explanation: Acids cause coagulation necrosis, which can create a barrier that limits deeper penetration of the acid, somewhat containing the injury.
Alkalis combine with cutaneous lipids to create a soap, and are thus able to continue dissolving the skin until they are neutralized. *
A. True
B. False
A. True
Explanation: Alkali burns are particularly dangerous because they cause liquefactive necrosis, leading to deeper tissue damage as the chemical reaction continues until the alkali is neutralized.
30 year old male sustained a circumferential deep dermal burn over the chest. After 6 hours from injury, patient complained of difficulty of breathing. 100% O2 mask was placed. What was the most likely cause of difficulty of breathing? *
A. pneumothorax
B. inhalation injury
C. deep circumferential chest burn
D. pneumonia
E. none of the above
C. deep circumferential chest burn
Explanation: A deep circumferential chest burn can restrict chest wall movement and compromise breathing by preventing normal chest expansion and contraction.
In the patient from the previous question, what would be the best treatment option? *
A. O2 face mask
B. IV antibiotic
C. Endotracheal tube intubation
D. Escharotomy
E. Fasciotomy
D. Escharotomy
Explanation: An escharotomy is performed to relieve the constricting pressure of the burned tissue, allowing for chest expansion and improved respiration in cases of deep circumferential burns.
A patient with third degree circumferential burn of upper extremity came in at the ER. Which of the following are signs indicating poor perfusion requiring escharotomy? *
A. Cyanosis
B. Paresthesia
C. Pulselessness
D. A&C
E. all of the above
E. all of the above
Explanation: Cyanosis, paresthesia, and pulselessness are all signs of compromised circulation in the limb below a circumferential burn, indicating the need for an escharotomy.
When measuring Intramuscular compartment pressure, what pressure warrants escharotomy? *
A. 20 mm Hg
B. 30 mm Hg
C. 40 mm Hg
D. 50 mm Hg
B. 30 mm Hg
Explanation: A compartment pressure of 30 mm Hg or higher is generally considered the threshold for performing an escharotomy to relieve compartment syndrome.
What is the single most important factor in predicting burn related morbidity and mortality *
A. Size of burn
B. Type of burn
C. Etiology of burn
D. Associated medical condition
A. Size of burn
Explanation: The total body surface area (TBSA) affected by burns is the most critical factor in determining the outcome, including morbidity and mortality.
Which of the following is the primary determinant of the patient’s long term appearance and function? *
A. Size of burn
B. Type of burn
C. Etiology of burn
D. Associated medical condition
A. Size of burn
Explanation: The size of the burn significantly affects the recovery, potential for scarring, and the need for reconstructive procedures, thereby impacting long-term appearance and function.
What type of burn that extends to the reticular layer of the dermis developed blisters but wound durface is mottled pink? *
A. Superficial dermal burn
B. Deep dermal burn
C. Full thickness burn
D. Fourth degree burn
B. Deep dermal burn
Explanation: Deep dermal burns affect the reticular dermis and can present with blisters and a mottled pink appearance, indicating some blood flow remains.
When do you expect wound to heal? *
A. 2 to 3 days
B. <3 weeks
C. 3 to 9 weeks
D. 9 weeks
B. <3 weeks
Explanation: Deep dermal burns typically heal within 3 weeks if there is no infection or other complications, though they may require further treatment to optimize healing and appearance.