Surgery Flashcards
What is the most appropriate management of a patient with provoked DVT (i.e. after major surgery) and with end stage renal disease?
Anti-coagulation for 3 months starting with unfractionated heparin followed by warfarin (bridging since wafarin takes days to have effect and can be pro-coagulative in that time due to proteins C/S suppression).
When are IVC filters used for DVT?
Patients with contraindications to anti-coagulation (massive GI bleed, hemorrhagic stroke, ect).
What is the size threshold for urology consult for nephrolithiasis?
A stone greater than 10 mm.
What is the next best step for suspected rotator cuff tendinopathy/tear? (i.e. limited abduction and external rotation)
Shoulder MRI
What is the preferred agent for volume resuscitation in burn patients?
Lactated ringers.
What two organisms are responsible for most deep tissue infections (osteomyelitis, ect) following puncture wounds?
S. aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
What is the most likely cause of a middle mediastinal mass?
Bronchogenic cyst. (anterior would be thymoma and posterior would be neurogenic tumors).
What is the acute onset of severe periumbilical pain suggestive of?
Acute mesenteric ischemia (patient had acute bacterial endocarditis which is a risk factor for emboli).
What is a potential life threatening complication of a retropharyngeal abscess?
Acute necrotizing mediastinitis (retropharyngeal space drains to superior mediastinum plus infection can spread to the danger space between alar fascia and prevertebral fascia leading to drainage to middle mediastinum).
What are the causes of immediate post-op fever? (i.e. withing first couple of hours)
Prior infection/trauma, inflammation due to surgery, malignant hyperthermia, medications (anesthetics), transfusion reaction.
What are the causes of acute post-op fever? (i.e. within first week)
Nosocomial infections (pneumonia, UTI), PE, atelectasis
What are the causes of subacute post-op fever? (i.e. after the first week)
Drug fever, surgical site infection, PE
What are the causes of delayed post-op fever? (i.e. 1 month out)
Infection (viral infection from blood products, infective endocarditis).
What are the findings with avascular necrosis of the femoral head?
Pain with hip abduction and internal rotation, normal WBC and ESR/CRP, normal imaging for months (advanced will show crescent sign).
Can burn wound sepsis present without fever?
Yes. Consider gram negative sepsis in a burn wound patient who develops hypotension and necrotic wound edges.
What characterizes gastric outlet obstruction?
Early satiety, nausea, weight loss, non-bilious vomiting. Caused by many disease processes (pyloric stricture, malignancy, PUD, Crohn’s).
What is an atypical presentation of testicular cancer?
Metastasis (chronic cough from pulmonary spread, back pain from retroperitoneal LN involvement, ect).
What is pulmonary contusion?
Tachypnea, tachycardia, and hypoxia that occurs within 24 hours of blunt thoracic trauma.
How is pulmonary contusion diagnosed?
Rales or decreased breath sounds and CT scan or CXR showing patchy alveolar infiltrates not restricted by anatomical borders.
What is the treatment for pulmonary contusion?
Pain control, pulmonary hygiene (nebulizer, chest PT), supplemental O2/ventilation support.
What should be suspected in anyone who develops fever and abdominal signs (pain, vomiting, ect) several days following an abdominal operation?
An intra-abdominal abscess. A sub-phrenic abscess would also have pulmonary signs (SOB, pleural effusion).
What is a potential complication of cardiac surgery related to intra-operative wound infection?
Acute mediastinitis (tachycardia, chest pain, leukocytosis, fever, purulent drainage). Shows mediastinal widening on CXR.
What is the management of acute mediastinitis following cardiac surgery?
Surgical debridement and antibiotic therapy.
What are the symptoms of a massive post-op PE?
Sudden onset hypotension and right heart dysfunction (JVD and right bundle branch block). Will progress to left heart dysfunction (dyspnea, bibasilar crackles, ect). Also remember that massive PE is one of the few causes of sudden cardiac death.
What is the management of complicated gallstones ( cholecystitis, gallstone pancreatitis, ect)?
Cholecystectomy (patient had gallstone pancreatitis and improved but that gallbladder still needs to come out. No need for HIDA scan).
What is the prophylactic agent of choice for animal bite wounds?
Amoxicilin/clavulanate (the amoxicillin provides Pasturella coverage while the clavulanate provides oral anaerobes coverage).
Is imaging testing needed if there is a high clinical suspicion for appendicitis?
No. Go straight to laproscopic appendectomy (no need to wait for CT scan)
Are those with appendicieal abscesses (presentation delayed by several days allowing for rupture and abscess formation. May not have abdominal signs so do psoas sign) candidates for immediate surgery?
No, due to risk of complications. Manage with IV hydration, antibiotics, bowel rest, and interval appendectomy weeks later.
What should be suspected in a child who presents with epigastric pain and bilious vomiting 24-48 hours after blunt abdominal trauma?
An obstructing duodenal hematoma.
What is the ugly duckling sign for melanoma?
If a patient has multiple pigmented lesions (freckles, ect) a melanoma will be different in character from the others. This combined with nodularity (vertical growth) is concerning for melanoma even if there are no ABCDE signs and requires an excisional biopsy.
What does imaging show with atelectasis?
Opacification of the affected lung fields with shifting of mediastinal structures toward the atelectasis.
What are some signs of dumping syndrome following bariatric surgery?
Abdominal pain, diarrhea, and vasomotor symptoms (diaphoresis, palpitations).
What is the initial management of dumping syndrome?
Dietary modifications (high fiber, high protein, replacing simple sugars with complex carbohydrates, ect.)