Pestana notes Flashcards
Initial treatment of septic shock often includes a steroid bolus. Patients who respond beautifully at first but then suffer a relapse might not have septic shock at all but rather what
Adrenal insufficiency
Spinal cord injury that is typically from clean cut injury (knife blade) and has paralysis and loss of proprioception distal to the injury on the injury side and loss of pain distal to injury on opposite side
Hemisection (Brown-Sequard)
Spinal cord injury that is typically seen in burst fractures of the vertebral bodies. There is loss of motor function and loss of pain and temperature sensation on both sides distal to the injury, with preservation of vibratory and positional sense
Anterior cord syndrome
Spinal cord injury that occurs in the elderly with forced hyperextension of the neck (rear-end collision). There is paralysis and burning pain in the upper extremities, with preservation of most functions in the lower extremities.
Central cord syndrome
Rib fx can be deadly in elderly because of progression of pain to hypoventilation to atelectasis to pneumonia. How do you treat it
local nerve block and epidural catheter
When a chest tube is placed for hemothorax and we get 1500 mL or more of blood when inserted or more than 600 is collected in the ensuing 6 hours, what do we realize and what needs to be done
- systemic vessel is lacerated. this is typically an intercostal artery
- video-assisted thoracotomy will be needed to control the bleeding
Traumatic rupture of the diaphragm shows up as what
bowel in the chest
A rare but fascinating potential sequela of injuries affecting the renal pedicle is the development of what an Arteriovenous fistula leading to what
CHF
treatment of a large penile shaft hematoma due to fracture of penis
Emergency surgery
Order in which you should repair structures when arteries, nerves, and bone are involved
- Stabilize bone first
- then delicate vascular repair
- Nerve last
- Fasciotomy should be added because the prolonged ischemia could lead to compartment syndrome
Treatment of chemical burns
- Massive irrigation
- DO NOT play chemist and attempt to neutralize agent
What is an appropriate predetermined rate of fluid infusion in an adult who is severely burned
1,000 mL/H or Ringer lactate (without sugar)
Describe the topical agents used for burns
- Standard is silver sulfadiazine
- If deep penetration is desired (thick eschar, cartilage), mafenide acetate is choice
- Burns nears eyes are covered with triple antibiotic ointment (sulfadiazine is irritating to the eyes)
In a burn victim, describe when early excision and grafting may be used
- Fairly limited burns (under 20%)
- obviously third degress
if signs of envenomation from a snake bite are present (severe local pain, swelling, and discoloration developing within 30 minutes of the bite), what should be drawn?
-blood for typing and crossmatching, coagulation studies, and liver and renal function
What is antivenin for rattlesnakes
CROFAB
What is the only valid first aid measure for a snake bite
Splint the extremity during transportation
-DO NOT make cruciate cuts, suck out venom, wrap with ice, or apply a tourniquet
Brightly colored coral snakes have a neurotoxin that needs to be promptly neutralized with specific antivenin. don’t wait for signs of envenomation. True coral snakes are identified by what mnemonic?
- “Red on yellow, Kill a fellow”
- Meaning that red rings and yellow rings touch eachother
- Harmless brightly colored imitators have black rings separating yellow and red
treatment of anaphylaxis from bee stings
- Epinephrine
- Stingers should be removed without squeezing them
Black widow spiders are black, with a red hourglass on their belly. Bitten pts get nausea, vomiting, and severe generalized muscle cramps. What is the antidote
- IV calcium gluconate
- Muscle Relaxants
Brown Recluse spider bites are often not recognized at the time. By the next day a skin ulcer develops, with necrotic center and surrounding halo of erythema. What is treatment?
- Dapsone is helpful
- Surgical excision may be needed but should be delayed until the full extent of the damage is evident (as much as one week)
- Skin grafting may be needed
What do human bites require
-extensive irrigation and debridement (in the OR)
Signs of hip dysplasia at birth are uneven gluteal folds and easy dislocation posteriorly with a jerk and a “click” and returned to normal with a “snapping”. If signs are equivocal, what is diagnostic?
Sonogram . . .do NOT order x-rays; the hip is not calcified in the newborn
Treatment of a newborn with hip dysplasia
abduction splinting with pavlik harness for about 6 months
This occurs around age 6, with insidious development of limping, decreased hip motion, and hip (or knee) pain. Kids walk with an antalgic gait, and passive motion of the hip is guarded
Legg-Calve-Perthes disease (avascular necrosis of the capital femoral epiphysis)
Treatment of Legg-Calve-Perthes disease (avascular necrosis of the capital femoral epiphysis)
usually containing the femoral head within the acetabulum by casting and crutches
This is an orthopedic emergency in which the typical patient is a chubby (or lanky) boy, around age 13. They complain of groin (or knee) pain and are noted to be limping. When they sit with the legs dangling, the sole of the foot on the affected side points toward the other foot. ON PE there is limited hip motion, and as the hip is flexed the thigh goes into external rotation and cannot be rotated internally
Slipped capital femoral epiphysis
Treatment of slipped capital femoral epiphysis
surgical treatment pins the femoral head back in place
This is an orthopedic emergency. It is seen in little toddlers who have had a febrile illness and then refuse to move the hip. They hold the leg with the hip flexed, in slight abduction and external rotation and do not let anybody try to move it passively. They have elevated ESR
Septic hip
how is septic hip diagnosed
Aspiration of the hip under general anesthesia, and further open drainage is done if pus is obtained
Genu varum (bowlegs) is normal up to age 3. No treatment is needed. If persistent varus beyond age 3, what is most common cause?
-Blount disease (a disturbance of the medial proximal tibial growth plate), . . . surgery
This is seen in teenagers with persistent pain right over the tibial tubercle, which is aggravated by contraction of the quadriceps. PE shows localized pain right over the tibial tubercle, and there is no knee swelling.
Osgood-Schlatter dx (osteochondrosis of the tibial tubercle)
This is an inflammation of the common digital nerve at the third interspace, between the third and fourth toes. it is palpable as a very tender spot.
Morton Neuroma
Cause of a morton neuroma
typically the use of pointed, high-heeled shoes (or pointed cowboy boots) that force the toes to be bunched together
Ejection fraction under what % poses prohibitive cardiac risk for noncardiace operations
under 35%
Whats the index and findings that predict trouble when evaluation a patient for preop clearance
- Goldman index
- JVD (Worst single finding)
- recent MI
- PVCs or any rhythm other than sinus
- over 70 y/o
- emergency surgery
- Aortic valve stenosis
- Poor medial condition
- surgery within the chest or abdomen
How long after MI should surgery be delayed
6 months
Cessation of smoking for how long prior to surgery is needed
8 weeks
What 2 clinical findings and 3 lab values are used to predict operative mortality in patients with liver disease . . . . child class
- encephalopathy
- Ascites
- Serum albumin
- Prothrombin time (INR)
- Bilirubin
Severe nutritional depletion is identified by what?
- loss of 20% of body weight over a couple of months
- serum albumin below 3
- anergy to skin antigens
- serum transferrin level of less than 200
Perioperative MI may occur during an operation (triggered most commonly by hypotension), in which case it is detected by the EKG as what
- ST depression
- T-wave flattening
After the diagnosis of PE, start treatment with heparinization. What do you add if PEs recur during anticoagulation or if anticoagulation is contraindicated
an IVC filter (Greenfield)
What is the first thing that has to be suspected when a post-op patients gets confused and disoriented
hypoxia
What can be quickly induced by liberal administration of sodium-free IV fluid (like D5W) in a postoperative patients with high levels of ADH (triggered by response to trauma)
hyponatremia
Surgical damaged to what structure can induce hypernatremia through large unreplaced water loss
-Posterior pituitary with unrecognized Diabetes insipidus
What is a common source of coma in a cirrhotic patient with bleeding esophageal varices who undergoes a portocaval shunt
Ammonium intoxication
describe the measurement of urinary sodium to determine if low urinary output is due to dehydration or renal failure
- if less than 10 or 20 then dehydrated with good kidneys
- if exceeds 40 then renal failure
What is the Fractional excretion of sodium level in renal failure
greater than 1
Postop paralytic ileus is prolonged by what electrolyte abnormality
Hypokalemia
Paralytic ileus is to be expected in the first few days after abdominal surgery. if this does not resolve after 5, 6, or 7 days then what is likely?
mechanical bowel obstruction
What is seen in elderly sedentary patients who have become further immobilized owing to surgery elsewhere (broken hip, prostatic sutgery). They develop large abdominal distention (tense but not tender) and imaging studies show a massively dilated colon
Ogilvie syndrome (Paralytic ileus of the colon)
management of Ogilvie syndrome
- After fluid and electrolyte correction, the safest thing to do is perform a colonscopy, suck out all the air, and place a long rectal tube
- IV neostigmine stimulate colonic motility but this drug is best AVOIDED and is lethal if inadvertently given to someone whose colon is actually obstructed
- post op day 5
- wound intact
- Salmon colored fluid soaking dressing
Wound dehiscence
management of wound dehiscence
- Wound has to be taped securely, abdomen bound, and mobilization and coughing done with great care
- Arrangements are made for prompt reoperation to prevent evisceration now or ventral hernia later on
management of evisceration
- patient kept in bed and bowel covered with large sterile dressings soaked with warm saline
- Emergency abdominal closure
What is the safe rate of potassium administration
10 mEq/hr
Describe the therapy of Hyperkalemia
- The ultimate therapy is hemodialysis
- while waiting for it we can help by “pushing K into cells (50% dextrose and insulin), sucking it out of GI tract (NG suction, exchange resins), or neutralizing its effect on the cellular membrane (IV calcium)
- The latter provides the quickest protection
In all cases of longstanding acidosis, describe the effect on K+
- renal loss of K+ leads to a deficit that does not become apparent until the acidosis is corrected
- thus we must prepare to replace
describe how to correct metabolic alkalosis
- In most cases, an abundant intake of KCl (b/t 5 to 10) will allow the kidney to correct the problem
- Only rarely is ammonium chloride or .1 N HCl needed
Describe the dysphagia seen with achalasia
- worse for liquids
- patient eventually learns that sitting up straight and waiting allows the weight of the column of liquid to overcome the sphincter
What is the most appealing current treatment of achalasia
-balloon dilatation done by endoscopy
Describe the diagnostic modalities and treatment of esophageal cancer
- Diagnosis is established with endoscopy and biopsies, but barium swallow must precede to help prevent inadvertent perforation
- CT scan assesses operability but most cases can only get palliative (rather than curative) surgery
Best therapy for gastric adenocarcinoma
surgery
Describe treatment of gastric lymphoma
- Treatment is based on chemo or radiotherapy
- Surgery is done if perforation is feared as the tumor melts away
- Low-grade lymphomatoid transformation (MALTOMA) can be reversed by eradication of H. pylori
Cancer of the right colon typically shows up with what?
- anemia (hypochromic, iron deficiency) for no good reason
- stools with be 4+ for occult blood
Cancer of the left colon typically shows with what?
- bloody BMs
- may be constipation
- stools may have narrow caliber
In cancers of the left colon, what needs to be done before surgery
- Full colonoscopy to rule out synchronous second primary
- Pre-op chemo and radiation may be needed for large rectal cancers
Describe the pseudomembranous enterocolitis (caused by overgrowth of C. diff) what would require emergency surgery
- unresponsive to surgery
- WBC about 50k
- serum lactate above 5
Describe the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the anus
- Starts with Nigro chemoradiation protocol
- followed by surgery if there is residual tumors
- 5 week chemo-radiation protocol has a 90% success rate, so surgery rarely is required
Massive upper GI bleeding in the stressed, multiple trauma, or complicated post-op patient is probably from stress ulcers. Endoscopy will confirm. What is the best therapeutic option?
How could it be avoided?
- Angiographic embolization
- maintain gastric pH above 4
Any patient who has survived 2 episodes of acute diverticulitis should have what?
elective surgical removal of the affected area before they get into trouble again
Describe X ray findings in Volvulus of the sigmoid
- air-fluid levels in the small bowel
- very distended colon
- A huge air-filled loop in the right upper quadrant that tapers down toward the left lower quadrant with the shape of a “parrot’s beak”
Describe the management of volvulus of the sigmoid
- Proctosigmoidoscopic exam with the old rigid intrument resolves the acute problem
- Rectal tube is left in
- Recurrent cases need elective sigmoid resection
In malignant obstruction of the biliary tree, what does the gallbladder look like on US
large, thin-walled, distended (Courvoisier-Terrier sign)
Surgical injuries to the biliary tract are devastating complications with lifelong adverse consequences, due to the tendency of those structures to do what as they heal
stricture
what lab value can differentiate edematous pancreatitis from hemorrhagic?
- in edematous hematocrit is elevated
- lower in hemorrhagic
In hemorrhagic pancreatitis, A common final pathway for death is the development of multiple pancreatic abscesses, and to anticipate them and drain them, if at all possible . . . what is recommended?
daily CT scans
In hemorrhagic pancreatitis, A common final pathway for death is the development of multiple pancreatic abscesses. What antibiotics are known to penetrate infected necrotic pancreas, and they may be used prior to surgical drainage
- Carbapenems
- quinolones
- metronidazole
The treatment of pancreatic pseudocyst is dictated by the size and age. Describe this
- Cysts 6 cm or smaller, or those that have been present for less than 6 weeks are not likely to have complications and can be observed for spontaneous resolution
- Bigger or olders cysts are more likely to rupture or bleed and they need to be treated . . drainage
Describe the screening and management of a woman who inherits the BRCA gene
- needs early and frequent screening, but it should be done with MRIs rather than mammagroma, which are carcinogenic if repeated frequently
- Furthermore, past the age of 30 they should consider prophylactic bilateral mastectomies if they have the BRCA2 mutations and that plus oophorectomies if they have the BRCA1 mutation
Cystosarcoma phyllodes is seen in the late 20s. They grow over many years, becoming very large, replacing and disorting the entire breast, yet not invading or becoming fixed. Most are benign, but they have potential to become outright malignant sarcomas. What management is mandatory?
- Core or incisional biopsy (FNA is NOT sufficient)
- removal
Intraductal papilloma is seen in young women (20s to 40s) with bloody nipple discharge. Mammogram is needed to identify other potential lesions, but it will NOT show the papilloma. What is diagnostic and management?
-Galactogram may be diagnostic and guides surgical resection
Breast cancer during pregnancy is diagnosed exactly as if pregnancy did not exist and is treated the same way except for: no radiotherapy or hormonal manipulations at any time during the pregnancy an no chemotherapy during which trimester?
1st
Describe the treatment of resectable breast cancer
- Starts with either of 2 operations
- Small lesions, located far away from the nipple and areola of a large breast, are removed within only a segment of the mammary gland . . lumpectomy, or segmental resection and MUST be followed by radiotherapy
- Large tumors lying right under the nipple and areola, and occupying most of a small breast, require a simple total mastectomy and do NOT need subsequent radiation
- If lymph nodes are not palpable in the axilla, either operation must include a sentinel node biopsy
- If enlarged lymph nodes are palpable in the axilla, they are resected
Inflammatory cancer of breast is the only variant with a much worse prognosis than infiltrating ductal carcinoma and what needs to be added pre operatively
chemotherapy
Inoperability of breast cancer is based on what?
local extent . . . not metastases
In breast cancer, Adjuvant systemic therapy should follow surgery in virtually all patients, particularly if axillary nodes are positive. Chemo is used in most cases nad hormonal therapy is added if the tumor is receptor positive. What do PREmenopausal women receive?
Post -menopausal?
- Tamoxifen
- Anastrozole
Persistent headache or back pain (with areas of localized tenderness) in women who recently had breast cancer suggest metastasis. MRIs are diagnostic. Brain mets can be radiated or resected. What is the favorite location in the spine?
vertebral pedicles
A total thyroidectomy is always done for which thyroid cancer?
Why?
- Follicular
- It can take radioactive iodine if it does not have to compete with normal thyroid tissue . . therfore a total thyroidectomy permits use of radioactive iodine in the future to identify and treat any potential metastasis
Treatment of medullary thyroid cancer
- it is aggressive so radical surgery is justified
- Workup for Pheo is indicated as they often coexist (MEN 2)
Anaplastic thyroid cancer is seen in old people. It grows like wildfire and often all that can be done is what
tracheostomy
Treatment of hyperthyroidism
Radioactive iodine in most cases. There is very limited role for surgery on patients who have a “hot” adenoma