UWorld Flashcards
Most common site of bladder rupture
Overall = bladder dome is the weakest part, it’s also the only part that is intraperitoneal => rupture of the bladder dome can cause peritonitis (by leakage of urine into the peritoneum) and therefore shoulder pain (shared dermatome C3-C5 of the phrenic nerve)
Most common site of extraperitoneal bladder rupture = bladder neck
45 yo F s/p elective TAH develops N/V/abdominal pain
- Meds: metformin, insulin glargine, prednisone
- round plethoric face, buffalo hump, and central obesity
Cause of acute condition?
Acute adrenal insufficiency = adrenal crisis
Pt w/ Cushingoid features (hump, moon face) are especially at high risk
Primary cause = Addison’s
Secondary cause = chronic (even just 3 wks) of steroid use 2/2 HPA suppression
So chronic steroid use suppresses HPA axis so pt’s body cannot appropriately response to stress (ex: surgery)
29 yo F 3 days s/p full-thickness burn p/w severe pain and itching of the area
- circumferential eschar formation
- hand is tense and tender
(a) Dx
(b) Mechanism of symptoms
(a) Compartment syndrome
- rapidly increasing tense swelling, key is tissue tension
- circumferential eschar can lead to construction of venous/lymphatic drainage
(b) Venous compromise
Don’t confuse this w/ subcutaneous bacterial invasion- cellulitis would have skin worth and gas gangrene (crepitus)
Abdominal Xray findings of paralytic ileus
Uniformly distended, gas-filled both small and large bowel
Organisms responsible for prosthetic joint infections
Early vs. delayed onset infections
Early-onset infections (w/in 3 months of arthroplasty): think Staph aureus, GNR, anaerobes
Delayed-onset (over 3 mo): think coagulase-negative staph (staph epidermidis), propionibacterium, enterococci
Tx for both is implant removal/exchange
Etiology of mediastinal shift that is not pneumothorax
Diaphragmatic hernia- abdominal contents up into thorax causing compression of lungs and mediastinal shift
Clinical presentation of Fitz-Hugh-Curtis syndrome
Acute onset RUQ pain in F worse w/ inspiration, coughing, or laughing (b/c due to perihepatitis as a complication of PID)
-inflamed liver capsule rubbing against diaphragm
= rare complication of PID
Best imaging modality when suspecting perforated peptic ulcer
Upright CXR of chest and abdomen
-see penumoperitoneum (free intraperitoneal air under diaphragm)
Would only do upper endoscopy if acute upper GI hemorrhage, not needed for acute perforated PUD
22 yo M w/ sudden onset SOB x2hrs while watching tv
- 150 lbs, 6ft2
- sharp r. chest pain worse w/ deep inspiration and cough
- CXR: small right apical pneumothorax
(a) Dx
(b) Tx
(a) Dx = primary spontaneous pneumothorax
- rupture of subpleural bleb at rest
- risk factor = tall thin male, cig smoking
(b) Small pneumothorax in stable pt = supplemental O2 to enhance speed of resorption
- if it was large you’d decompress w/ large bore-needle
- if pt was unstable, place chest tube
53 yo M after MVA c/o b/l chest pain and left leg pain, left femur fracture, pH 7.56/pO2 81/pCO2 32
- CXR: alveolar opacities over b/l lung bases
- normal PCWP
Dx causing SOB
Pulmonary contusion complicates 30-75% of severe blunt chest trauma
- often has delayed onset
- hypoxemia causes hyperventilation => respiratory alkalosis and hypocarbia
Xray findings of pulmonary contusion
Patchy alveolar infiltrates
Ddx for fever on POD5
Acute post-op fever (1-7 days after surgery)
- nosocominal infection (pneumonia, catheter associated)
- atelectasis if low grade
- surgical site infection: most commonly group A strep or clostridium perfringens
- noninfections: MI/PE/DVT
Ddx of immediate post-op fever
Immediate post-op fever (first 2 hrs post-op)
- prior trauma/infection
- blood products
- malignant hyperthermia from anesthesia
Ddx for fever on POD14
Subacute (1-4 wks) post op fever ddx
- surgical site infection
- C. dif
- drug fever (diagnosis of exclusion, think if abx allopurinol or anticonvulsants started)
- PE/DVT
Main clinical feature of acute adrenal insufficiency
Severe and often refractory hypotension
- N/V, abdominal pain
- weakness
- fever
Abdominal pain following trauma w/ Xray showing air in both small and large bowel
Dx
Dx = paralytic (adynamic) ileus
2/2: local release of inflammatory mediators, opioid use, increased splanchnic nerve sympathetic tone following peritoneal irritation
Clinical exam finding indicating uncal herniation
Ipsilateral pupil dilation 2/2 oculomotor nerve compression
50 yo M w/ occasional left calf pain when walking
- occasionally legs cramp at rest
- palpable pulses throughout, NSR on EKG
Next step?
Thinking PAD (peripheral artery disease) => next step is ABI
NOT arterial duplex ultrasound- much less sepcific and sensitive for PAD
25 yo in MVA, unable to void despite urge
- blood at urethral meatus and scrotal hematoma
- high-riding prostate, distended bladder on exam
Dx
Dx = posterior urethral injury
-prostate high0riding b/c displaced by pelvic hematoma
Etiology of tic douloureux
Tic douloureux = trigeminal neuralgia
Etiology = external compression of the trigeminal nerve
Clinical presentation after injury to
(a) Radial nerve
(b) Ulnar nerve
(c) Median nerve
(a) Radial nerve injury => wrist drop due to limitation of wrist extension
(b) Ulnar nerve injury => claw hand
(c) Median nerve => loss of sensation to skin over lateral 3 1/2 fingers
Mechanism by which the following lower ICP
(a) Head elevation
(b) Sedation
(c) IV mannitol
(d) Hyperventilation
Interventions to lower ICP
(a) Elevate head of the bed to increase venous outflow from the brain
(b) Sedate the pt to decrease metabolic demand
(c) IV mannitol works as an osmotic diuretic to extract free water from brain tissue
(d) Hyperventilation increases pCO2 which causes cerebral vasoconstriction
65 yo M p/w suden onset severe r. leg pain
- h/o recent anterior wall MI, HTN, DM, HLD
- below the knee r. leg is cool to touch and pale
- DP pulse not palpable, popliteal full
- numbness over dorsum of r. leg and foot
Mechanism of symptoms
Symptoms most likely caused by arterial embolism to the popliteal artery
- you know it’s arterial b/c cool and pale (venous would be swollen and warm from pooled venous blood)
- it’s acute, so you’re thinking embolism over a more chronic process like thrombosis
- embolism from cardiac origin consistent w/ h/o acute MI
- nerve damage alone wouldn’t account for missing pulse or cold/pale
Normal value of mixed venous oxygen saturation
60-80%
21 yo M w/ progressive SOB and cough x6 wks
- CT w/ mediastinal mass compressing trachea
- elevated serum levels of serum AFP and beta-hCG
Dx?
Dx = mixed germ cell tumor
-give away is the elevated AFP
beta-hCG elevations are also seen in seminomas, but to also explain the elevated AFP = nonseminomatous germ cell tumor
ABG values seen in atelectasis
Atelectasis causes areas of VQ mismatch => hypoxia => increased work of breathing (dyspnea, tachypnea)
Tachypnea => low pCO2 (blowing off tons of CO2)
-expect respiratory alkalosis
Mgmt of flail chest
- Analgesia to allow pt to take full breaths
- 2/2 pain pts take shallow breaths => decrease bibasilar breath sounds - Mechanical positive pressure ventilation can be used to correct the paradoxical chest wall movement by replacing the normal negative intrapleural pressure
- forces segment to move outward w/ the rest of the rib cage during inspiration
62 yo M w/ 20% BSA burn and mild inhalation injury 5 days ago assessed for progressive confusion, lethargy, and oliguria
- 96F, BP 110/60, HR 120, RR 26
- some areas of partial thickness injury have progressed to full-thickness necrosis
- Plts 80k, WBC 16k, glucose 230
Dx
Dx = gram-negative sepsis
Pts w/ 20% or more BSA burned are at high risk for infection 2/2 disruption of skin barrier
Day 5 => highest risk for gram negative (pseudomonas) or fungal infection (candida)
Pt w/ hemoptysis, intubated and fresh blood fills the endotracheal tube
Next step?
Massive hemoptysis that doesn’t stop w/ intubation: first step is bronchoscopy to localize the bleeding site (suction to improve visualization), and therapy (balloon tamponade, electrocautery)
If doesn’t improve w/ initial bronc and/or pulmonary artery embolization, then would do urgent thoractomy (cut into pleural space)
How to calculate ABI
(a) Value diagnostic for occlusive PAD
Ankle brachial index = (highest systolic BP on ankle) / (highest systolic BP on arm)
(a) PAD under .9 is diagnostic for occlusive PAD
40 yo M p/w right lower abdominal pain that radiates to the r. groin x7 days, +fever/anorexia
- 2 weeks ago treated for right thigh furunculosis
- no rebound/guarding
- extension of right hip increases pain
- WBC 13.5
(a) Next step
(b) Dx
(a) Next step = CT abdomen pelvis
(b) Psoas abscess- typically w/ abdominal/flank pain radiating to groin
- fits w/ history of skin infection (furunculosis is a skin boil)
- positive psoas sign
16 yo M FOOSH p/w clavicular fracture and loud bruit heard just beneath the clavicle
Next step?
First step for any clavicular fracture is neurovascular exam to assess underlying brachial plexus and subclavian artery
=> next step in this case in an angiogram
Wouldn’t do open reduction of the clavicle at all b/c middle clavicular fractures can be managed non-op w/ brace, rest, ice
31 yo M p/w pain and swelling over coccyx
-no PMH, no other problems
Dx?
Pilonidal disease = dermal sinus tract originating over the coccyx causing pain and swelling of midline sacrococcygeal skin and subQ tissue
- from chronic sweating/friction over superior gluteal cleft hair follicle
- infection of hair follicle in the region that spread subcutaneously, forming abscess that ruptures forming a pilonidal sinus tract
How to decrease bowel ischemia as a complication of AAA repair
Checking sigmoid colon perfusion following placement of aortic graft
31 yo M s/p MVA, given 3L NS and 5 L/min O2
- BP 85/55, HR 120
- flat neck veins, trachea shifted slightly right, absent breath sounds over left hemithorax w/ dullness to percussion
Dx
Dx = hemothorax
- hypotensive despite appropriate fluids = hypotensive shock
- no external bleeding => suspect internal bleeding, hemithoraces are able to hold enough blood to cause hypovolemic shock
72 yo M on POD1 from AAA repair develops progressive abdominal pain and bloddy diarrhea
-T 101F, mildly distended abdomen TTP, WBC 12k
Dx
Dx = ischemic bowel
-bowel ischemia is a known complication (1-7%) of abdominal aortic aneurysm repair 2/2 inadequate colonic collateral arterial perfusion after loss of IMA during aortic graft placement
76 yo F w/ lower abdominal pain x2 days
- first CT: sigmoid diverticula and perisigmoid stranding
- 5 days later CT: 5cm rim-enhancing perisigmoid fluid collection
(a) Dx
(b) Tx
(a) Dx = acute diverticulitis (complicated b/c pt is elderly) w/ abscess
(b) Fluid collection over 3cm gets CT-guided percutaneous drainage
- if under 3cm: can do IV abx w/ observation
Surgery that puts one at risk for:
Unilateral facial droop
Unilateral facial droop 2/2 injury to facial nerve, which courses straight thru the two lobes of the parotid gland => parotid neoplasm resection could result in unilateral facial droop
Clinical features of fat embolism
Severe respitaory distress, petechial rash, subconjunctival hemorrhage, tachycardia/tachypnea/fever
-typical in pt w/ polytrauma (ex: multiple long bone fractures, burns)
Differentiate clinical picture of medial cruciate ligament tear vs. meniscal tear
Meniscal tear: pt hears a pop, pain/clicking/catching upon extension
MCL: laxity when stabilize lateral leg, hand placed on medial leg and outward pressure applied
75 yo M s/p AAA repair p/w LLQ abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea
- h/o prostate cancer and radiation therapy
- CT shows thickening of colon at rectosigmoid jxn
- ulcerations seen on colonoscopy
Dx
Dx = ischemic colitis
- higher risk after vascular procedure (manipulated of vessels, possibly prolonged clamping/loss of collaterals)
- CT shows thickened bowel w/ air in it
- typically see pain, hematochezia, diarrhea, lactic acidosis clinically
25 yo M falls out of tree, no LOC, p/w sharp left chest pain w/ inspiration
- equal breath sounds, normal CXR
- TTP at left costal margin, TTP at LUQ w/ guarding, bruising on left chest wall
- Hb 11.8
- negative FAST
Next step
Next step = abdominal CT w/ contrast
-high suspicion for splenic injury
HDS and negative FAST, still get CT b/c of risk factors: anemic, guarding in LUQ, bruising indicative of internal bleeding