WiseMD Modules Flashcards
Give 3 short term complications of thyroid surgery
3 short term complications of thyrodectomy
- Hematoma/seroma- need to be careful here b/c these can compress the airway
- Hypoparathyroidism => hypocalcemia
- look out for muscle hyperreactivity and perioral numbness - Voice hoarseness 2/2 manipulation of the recurrent laryngeal nerve
Define flail chest? Clinical significance?
Flail chest = fracture of 3 or more consecutive ribs so that an entire part of the chest wall moves independently = paradoxical breathing
-example of how trauma can cause the ‘B’ in ABCs to be dysfunctional
3 indications for surgical removal of thyroid tissue
3 indications for thyroid surgery
- malignancy
- symptomatic mass
- compressive symptoms - hyperfunctioning
- toxic adenoma refractory or contraindicated medical tx
29 yo F, 6 wks s/p gastric bypass w/ diaphoresis, abd pain, nausea, dizziness after dinner
-normal VS, nontender abdomen, normal abdominal CT
Dx?
Dumping syndrome
75 yo M presents w/ jaundice and 20 lb wt loss
-afebrile, nontender abdomen, palpable mass in RUQ
(a) What sign is this?
(b) Most likely diagnosis?
(a) Courvoisier’s sign = presence of enlarged GB on physical exam that is not tender and accompanied by mild jaundice
(b) Most likely cause of Courvoisier’s sign = malignant in head of the pancreas (pancreatic cancer)
Intermittent episodes of palpitations and excessive sweating + recent wt loss
Suspect pheochromocytoma = catecholamine producing tumor
-also expect HTN and headaches
Direct vs. indirect inguinal hernia
(a) Relationship to the inferior epigastric vessels
(b) Ability to extend into the scrotum
(c) Age
Direct inguinal hernia (thru Hasselbach’s triangle) 2/2 weakness in the abdominal wall
(a) medial to inferior epigastric vessels
(b) Can exit via superficial inguinal ring, but can’t extend into the scrotum
(c) Middle-aged/elderly since abdominal wall weakens w/ age
Indirect inguinal hernia
(a) sac protrudes laterally to the inferior epigastric vessels
(b) Can extend down into the scrotum and even be difficult to differentiate from testes
(c) Any age, especially young (since 2/2 congenital patency of inguinal canal)
45 yo F, 2 yrs s/p lap Roux-en-Y p/w 1 mo burning epigastric pain
- no N/V, masses, fever, tenderness
- only medication: NSAIDs for migraines
Most likely diagnosis?
Marginal ulcer- pts w/ gastric bypass have high risk of marginal ulcers (ulcers at gastrojejunal anastomosis)
-RF = NSAIDs
Marker for medullary thyroid cancer
Calcitonin = marker for medullary thyroid cancer
-MTC usually derived from C-cells and C-cells produce calcitonin
Medullary thyroid cancer accounts for 3% of all thyroid cancers (80% of thyroid cancers being papillary carcinoma)
2 risks of full axillary LN dissection over sentinel LN biopsy
- lymphedema
- nerve injury
Good abx choice for ppx in pt undergoing lap choley for acute cholecystitis
Cefazolin
-want coverage of GN bacilli, enterococcus, and clostridia species
50 yo F w/ US finding of suspicious breast mass
- OCPs x8 yrs, first child at age 32
- mother had breast cancer dx at 55
- PE: nontender w/ b/l, somewhat irregular, dense tissue and no discrete masses or lymphadenopathy
Next step
Next step to evaluate suspicious lesion after imaging = stereotactic (imaging guided) core-needle biopsy
-preferred over excisional biopsy which is an open procedure (more invasive)
Pain w/ defecation that lingers long afterwards
Hx and mechanism
Anal fissure
-pain lingers afterwards 2/2 spinchter spasm
T3 vs. T4
(a) Which is released from thyroid gland?
(b) Which is more active biologically?
T3 vs. T4
(a) 80% of the hormone released from the follicular cells is in the form of T4
(b) Then T4 is peripherally converted to T3, T3 = active form
Next step in workup when suspecting anastomotic leak in pt POD1 from lap gastric bypass
Upper GI series w/ water-soluble contrast
-need to rule out (or diagnose) a leak
Acute cholecystitis risk greater in M or F?
F to M 3:1 risk ratio
Describe why a hx of chronic cough might be relevant to someone w/ inguinal hernia
Anything that increases intraabdominal pressure (chronic cough, urinary retention 2/2 BPH, chronic constipation) can exacerbate abdominal wall hernias => they should be medically optimized before undergoing elective hernia repair
How does breast cancer spread?
Via lymphatics
-primarily to axillary LN, but also to internal mammary chain
4 days s/p elective cholecystectomy pt presents w/ severe abdominal pain and fever
- US revealed mild fluid in hepatorenal recess
- Xray shows no free air or dilated bowel
Next best step?
HIDA scan = nuclear imaging study to r/o bile leak, clip across the duct, or duct injury
26 yo M w/ painful indirect inguinal hernia on exam, next best step?
Symptomatic => Elective open inguinal hernia repair (surgery) at pt’s convenience
- watch and wait: noo b/c complications (strangulation etc) are dangerous (could do this if the pt was asymptomatic b/c then low risk of complications)
- wouldnt use an external sling: those for old dudes of who surgery is contraindicated
Use of ultrasound for breast mass in F over 40 yoa
Females over 40- mammogram as the primary mode of breast imaging
-but US can be helpful to assess further in pts w/ dense breast tissue
44 yo M 8 wks s/p lap adjustable gastric band placement p/w nausea and pain after eating
-not tolerating solid or liquids for 2 days
(a) Most likely dx
(b) Next step
(c) Tx
(a) Either band is too tight or it’s slipped
(b) Next step = upper gastrointestinal (GI) contrast study
(c) Tx = emergent decompression of band by removing fluid from the port = band adjustment
- deflate band by removing saline from the port
Most common location of internal hernia in pt s/p lap gastric bypass
Transverse megocolon (just the transverse colon)
-retrocolic (behind the colon) position of the Roux limb (which is what is routinely done) predisposes pts to developing an internal hernia thru the transverse colon
Name 2 feared complications of biliary colic (why we electively remove GB before it gets worse)
- cholangitis (infection/inflammation of the bile duct) 2/2 bile stasis
- gallstone pancreatitis
Mechanism of Dumping syndrome
Explain symptoms
Dumping syndrome = complication/side effect of gastric bypass, food (typically large carb load) emptys quickly from the stomach and enters SI undigested, causes rapid entry of water into intestinal lumen (fluid shift) =>
- hypo-osmotic diarrhea
- abdominal distention from excess fluid => crampy abdominal pain, N/V
- hypovolemia => vasomotor symptoms
Can also cause hypoglycemia b/c rapid dumping triggers large insulin bolus from the pancreas
Cause of pain in an indirect inguinal hernia
Compression of the ilioinguinal nerve (innervates groin and upper inner aspect of the thigh)
-lot less common (but possible) to be affected: genital branch of the genitofemoral nerve (innervates lateral aspect of the scrotum)
2 main complications of gastric bypass surgery
Complications of gastric bypass
- Anastamosis leak = leak at the connection site btwn the stomach and intestines
- risk below 1% - SBO
- risk below 2%
27 yo M p/w perianal pain, swelling, and pus drainage x2 wks
- 10lb wt loss, abdominal cramping, occasional mucus in stool, 7-8 stools/day
- mild abdominal TTP
- rectal exam: chronic-appearing fistula-in-ano
Dx
Crohn’s disease
-Crohn’s (not UC) is assocaited w/ perianal disease and fistualas
Mgmt for intra-abdominal abscess 2/2 appendicitis
Start IV abx, then do image-guided percutaneous drainage of the abscess
Best tx for preterm infant w/ bilateral reducible inguinal hernias
High ligation of sac
-never use mesh
Describe the three parts of the Glasgow coma scale
(a) Max score
Glasgow coma score to quickly assess neurologic damage
- eye opening: 1-4 pts
- motor response: 1-6 pts
- verbal response: 1-5 pts
(a) Max of 15
Most important prognostic factor for breast cancer
Lymph node involvement
Indications for mastectomy over lumpectomy
- pt prefers mastectomy (that’s legit…pt choice baby)
- presence of a contraindication to radiation (can’t make the time commitment)
- multifocal or extensive disease (not just unifocal)
- unable to obtain negative margins on a previous lumpectomy
56 yo p/w 2-cm hard, irregular, fixed breast mass w/ overlying skin dimpling
-1.5 cm hard mass in right axilla, FNA of LN shows adenocarcinoma
Next step
- Neoadjuvant chemo
- locally advanced breast cancer gets chemo before surgery - Modified radical mastectomy
- Adjuvant radiation to decrease risk of recurrence
21 yo M p/w severe anal pain x24 hrs, worsening over past 3 hrs
- tachy
- rectal exam cannot be completed due to severe pain
Next step
Exam under anesthesia in OR
-high suspicion for intramuscular perirectal abscess => need to drain abscess
How long after lap-appy are abx indicated?
Once the appendix is removed there is no indication for continuation of abx
- give w/in 1 hr prior surgical incision for wound infection ppx, but abx not indicated at all after procedure
- max is to give for 24 hrs post-op
Management of asymptomatic adrenal hormones of the following types
(a) Pheo
(b) Aldosteronoma
(c) Cortisol
(a) Pheo- do surgery regardless b/c of high risk of hypertensive crisis
(b) Aldosteronoma- try medical tx w/ spironolactone before going to surgery
(c) Cortisol- usually do surgery unless pt is at high surgical risk
Give 2 possible long term complications of thyroid surgery
Possible long term complications of thyroid surgery
- Permanent hypoparathyroidism
- tx = give Ca and vit D supplementation - Permanent hoarseness
- if b/l injury to recurrent laryngeal, can lead to airway compromise
Describe how to perform a physical exam to detect a hernia
Have pt stand (gravity brings it down) and cough or bear down (increase intraabdominal pressure) and see if any abdominal contents protrude out
7 days s/p lap appy, 24 yo F p/w mild nausea and tenderness in RLQ w/o rebound
(a) Next step?
(b) Most likely dx
Suspecting (b) intra-abdominal abscess
(a) First step to assess = CT scan
Core needle bx shows atypical ductal hyperplasia, estimate relative risk of breast cancer
Atypical ductal hyperplasia is the step btwn ductal hyperplasia (benign, normal surveillance guidelines) and DCIS
-carries a 4x increase in relative risk of breast cancer
39 yo F, 6 wks s/p Roux-en-Y gastric bypass
- doing well w/ liquid and then solid diet, but progressively early satiety and postprandial nausea x2 wks
- no pain
(a) Most likely diagnosis
(b) Next step in mgmt
(a) Stenosis of the gastrojejunostomy
- strongly suggested by inability to tolerate progression from solids to liquids
(b) Next step = upper GI contrast study
- visualize stenosis
- can also treat the stenosis using balloon dilators
Lab test to diagnose pheochromocytoma
Pheo = catecholamine producing tumor
Dx by measuring urine or serum metanephrin and normetanephrines (catecholamine breakdown products)
Medical therapy for breast cancers that are
(a) ER/PR positive
(b) HER2/neu posiitve
Hormone therapy
a) ER/PR positive: Tamoxifen (SERM) or aromatase inhibitor
(b) HER2/neu positive: Herceptin (receptor blocker