Surgery EOR pearls Flashcards
What are the layers of the abdominal wall (8)?
- Skin
- Subcutaneous fat
- Scarpa’s fascia (Camper’s fascia is above)
- External oblique
- Internal oblique
- Transversalis fascia
- Preperitoneal fascia
- Peritoneum
Diverticular disease: how does it present and whats the evaluation of choice?
Presents as colicky abdominal pain, diarrhea and/or constipation, eventually fever.
Evaluate with CT abdomen.
Meckel diverticulum
Part of the fetal GI tract that is resorbed after birth in all but 2% of people. Obstruction can develop secondary to volvulus or intussiception.
What is the most common complication of acute pancreatitis?
Pancreatic pseudocyst. Suspect it if pt continues to have abdominal pain. It is a collection of fluid, including blood, pancreatic enzymes, and necrotic tissue. Forms in “lesser sac” of abdomen (between pancreas(posterior) and stomach/duodenum (anterior).
Desmopressin is the mainstay therapy for what disease?
Von Willibrand Disease. Note, these people will have a normal PT and aPTT (its a platelet, not a clotting disease).
What is the most common cause of massive lower GI bleeds?
Diverticular disease. Hemorrhoids are a more common cause of bleeds but do not cause “massive hemorrhage”
What is the most common electrolyte disturbance in surgical patients?
Hypokalemia. It can be caused by enhanced losses, hyperaldosteronism, inappropriate replacement, and intracellular shifts caused by alkalosis.
Sx include: constipation, neuromuscular weakness, diminished tendon reflexes, paralysis, and distinctive electrocardiographic changes (flat T-waves).
What electrolyte should you always check in a patient with hypokalemia that is refractory to K supplementation?
Magnesium! It can precipitate and potentiate hypokalemia. Calcium is also often related.
What is the most common source of an arterial occlusion of the lower extremity?
Atrial fibrillation
What is the most common site of metastasis for colon cancer?
Liver
Where in the leg is the most likely site of compartment syndrome?
Anterior compartment.
Paralytic ileus- signs and symptoms
Minimal abdominal pain, hypoactive or absent bowel sounds, obstipation, failure to pass flatus. Plain film will show gas in small and large bowel.
Note SBO is DDx. SBO will cause crampy abdominal pain, hyperactive bowel sounds with high pitched sounds, and show dilated small bowel on plain film.
PT/INR measures…
Extrinsic pathway (T’s are exes). This is the tissue factor and VII pathway (small one).
aPTT measures…
Intrinsic pathway (Ts are IN a relationship). This is the XII->XI–>IX–>X pathway.
What is the most common site of volvulus? How is it treated?
Sigmoid colon (bent inner-tube appearance on plain film). Treat it by therapeutic sigmoidoscopy to decompress the bowel. Insert rectal tube to act as stent.
What percent of people with a solitary solid tumor will end up with metastatic disease of the vertebra during their cancer course?
50%
Sx of hypocalcemia:
parasthesias
Sx of hypercalcemia:
constipation, bone pain. Groans, bones and psychic moans
What is the most common joint dislocated in children?
elbow (nursemaid).
Ascending cholangitis - Charcot’s triad? Reynaud’s pentad?
fever, jaundice, RUQ pain (+ mental status changes, hypotension). Note that ascending cholangitis is spread of an infectious obstructed common bile duct that ascends.
Leg is shortened, abducted and externally rotated. What’s the injury?
Femoral neck Fx.
Leg is shortened, adducted, and internally rotated. What’s the injury?
Posterior hip dislocation
What is the most common type of lung cancer among non-smokers?
Adenocarcinoma
What is the most common type of lung cancer among smokers?
Adenocarcinoma. Though small-cell carcinoma has the strongest relationship with smoking, it is far less common.
The murmur of aortic regurgitation- how does it sound, when and what do you do to accentuate?
It will be an early diastolic, soft, high-pitched, decrescendo murmur best heard over the L sternal border. It is accentuated by isometric hand grip exercises.
“dural tail” is a sign on MRI of what?
meningioma
haustra are located in the…
large bowel
What are some clues to distinguish between esophageal varices and mallory-weiss tear?
Esophageal varices will usually present with signs of severe liver disease while, a large volume of blood/emesis, and no precipitating event.
Mallory-weiss tears are precipitated by severe wretching, which usually means there is vomiting or heaving before bleeding. Less blood.
After surgical resection of a colon tumor, what is done to monitor for recurrance?
annual colonoscopy
what are some warning signs in the presentation of a severe headache that suggest imaging should be performed?
SNOOP: systemic symptoms (fever, vomiting, stiff neck), neurologic sx, onset is new, Other associated conditions (eg, headache is subsequent to head trauma, awakens patient from sleep, or is worsened by Valsalva maneuvers), prior headache history is different. CT is imaging of choice if you suspect subarachnoid hemorrhage.
What is the antidote for heparin overdose?
protamine sulfate
what is the most common cause of large bowel obstruction?
adenocarcinoma (colon cancer)
what is an absolute contraindication to surgical resection of a lung tumor?
superior vena cava syndrome
What is the most common non-traumatic cause of subarachnoid hemorrhage?
cerebral aneurysm. Note HTN causes cerebral, not subdural hemorrhage.
twisting injury to knee will likely tear the…
ACL
What does a palpable, nontender gallbladder suggest?
Pancreatic carcinoma. This is Courvoisier’s sign.
mid-epigastric pain, weight loss, and jaundice suggest
pancreatic carcinoma.
What is the preferred therapy for a toxic thyroadenoma?
thyroid lobectomy. According to uptodate you can also use radioiodine ablation but Lange says no.
What are the Salter Harris fracture classifications?
Physis- plate; metaphysis- long bone; epiphysis- distal head.
SALTER
I- Straight across (growth plate)
II- Above (metaphysis and plate)
III-Lower or BeLow (epiphysis and plate)
IV- Two or Through (epiphysis AND metaphysis)
V- Erasure of the growth plate (crushed)
Nifedipine- what is it and what are the side effects?
Dihydropyridine class of Ca channel blockers. Associated with headaches and perph edema.