Surgery Flashcards
What are the most important risk factors prior to surgery that increase the risk of perioperative and postoperative complications? (3)
- EF < 35 %
- recent MI in last 6 months (defer surgery for 6 months & perform stress test)
- CHF (optimize w/ ACE inhibitor, beta blocker, spirinolactone)
What test should be done prior to elective surgery in a pt less than 35 y/o without history of cardiac disease?
EKG
What tests should be done prior to elective surgery for a pt with history of cardiac disease? (3)
- EKG
- Stress test (coronary vessel disease)
- ECHO (structural disease & EF)
What are cardiovascular risk factors used in the assessment prior to elective surgery? (4)
- diabetes
- HLD
- HTN
- male over age of 45
What is the test of choice for pulmonary disease risk assessment prior to surgery?
pulmonary function tests
have pt quit smoking 6-8 weeks prior to surgery
Who should undergo testing for pulmonary disease risk assessment prior to surgery?
- known lung disease (asthma, COPD)
2. smoking history
What should be done in a pt with known renal disease prior to surgery?
- hydrate w/ fluids before and during surgery
2. dialzye 24 hours prior to surgery (if on dialysis)
What is the best way to maintain an airway in patients who lack facial trauma?
orotracheal tubes
What is the best way to maintain an airway in patients with facial trauma?
cricothyroidotomy
What is the best way to maintain an airway in a patient with cervical spine injury?
orotracheal tube using a flexible bronchoscopy
What is the goal for oxygen saturation in the setting of trauma/ emergency?
oxygen sat > 90%
What should be done in the setting of a trauma to maintain circulation?
obtain 2 large bore IVs and begin aggressive fluid resuscitation
What types of surgeries are considered high risk?
- vascular surgery
What is the most important pulmonary predictor of perioperative complications?
vital capacity
What are the criteria for SIRS (systemic inflammatory response syndrome)? (4)
- temp < 36 or > 38
- HR > 90
- RR > 20 or PCO2 < 32 mmHg
- WBC < 4000 or > 12000
What is the most common cause of fever occuring 1-2 days post-op?
- Atelectasis
2. Pneumonia
What are the five W’s of post-op fever?
- Wind
- Water
- Walking
- Wound
- Wonder
What is the most common cause of fever occuring 3-5 days post-op?
Urinary tract infection
especially if have indwelling catheters
What is the preventative treatment for atelectasis?
incentive spirometry
What is the treatment for hospital acquired pneumonia?
Vancomycin with zosyn (pipercillin tazobactam)
What is the most common cause of fever occuring 5-7 days post-op?
DVT (deep vein thrombosis), PE or thrombophlebitis
especially if immobilized
What is homen’s sign and what disease is it associated with?
pain in calf with foot dorsiflexion; DVT
What is the most common cause of fever occurring 7 days post-op?
Wound infections and cellulitis
associated erythema, purulent discharge, swelling
What is the most common cause of fever occurring 8-15 days post-op?
- drug
2. deep abscess
What is the best step in management of a patient with fever occuring 8-15 days post-op?
- stop offending medication
2. CT scan (to assess for deep abscess)
What is the next best step in management for a post-op patient who is confused?
- obtain ABG
- obtain CXR
- obtain CBC
What is the likely cause of post-op confusion in a patient with an abnormal ABG?
- Atelectasis (abnormal CXR)
- Pneumonia (abnormal CXR)
- PE (normal CXR, obtain CTA)
What is the likely cause of post-op confusion in a patient with an abnormal CBC?
- bacteremia (blooc cultures)
2. UTI (urine cultures)
A pt develops severe hypoxia, tachypnea, accessory muscle use for ventilation and hypercapnia with bilateral pulmonary infiltrates on CXR without JVD postoperatively most likely suffers from ….
Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)
What is the treatment of adult respiratory distress syndrome?
mechanical ventilation with maximized PEEP (positive end expiratory pressure)
What is the treatment for a pt who develops a second pulmonary embolism while on coumadin?
IVC filter via inguinal catheterization
What are the risk factors for pulmonary embolism?
- stasis (immobility- surgery/ travel; obesity)
- endothelial damage (surgery, trauma)
- hypercoagulability (OCPs, cancer, genetic disorder- factor V leiden/ protein C/S deficiency)
What is the diagnostic test of choice for a pulmonary embolism?
CTA (spiral CT)
Sepsis is characterized by ….
2 SIRS criteria with a source of infection
Severe sepsis is characterized by …
2 SIRS criteria, source of infection, and organ dysfunction
Sepsis + organ dysfunction
What is are the characteristic findings on EKG for severe right sided heart failure (that could be due to massive pulmonary embolism)?
S1-Q3-T3
prominent S wave in lead 1, pathologic Q wave in lead 3, inverted T wave in lead 3
Septic shock is characterized by …
2 SIRS criteria, source of infection, organ dysfunction, and hypotension
(Severe sepsis + hypotension)
What are the risk factors for abdominal aortic aneurysm? (5)
- age > 65
- smoking history
- HTN
- HLD
- Male gender
A pt presents with gradually increasing abdominal pain, pulsatile mass, auscultated abdominal bruit, and hypotension most likely suffers from …
Ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA)
What size is considered an abdominal aortic aneurysm?
aortic diamete> 1.5x normal
involving all layers of wall
What is the most common location for abdominal aortic aneurysm?
distal to bifurcation of renal arteries
What is the diagnostic test used to monitor the size of a known abdominal aortic aneurysm?
Ultrasound
What is the treatment for an abdominal aortic aneurysm measuring 3-4 cm?
ultrasound every 2-3 years
What is the treatment for an abdominal aortic aneurysm measuring 5.5 cm or greater?
surgery
What is the treatment for an abdominal aortic aneurysm measuring 4-5.4 cm?
ultrasound or CT every 6-12 months
What patients should undergo ultrasound screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm?
male pt who has a smoking history and is 65 years or older
A pt presents with sudden onset tearing chest pain that radiates to the back and asymmetric blood pressure (elevated in right compared to left) is most likely suffers from ….
Aortic Dissection (tear in intimal wall allowing blood to flow btw layers of wall)
What are the risk factors for aortic dissection?
- HTN (most important)
- male
- age > 40 years old
- collagen vascular disease (marfan’s disease, ehlers danlos)
What is the best initial test for aortic dissection?
CXR (widening of mediastinum)
What is the most accurate test for aortic dissection?
transesophageal ECHO (TEE) (especially if acute chest pain and/or clinically unstable)
When would you obtain an MRA for suspected aortic dissection?
pt has chronic chest pain and hemodynamically stable
When would you obtain a CTA for suspected aortic dissection?
if contraindications for MRA and TEE
What is the treatment for ascending aortic dissection?
Surgery (emergent b/c tear can propagate back to heart causing pericardial tamponade)
What is the treatment for descending aortic dissection?
medical therapy with beta blockers (control heart rate and lower blood pressure to halt propagation)
A pt presents with calf/ leg pain on exertion that is relieved by rest most likely suffers from ….
Claudication
What is the best initial test for claudication?
Ankle brachial index (< 0.9 is claudication)
What is the medical treatment for claudication?
- smoking cessation
- graded exercise (promote collateral blood flow)
- cilostazol
- aspirin or clopidogrel
What is the treatment for a patient with claudication who failed medical therapy?
- stenting
- angioplasty
- surgery
What are the 5 organ systems that be affected by shock?
- brain (confusion, altered mental status)
- kidney (increased BUN, creatinine)
- liver (elevated AST/ ALT)
- heart (chest pain, SOB)
- blood (increased lactic acid)
What are indications for intubation in the setting of trauma/ emergency?
- facial trauma
- altered mental status
- apnea (not breathing on own)
What is the treatment for hypovolemic shock?
fluids and pressors
What are the ways to maintain an oxygen saturation > 90% in the setting of trauma/ emergency?
- nasal cannula O2
- non-rebreather face mask
- mechanical intubation
What is assessed to determine adequate circulation in a pt in the trauma/ emergency setting?
- pulses (distal -> proximal)
- manage hemorrhage sites (direct pressure)
- blood pressure monitoring (if hypotensive, place 2 large bore IVs with normal saline)
What are the ABC’s of trauma workup?
- airway
- oxygen exchange
- circulation
- disability (altered mental status using glasglow coma scale)
- exposure (secondary survey to assess for hidden injuries)
What elements go into determining the glasgow coma score in a pt in the trauma/ emergency setting?
- eye response
- verbal response
- motor response
(if less than 8, requires intubation)
What type of shock is associated with pale & cool extremities, trauma, elevated systemic vascular resistance (SVR), decreased central venous pressure (CVP) and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) and decreased cardiac output?
Hypovolemic Shock
intravascular volume depleted leading to vasoconstriction of skin and extremities
What type of shock is associated with pale & cool extremities, chest pain, SOB, JVD, increased CVP, SVR, and PCWP with decreased cardiac output?
Cardiogenic Shock
heart can’t pump forward
What type of shock is associated with warm extremities, trauma, and decreased CVP, SVR, CO, and PCWP?
Neurogenic Shock
intravascular volume being improperly distributed
What type of shock is associated with warm extremities, faint pulses, infection (UTI, wound, pneumonia), decreased CVP and SVR, increased CO, and no change in PCWP?
Septic Shock
due to endotoxins in blood leading to global vasodilation
What are common causes of hypovolemic shock? (3)
- hemorrhage
- dehydration
- burns
What are common causes of cardiogenic shock? (3)
- MI
- CHF
- arrhythmia
What should you avoid in a patient with cardiogenic shock?
IV fluids (worsens problem)
What is common cause of neurogenic shock?
CNS damage (cervical/ throracic spinal cord injury)
What are the most common causes of septic shock?
- E. Coli
2. S. aureus
What type of shock is associated with warm & flush extremities, wheezing, hives, decreased CVP, SVR, and PCWP, and increased CO?
Anaphylactic Shock
release of histamine causing vasodilation