2007 with explanations (entire exam reviewed 2007) Flashcards
(229 cards)
1- 55 year-old man presents with induration and erythema in the submandibular region, crossing midline. Patient complains of sore throat and increasing dysphagia but is otherwise sating well and not in any respiratory distress. Examination of oral cavity reveals induration and swelling at the floor of mouth, pushing the base of tongue posteriorly. What is the most appropriate next step.
- incision and drainage of submandibular region in the OR.
- transfer patient to ICU and perform rapid sequence intubation.
- transfer patient to OR for flexible bronchoscopic intubation and possible tracheostomy.
- send patient home.
Answer #3. The patient has Ludwig’s angina. A form of submandibular space infection. It is always bilateral, both submandibular and sublingual spaces are involved, rapidly spreading cellulitis without abscess formation – “woody” or brawny cellulitis. Clinically – dysphagia, drooling, leaning forward – can lead to rapid airway obstruction. Current treatments – 1. Flexible bronchoscopy in the OR – eventual tracheostomy is the best means of definitive airway control.
Source: Up To Date
2- 62 year old man presents with a scaly, ulcerated lesion at the tip of left pinna. Biospy was done in suspicion of malignancy. Biospy results come back as a benign tumor. What is the likely diagnosis?
- Merkel’s tumor
- Keratoacanthoma
- fibrodermosarcoma
- squamous cell carcinoma
Answer: #2. Keratoacanthoma mimics squamous cell ca. but its benign. Frequently the diagnosis is made on biopsy.
The relationship between Keratoacanthoma and scc is controversial. Currently dermatologist think that they should be classified differently as they usually involute and do not go on to malignancy.
Source: Am J Dermatopath. 2008
3- Which of the following is not associated with a patient who has a Pancoast tumor?
- Horner’s syndrome
- Adrenal hyperplasia
Answer: #2. A Pancoast tumor is a lung cancer that is located at the apex of the lung. If large enough it can cause compression to adjacent structures. I.e. brachiocephalic vein, subclavian artery, phrenic nerve, recurrent laryngeal nerve, vagus nerve, or characteristically, the sympathetic ganglion producing miosis, anhidrosis and ptosis = Horner’s syndrome.
4- 75 year old man presents with a pathologic fracture of left femur. Blood work shows hypercalcemia. X-rays show multiple lytic lesions. What is the likely diagnosis?
- osteosarcoma
- multiple myeloma
- osteoporosis
Answer #2.
5- Patient presents with hoarseness post extubation. History is consistent with a traumatic intubation. What is the most likely cause?
- cricoarytenoid dislocation
- compression injury to the superior laryngeal nerve
- endotracheal tube was too large
Answer #1. Pt presents with hoarseness, coughing. Most common cause is traumatic intubation – 80%.
Source: J. Voice 2005
6- Pregnant women presents with DVT in the left iliofemoral vein. What is the most appropriate treatment?
- warfarin
- heparin
- ASA
- none of the above
Answer #2. Warfarin is contraindicated in pregnancy and heparin is safe.
7- Patient intubated in the ICU and on mechanical ventilation. He is on FiO2 of 75% with the following blood gas: PaO2 50, PCO2 38, pH 7.25. What would be your next step?
- increase FiO2 to 90%
- administer IV bicarb
- hyperventilate
- increase respiratory rate.
Answer #1. His blood gas shows that he is hypoxemic. He is mechanically ventilated so you can increase is RR or increase in inspired oxygen, but you realize that his pCO2 is normal-low, so the best choice would be to increase his inspired oxygen level.
8- 13 year old boy presents with unilateral gynecomastia. What is the next appropriate step?
- anti-estrogen therapy
- unilateral mastectomy
- observe
Answer: #3
9- All of the following are true about heterotropic ossification except:
- occurs more commonly in head injury patients
- commonly associated with prolonged immobilization
- NSAIDS can be given as prophylaxis
- calcification on x-ray can appear prior to development of symptoms
Answer: #2: It is commonly associated after traumatic brain injuries (up to half and occurs at 12 weeks) and radiographic signs may not correlate with symptoms. NSAIDs and bisphonates have been used as prophylaxis (and external beam radiation)
Source: Dr. Paul Martineau – immbolization does not necessarily lead to increased risk of HO. YES, calcification can appear prior to symptoms
10- Which of the following is the site of calcium and iron absorption in the gastrointestinal tract?
- duodenum
- distal ileum
- proximal ileum
- jejunem
Answer: #1 Most minerals are absorbed from the proximal half of the intestine. The exception is magnesium and vitamin B12, which are absorbed from the ileum.
11- 56 year-old lady with malignant hyperthermia, which one you don’t give?
a- Diltiazem
b- cooling blankets
c- oxygen
Answer: #a – Dantrolene is the only known antidote. Dantrolene will block Ca release. Other treatments are supportive. (i.e. cooling blankets and oxygen are universal and can only help).
12 - which one is not premalignant?
A - Dysplastic Nevus
Answer: #A. Patients with dysplastic nevus (atypical mole) syndrome are prone to cutaneous melanoma. The incidence of this syndrome is increased in patients with uveal melanoma and may predispose to the development of ocular melanocytic tumors. However, a patient who has ONE dysplastic nevus is not necessarily at increased risk of developing cancer (specifically melanoma)
13-Which one you don’t see in SIADH?
a- Hypernatremia
Answer: #A.
14 - a young lady with pelvic pain, mass close to the pelvis the diagnosis:
a - chondroma
b - soft tissue sarcoma
c - rectal cancer
Answer: #A
Chondromas – 5% of all primary bone tumours RARE. Every bone is suscepltible, mostly in smalls bones of hands and feet. They are labeled according to site of origin. Example, meduallary canal origin – ENCHONDROMA; cortical surface – PERIOSTEAL CHONDROMA. Usually complain of local tenderness, palpable mass. Treatment is surgical.
Source: Neurosurg Clin N America 2008.
- All are true of soft tissue necrotizing infection except:
1) anaerobic environment
2) bacterial synergy
3) thrombosis of nutrient vessel that supplies the skin and fascia
4) streptococcal exotoxins
Answer: #3.
Not directly related to the question, but useful to know:
Clindamycin may be more effective because it is not affected by inoculum size or the stage of growth, it suppresses toxin production, it facilitates phagocytosis of S. pyogenes by inhibiting M-protein synthesis, it suppresses production of regulatory elements controlling cell wall synthesis and it has a long postantibiotic effect. Recently, a retrospective analysis of cases demonstrated a greater efficacy for clindamycin compared to beta-lactam antibiotics in patients with invasive infections . Although there are no data from clinical trials establishing the benefit of combined therapy, we recommend the administration of penicillin G (4 million units intravenously every four hours in adults >60 kg in weight and with normal renal function) in combination with clindamycin (600 to 900 mg intravenously every eight hours) . This recommendation is based upon the observation that clindamycin resistance has been rarely described in GAS.
- Patient is transfused blood that has been matched for ABO and Rh factor. What is the likelihood of an acute transfusion reaction in this patient?
- 0.1%
- 2%
- 5%
- 10%
Answer: #4
Adverse reactions occur in 1 to 6 percent of all blood transfusions and are more frequent (10 percent) in patients with hematologic and oncologic diseases. Uptodate Psychrophilic organisms (ie, those capable of multiplication at cold temperatures), especially Yersinia enterocolitica and some Pseudomonas species (eg, Pseudomonas fluorescens), can survive and multiply in cold stored bank blood and have been said to account for up to 80 percent of red blood cell-associated bacterial infections. In Western countries, however, whole blood is rarely used because within a few hours or days, some coagulation factors (especially factors V and VIII) and platelets decrease in quantity or lose viability. After a 7-day hold at 4° C, factor VIII levels will have fallen to 0.32 ± 0.09 IU/mL, and there is a lesser fall in factor V levels to 0.78 ± 0.15 IU/mL. At 4° C, platelets undergo a shape change from discoid to spherical that is irreversible after 8 hours, and their in vivo survival is reduced to 2 days.
Administrative error leading to ABO incompatibility, bacterial contamination, and transfusion-related lung injury are the three leading causes of fatality after blood transfusion.
The agents most often implicated in packed RBC bacteremia were Serratia and Yersinia. For platelets, S. aureus, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter, and Serratia species were more frequently identified. Sabiston
Transfusion-related adverse events can occur with 10% of transfusions, and serious adverse events have been estimated to less than 0.5% of transfusions. Hematology/Oncology Clinics of North America - Volume 21, Issue 1 (February 2007)
- Propofol is a useful inductive agent frequently used in anesthesia. Which pharmacologic property is true of propofol:
- it causes post-operative nausea and vomiting
- it acts as an ionotropic agent
- causes bronchoconstriction
- decreases cerebral perfusion pressure
Answer: #4.
From Schwarz:
With a short duration, rapid recovery, and low incidence of nausea and vomiting, it has emerged as the agent of choice for ambulatory and minor general surgery. Additionally, propofol has bronchodilatory properties that make its use attractive in asthmatic patients and smokers. Propofol may cause hypotension and should be used cautiously in patients with suspected hypovolemia
and/or coronary artery disease (CAD), the latter of which
may not tolerate a sudden drop in blood pressure. It can be used as a continuous infusion for sedation in the intensive care unit setting.
It is often used in the ICU for that purpose specifically, because it lowers MAP. It DOES NOT CAUSE 1. Bronchoconstriction, 2. Nausea and vomiting 3. Increase BP
- A study has been designed to assess the wear properties of two different metal interfaces for total hip arthroplasty. There are 11 patients in one group and 13 in the other. Which test would best determine if a difference exists between these two groups?
- t-test
- Fischer exact test
- Chi-square test
- Linear regression
Answer: #1
- A patient arrives in the trauma suite hypotensive, and identified as having a pelvic fracture. Sheeting (bedsheet fixation) is done to stabilize the pelvic fracture. For which type of pelvic fracture would this be most helpful for:
- A/P compression type injury (open-book)
- Anterior superior iliac spine avulsion
- High velocity axial load
- Vertical sheer fracture
Answer: #1. Important to realize, pelvic wrapping helps “close-down” the pelvis. This works only for injuries that have cause the pelvis to “open”. Secondly, wrapping the pelvis is thought to help control hemorrhage. Vertical shear and AP compression pelvic injuries both have high association with vascular injury; however, wrapping a vertical shear pelvic injury will likely not decrease the pelvic volume as much as it would be done in an AP compression injury.
- A patient undergoes surgery and a complication arises. Surrounding the issue of disclosure, which of the following is correct:
- the patient doesn’t need to know of any medical errors which took place if there are no immediate consequences
- the patient should be informed of all medical errors as is their right for autonomy
- disclosure of medical errors often leads to lawsuits
- every attempt should be made to prevent the patient from learning about the medical error
Answer #2.
- Regarding Carbon monoxide, which of the following is true:
- carboxyhemoglobin binds to hemoglobin with less affinity than oxygen
- the half-life of carboxyhemoglobin is 45-60 minutes in room air
- carbon monoxide binds to the Fe in the RBC
- irreversibly binds to hemoglobin
Answer: #3.
CO binds to hemoglobin with much greater affinity than oxygen, forming carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) and resulting in impaired oxygen transport and utilization. CO can also precipitate an inflammatory cascade that results in CNS lipid peroxidation and delayed neurologic sequelae. Carbon monoxide (CO) diffuses rapidly across the pulmonary capillary membrane and binds to the iron moiety of heme (and other porphyrins) with approximately 240 times the affinity of oxygen .
Nonsmokers may have up to 3 percent carboxyhemoglobin at baseline; smokers may have levels of 10 to 15 percent.
The half-life of CO while a patient is breathing room air is approximately 300 minutes, while breathing high-flow oxygen via a non-rebreathing facemask is about 90 minutes, and with 100 percent hyperbaric oxygen is approximately 30 minutes.
The diagnosis of CO poisoning is based upon a compatible history and physical exam in conjunction with an elevated carboxyhemoglobin level measured by cooximetry of a blood gas sample.
Carbon monoxide (CO) is removed almost exclusively via the pulmonary circulation through competitive binding of hemoglobin by oxygen.
We suggest treatment with HBO in the following circumstances (Grade 2B):
- CO level >25 percent - CO level >20 percent in pregnant patient - Loss of consciousness - Severe metabolic acidosis (pH
- Warm ischemic tolerance is best for which of the following:
- gut
- muscle
- bone
- skin
Answer: #4. Warm ischemic time is time between absence of adequate blood perfusion but the tissue is at physiologic temperature. Skin has 9 hr. Bowel can tolerate a substantial amount of decreased blood flow (20-25% normal) – Cecile’s internal medicine).
should be bone actually
- A 30 y old lady is involved in a motor vehicle accident and sustains multiple facial fractures. 5 days later, she presents to the ER with bilateral anosmia, fever, and delirium. What is the most likely diagnosis:
- bacterial meningitis
- infected subdural hematoma
- superior sagittal sinus thrombosis
- cavernous sinus thrombosis
Answer: #1. Anterior floor fracture with CSF fistula. Cavernous sinus thrombosis causes CN III,IV, V palsy. The only choice that makes sense is bacterial meningitis post-trauma. Classic findings, fever, delirium.
Source: E.Galven, M.D. neurosurgeon.
- A patient is admitted for the administration of doxorubicin. During treatment, it is evident that some of the infusion went interstitial. What is the most appropriate action:
- Proceed to the OR for immediate debridement
- Topical anti-inflammatories
- Stop the I.V. infusion, elevate the arm, and apply cold compresses and observe
- Inject the arm with leucovorin antidote
Answer: #3.
Skin irritation/extravasation: I.V. use only. Doxorubicin is a potent vesicant; if extravasation occurs, severe tissue damage leading to ulceration and necrosis, and pain may occur.
Extravasation of a vesicant drug has the potential to cause tissue necrosis with a more severe and/or lasting injury. Vesicant extravasation may result in loss of the full thickness of the skin and, if severe, underlying structures.
Initial management — When extravasation of an irritant or vesicant drug is suspected, the following initial management is recommended:
- Stop the infusion immediately. Do not flush the line, and avoid applying pressure to the extravasated site.
- Elevate the affected extremity
- The catheter/needle should not be removed immediately. Instead, it should be left in place to attempt to aspirate fluid from the extravasated area, and to facilitate the administration of an antidote to the local area, if appropriate.
- If an antidote will not be injected into the extravasation site, the catheter/needle can be removed after attempted aspiration of the subcutaneous tissues.
Surgical intervention — Nonhealing ulcers resulting from an extravasation injury often require debridement and skin grafting. However, the optimal timing of surgical intervention is controversial.
Although some clinicians suggest early surgical intervention to prevent ulceration, a conservative approach is more often recommended, particularly since fewer than one-third of vesicant extravasations ultimately result in ulceration. Failure of initial conservative management with continued erythema, swelling and pain, or the presence of large areas of tissue necrosis or skin ulceration are indications for surgery.
Early debridement has been recommended for anthracycline (eg.doxurubicin), extravasations, since these agents bind to fat . This recommendation was based upon a series of three cases in which delayed surgical care resulted in a poor functional outcome.
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