Chapter 2: Surgical Syndromes

Question 1

What is afferent loop syndrome?

Answer 1

Obstruction of the afferent loop of a Billroth II gastrojejunostomy

Question 2

What does ARDS stand for?

Answer 2

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (poor oxygenation caused by alveolar and capillary inflammation)

Question 3

What is blind loop syndrome?

Answer 3

Bacterial overgrowth of intestine caused by stasis

Question 4

What is Boerhaave’s syndrome?

Answer 4

Esophageal perforation

Question 5

What is Budd–Chiari syndrome?

Answer 5

Thrombosis of hepatic veins

Question 6

What is carcinoid syndrome?

Answer 6

Syndrome of “B FDR”:

• Bronchospasm
• Flushing
• Diarrhea
• Right-sided heart failure (caused by factors released by carcinoid tumor)

Question 7

What is compartment syndrome?

Answer 7

Compartmental hypertension caused by edema, resulting in muscle necrosis of the lower extremity, because the fascial compartments do NOT stretch, often seen in the calf; patient may have a distal pulse

Question 8

What is Cushing’s syndrome?

Answer 8

Excessive cortisol production

Question 9

What is dumping syndrome?

Answer 9

Delivery of a large amount of hyperosmolar chyme into the small bowel, usually after vagotomy and a gastric drainage procedure (pyloroplasty/gastrojejunostomy); results in autonomic instability, abdominal pain, and diarrhea

Question 10

What is Fitz–Hugh–Curtis syndrome?

Answer 10

Perihepatic gonorrhea infection (perihepatic adhesions)

Question 11

What is Gardner’s syndrome?

Answer 11

GI polyps and associated findings of Sebaceous cysts, Osteomas, and Desmoid tumors (SOD); polyps have high malignancy potential

(Think: A Gardner plants SOD)

Question 12

What is HITT syndrome?

Answer 12

Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenic Thrombosis syndrome: Heparin-induced platelet antibodies cause platelets to thrombose vessels, often resulting in loss of limb or life

Question 13

What is Leriche’s syndrome?

Answer 13

• Claudication of buttocks and thighs, Impotence, Atrophy of legs
• seen with iliac occlusive disease

(Think: CIA)

Question 14

What is Mallory–Weiss syndrome?

Answer 14

Postemesis/retching tears in the gastric mucosa (near gastroesophageal junction)

Question 15

What is Mendelson’s syndrome?

Answer 15

Chemical pneumonitis after aspiration of gastric contents

Question 16

What is Mirizzi’s syndrome?

Answer 16

Extrinsic obstruction of the common hepatic bile duct from a gallstone in the gallbladder or cystic duct

Question 17

What is Munchausen’s syndrome?

Answer 17

Self-induced illness; patient desires the attention comfort of the “sick” role

Question 18

What is Ogilvie’s syndrome?

Answer 18

Massive nonobstructive colonic dilatation

Question 19

What is Peutz–Jeghers syndrome?

Answer 19

Benign GI polyps and buccal pigmentation (Think: Peutz = Pigmentation)

Question 20

What is RED reaction syndrome?

Answer 20

Syndrome of rapid vancomycin infusion, resulting in skin erythema

Question 21

What is refeeding syndrome?

Answer 21

Hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia, and hypophosphatemia after refeeding a starved patient

Question 22

What is Rendu–Osler–Weber (ROW) syndrome?

Answer 22

Syndrome of GI tract telangiectasia/ A-V malformations

Question 23

What is short-gut syndrome?

Answer 23

Malnutrition resulting from <200 cm of viable small bowel

Question 24

What is superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome?

Answer 24

Obstruction of the SVC (e.g., by tumor, thrombosis)

Question 25

What is thoracic outlet syndrome?

Answer 25

Compression of the structures exiting from the thoracic outlet

Question 26

What is toxic shock syndrome?

Answer 26

Staphylococcus aureus toxin-induced syndrome marked by fever, hypotension, organ failure, and rash (desquamation—especially palms and soles)

Question 27

What is Trousseau’s syndrome?

Answer 27

Syndrome of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) associated with carcinoma

Question 28

What is Zollinger–Ellison syndrome?

Answer 28

Gastrinoma and PUD