Pestana - Surgery Flashcards
Indications for intubation in trauma patient?
- Expanding hematoma in neck (nl intub.)
- Air present w/in tissues of lower neck/upper chest (bronchoscope)
- Pt in coma (nl intub.)
- Extensive facial fracture, drowning in blood (open cric, only do in OR)
Reasons for trauma patient to be in shock?
- Hemorrhage
- Pericardial Tamponade
- Tension Pneumothorax
How do you differentiate hemorrhage, pericardial tamponade, or tension pneumothorax in chest trauma?
- Normal/low CVP = hemorrhage
- High CVP + distended neck veins = Tamp or PTX (use difficulty breathing to distinguish)
First rule to treat trauma patient with signs of hemorrhagic shock? Second?
- Find bleeding and stop (exploratory lap, etc.)
2. Fluid resusc. with LR and pRBC
Best way to stop active visible bleeding?
Direct pressure
What is the indication for starting IVF before stopping hemorrhage in traumatic hemorrhagic shock?
If bleeding source is difficult to find and diagnostic studies need to be done
Can intracranial hemorrhage lead to hemorrhagic shock?
Cranial vault can’t accomodate enough blood loss to cause shock, look elsewhere for bleed source
What is vasomotor shock and what can cause it? How do these patient’s appear and how do you treat?
- Loss of peripheral vascular resistance (warm, flushed)
1. Anaphylaxis
2. Spinal Cord interruption at higher level
Tx: Pharmacological treatment, pressors
When/where should foreign bodies in trauma injury be removed?
Always in the OR, because hemorrhage risk
When should skull fractures be taken to OR?
Depressed wound (linear fracture can be cleaned at bedside)
Which trauma patients require head CT?
Any head injury with loss of consciousness
What are signs of skull base fracture? What is the worry with this injury and how can you assess?
- Ecchymoses under eyes, fluid from eyes/ears/nose, hematoma behind ear
- Risk of neck/cspine injury (CT scan of head AND neck)
What can be done to reduce O2 demand in head? When should this be done?
Sedation/hypothermia
Use when medical therapy to decrease ICP fails
What are indications for surgical exploration in neck trauma?
- Penetrating injury below mandible and above sternum (especially anterolateral)
- Coughing/spitting up blood
- expanding hematoma
- signs of hypovolemic shock (must stop bleed!!)
When do you NOT operate immediately for neck trauma? What steps should be taken?
- If penetrating injury above angle of mandible or below cricothyroid cartilage
- do arteriogram/radiographic imaging
- Possible embolization (surgery only if accessible location and after thorough planning)
Best treatment for pain in painful chest trauma in elderly adult?
Topical anesthetic (big risk of resp depression if opioid given)
How do you treat a “sucking” chest wall wound?
Dressing to block opening, to prevent tension PTX
What is a sign of major deceleration injury? What are the risks and what should be done?
- Broken 1st rib, scapula, and sternum (hardest bones to break)
1. Monitor 48 hrs for heart/lung contusion
2. Look for transection of Aorta (CXR, spiral CT)
3. Repair if spiral CT + (aortogram if -)
What are causes of emphysema in the neck?
- Esoph perforation (usually from EGD)
- Tension PTX
- transection/damage to trachea/bronchus
Possible causes of air embolism and how to prevent?
- Subclavian lymph node biopsy (do in trendelenburg)
- Central line catheter disconnect
Causes of pulmonary failure after chest trauma?
- Multiple broken ribs/fractures –> pulm contusion
- Multiple long bone fractures -> fat embo
Indications for ex lap for ab trauma?
- Gunshot wounds below nipple line
- Knife wounds that penetrate peritoneum (viscera hanging out)
- blunt trauma w/ signs of acute abdomen
- Signs of hemorrhage w/ abd as only possible location for bleeding (confirm w/ CT if hemodynamic stable, Abd sonogram for blood if not)
Major complications for ex laps of abdominal trauma?
- Coagulopathy from increased blood transfusions
- Hypothermia
- Abdominal compartment syndrome (which can cause resp failure if not recognized and abdomen forced close)
W/u for pelvic trauma with stable hematoma?
Rule out additional injury to genitals, bladder, urethra, rectum:
do sigmoidoscopy, retrograde cystogram and pelvic exam (female),
Best steps to address unstable hemorrhage due to pelvic fracture?
- External fixation of pelvis
- Arteriogram (and embo) of bleeding vessels (33% utility)
- check pelvic organs/structures for injury
What is the order of repairs for major injury to extrimities?
- Stabilize bone
- Fix vessels
- Fix nerves
- Possible fasciotomy to prevent compartment syndrome
How can patient responsiveness to fluid be monitored and adjusted?
Produce 1-2 cc/kg/hr of urine (if less give more fluids, if more slow down)
What is the treatment necessary for all burns?
- Tetanus ppx
- Silver sulfadiazene (Abx around eyes)
- Pain medication
- Grafts
- Intensive nutritional support
What is the key to identifying orthopedic diseases in Peds? Identify the 4 main categories:
AGE
- Birth -> developmental dysplasia, use sonogram
- Toddler -> Septic hip, aspirate to dx, drain
- 6 yo -> Legg Perthes or Vasc nexcrosis, do XRay
- 13 yo -> Slip capital fem epiphysis, pin femoral head
What scan should be done in child with febrile illness, no trauma, and severe local bone pain?
Do bone scan to rule acute hematogenous osteo
What is the most severe fracture that can occur in children? How does it usually occur?
Supra condylar fracture of humerus b/c risk of vascular necrosis
-Falls on hand w/ arm extended, breaks elbow w/ hyperextension
What is the physical exam finding of a patient with fracture of femoral head? how should you treat?
- leg shortened and externally rotated
- hip replacement surgery b/c risk of avasc necrosis
What is a useful tool for diagnosing knee injuries?
Tenderness to palpitation identifies the part of the knee with the injury
What is the presentation of a patient with posterior dislocation of the hip? What is the treatment?
- Leg shortened, adducted and internally rotated
- Surgical repair
What test should be done in all patients with suspected head trauma (like in a car accident)?
-CT Head and include the neck! (b/c any head injury can also involve the neck)
What must be done before all carpal tunnel surgery?
- Wrist XRay to r/o other causes
- electromyography to confirm carpal tunnel
What are the best initial steps for a diabetic foot ulcer care?
- Control ulcer by keeping clean and foot elevated
- treat diabetes to prevent progression
- amputation last resort
What is the appearance of venous stasis ulcer? How do you treat?
- Above medial malleolus, indurated, hyperpigmented
- Elastic stockings, boots etc. surgery in advanced cases
What is the risk of multiple ulcers that heal and break down over many years? How do you treat?
- Squamous cell carcinoma
- Do biopsy and wide local excision
What are the major cardiac risks that preclude no operation?
Old/inactive patient, EF
What hepatic issues can increase risk of complications in surgical patients?
Cirrhosis, Increased BR, increased PT, albumin low (
What should be done before operating on patients who are severely malnourished?
5-10 days of direct nutritional support (PEG, or PEJ if possible)
How soon can you operate on patient in DKA?
Within hours as long as acidosis, hyperglycemia, dehydration and other main issues are corrected.
What are the 5 causes of postop fever?
- Wind (atelectasis) - POD 1
- Water (UTI) - POD 3
- Walking (DVT) - POD 5
- Wound (infection) - POD 7
- Wonder where?? (Deep abscess) - POD 10
What is the risk of not treating atelectasis?
Pneumonia
What are the two most common causes of chest pain after surgery and how can you distinguish?
MI (during Op or POD 1 or 2)
PE (POD 5 or 7)
What is the most common cause of MI perioperatively? What will identify?
- Hemorrhage and severe protracted hypotension
- EKG tracing changes seen
What are the classic blood gas findings in pts w/ PE?
Hypoxemia AND hypocapnia
Best way to prevent further PE in postop patients?
IVC filter (since tPA can’t be given)
What increases risk for tension pneumothorax for patient in surgery and how can you minimize?
- Severe damage to lungs (e.g. TB causing blebs, damage by ribs as in flail chest)
- Bilateral chest tubes (before, or if PTX occurs)
What are the causes of disorientation and coma postop?
Hypoxemia (decreased O2 to brain), ARDS, DTs (alcoholic), SIADH (hypoNa), DI (hyperNa), hepatic encephalopathy (cirrhotic pt)
How can you differentiate dehydration from renal failure in patients with low urine output postop?
Measure urine Na levels and FeNa (if Na 10-20 pt dehydrated, if Na > 40 pt renal failure)
What patient’s are at risk of Ogilvie’s syndrome? What is this condition and how do you treat?
Paralytic ileus of colon (massive colon dilation)
-Elderly pt, inactive preop, non Abdomen surgery (hips, Uro, etc.)
Tx: Colonoscopy
How do you treat a subcostal postop fistula draining green fluid?
Let nature heal itself!! but give patient lots of fluids to replete and TPN/other nutritional support
What are patients who lose fluid from GI tract at risk of and how can you treat?
- Initial volume loss followed by repletion with only free H2O (vs. isotonic electrolyte fluid) –> Hypovolemic HypoNa
- Give isotonic fluids to repelete
What is the amount of water lost with Na >140? How do you treat?
- 1L H2O lost for every 3 meq/L above 140
- If change happened quickly give D5W
- If change was slow give D5 1/2 NS (free water would be lethal b/c too rapid correction)
How do you treat HypoNa from SIADH?
Hypertonic saline if change happened quickly, water restriction if change was slow
What electrolyte must be repleted when treating a patient for DKA?
K+ at a rate up to 20mEq/hr if needed (because total body K+ lost and serum levels drop after DKA tx)
What are three major conditions that can lead to a sudden rise in K+ concentrations?
- Crush Injury (cell destruction)
- Blood transfusions (damaged RBCs)
- Acidosis (K+ exchanged for H+ entry into cells)
What are patients who are in and out of shock for prolonged periods at risk of developing? How best to treat?
- Metabolic acidosis from hypoperfusion
- Give Ringer’s Lactate (treats acidosis and increases perfusion pressure)
What is the best treatment for patients w/ metabolic alkalosis from severe protracted vomiting?
Potassium Chloride (KCl) at up to 10-15 mEq/Hr
What is the indication for endoscopy for GERD?
Progressive heartburn for many years w/ some symptomatic improvement w/ antacids (do scope to assess for damage)
What is the indication for surgery for GERD and how do you decide what surgery needs to be done?
- Refractory to medical tx (PPIs etc.)
- If dysplastic changes are present, need to resect portion of esophagus
- If no dysplasia, do fundoplication
How do you work up a patient w/ suspected esophageal cancer?
- Barium swallow to assess level of obstruction etc.
- Endoscopic exam w/ biopsies
- Palliative surgery
How do you assess damage for a patient w/ suspected Boerhaave’s syndrome?
Gastrografin swallow (barium will penetrate mediastinum)
What is the primary initial treatment for mechanical SBO? What is the patient at risk for?
-NGT, IVF, NPO then wait and watch for fever, white count up, worsening pain which would be signs of SB strangulation
What is the indication for operating in SBO?
- pt develops fever, leukocytosis, worsening tenderness in abdomen
- if SBO caused by hernia that got incarcerated and strangulated (now if sx above, later if pt stable)
Provide the list of polyps that may cause cancer in order of most malignant to least:
FAP > Villous Adneoma > Tubular adenoma > Benign polyp disease (juvenile polyposis, Peutz jegher disease, inflammatory/hyperplastic polyps)
What are the indications for surgery in ulcerative colitis?
- Chronic UC (because increased risk of cancer)
- High dose steroid treatment (a sub sign of chronic UC)
- Toxic Megacolon
What should not be used in patients with C-Diff?
Anti-diarrhea meds
Indications for surgery in C-Diff?
Failure of medical treatment, WBC >50k, Lactate >5
What presenting signs can be used to distinguish the 3 different types of hemorrhoids?
Painless bleeding -> Internal hemorrhoids
Painful, non-bloody -> External hemorrhoids
BOTH -> prolapsed internal
What are the indications for surgery of hemorrhoids?
External or prolapsed internal (if internal, can treat in office w. rubber band ligation)
What should be looked at closely for patients with isciorectal abscess?
- Make sure it’s not a necrotic cancer causing it
- Follow diabetics closely if doing incision and drainage
What is the presentation and treatment for squamous cell carcinoma of the anus?
Fungating mass in HIV + patient, has enlarged peripheral lymph nodes
Tx: chemoradiation (Nigro protocol ) and surgery once shrunk
What are the causes of lower GI bleeding and who are more likely to get?
Polyps, cancer, hemorrhoids, diverticulosis, angiodysplasia (all are more common in eldely!!)
What should be done for a patient with massive lower GI bleeding?
Tagged RBC study to look for site of bIood Ioss, foIIowed by ateriogam. If no bIood seen on tagged study, conside coIonoscope.
What should be done in patients with dark red blood per rectum?
Do NGT if actively bleeding NOW -> If blood present you confirm UGI source; if green bile do arteriogram if 2cc/min, Tagged RBC if .5 - 2cc/min, or colonoscope if
What is the most likely cause of lower GI bleeding in a child? What needs to be done?
Meckel’s diverticulum -> Do Technitium 99 scan
What are pro inflammatory cytokines that can cause SIRS?
TNF alpha, IL1, IL6
What are the associated congenital anomalies?
VACTERL - vertebral, anal imperforate, cardiac, tracheal, esophageal atresia, renal, limbs
What does double bubble sign with some normal gas pattern beyond suggest? How can you confirm?
Malrotation
Do contrast enema
What must be ruled out in patient’s with “acute abdomen” and how is this done?
Mimicks of AA:
- MI, r/o w/ EKG
- Ureter stone, r/o w/ AXR or CT A/P
- Pancreatitis, r/o w/ amylase/lipase
- Lower lobe Pneumonia, r/o w/ CXR
- Primary bacterail peritonitis (signs of acute abdomen but pt has ascites) - do tap and culture fluid to confirm
What is the treatment of mesenteric ischemia?
- If found early (acute abd w/ afib in elderly) do arteriogram and embolectomy
- If found late (signs above and blood in stool) do ex lap w/ resection of dead segment of bowel
What physical sign can distinguish perforation from obstruction?
Perforation is sudden constant and patient doesn’t want to move
Obstruction is sudden but colicky, and patient moves around attempting to improve pain w/ positioning
What test is done to confirm gall stones? Ureter stones?
Sonogram for gall, CT for ureter
What are the lab signs of obstructive jaundice and what should be done when suspecting this?
Very high alk phos
Do sonogram
What does distended thin walled gall bladder on sonogram suggest?
Cancer, do CT abd and/or ERCP if needed
What are the three cancers that can cause obstructive jaundice? How best do you visualize each?
- Head of pancreas - CT
- Cholangiocarcinoma - ERCP
- Cancer of Ampulla of vater - endoscopy (causes anemia from bleeding to lumen)
How can you differentiate acute cholecystitis and acute ascending cholangitis? What do you treat ascending cholangitis with?
AAC is usually in older, sicker patients, and LFTs are very deranged because pus fills up biliary ducts, alk phos is very high (lfts relatively normal in acute cholecystitis)
Tx: Immediate decompression of biliary tract w/ ERCP by GI, Abx and eventual cholecystectomy
What situations are more likely to require emergent cholecystectomy?
Male patients, pts w/ diabetes, and failure of medical therapy (NPO, NGT, IVF, Abx)
What are the two major types of acute pancreatitis and how do you differentiate?
more benign edematous form and more severe hemorrhagic form which usually p/w lower hematocrit
How can you distinguish severity of hemorrhagic pancreatitis and how do you manage it?
-Ranson Criteria (Hct, Ca, BUN, pH)
Tx: NPO, NGT, IVF, put patient in ICU and watch for ARDS, get daily CT scans to look for pancreatic abscess which needs immediate drainage
How are pseudocysts formed and how do you treat?
-Pancreatitis or car accident w/ Abd trauma ~5 weeks prior to presentation (leakage of pancr fluid, wall off)
Tx: if >6 cm or around >6 weeks do Cystogastrost(jejunost)omy, PerQ IR drainage, or endo drainage into stomach