ABPS Aesthetic Procedures & Patient Safety 2

Question 1

A patient on warfarin requests a facelift. What is the most appropriate perioperative management strategy?

Accepted Answer

Discontinue warfarin 5 days preoperatively and bridge with heparin as indicated

Answer

Warfarin should be stopped 5 days before elective surgery, with heparin bridging for high-thromboembolism-risk patients per established guidelines.

Question 2

Which informed consent element is most critical to document before performing liposuction under tumescent local anesthesia?

Accepted Answer

Discussion of lidocaine toxicity risk including maximum safe dosing limits

Answer

Lidocaine toxicity is a unique and potentially fatal risk of tumescent anesthesia that must be explicitly discussed, including the maximum safe dose (~35–55 mg/kg with epinephrine).

Question 3

A patient develops sudden dyspnea and pleuritic chest pain 48 hours after abdominoplasty. The first diagnostic step should be:

Accepted Answer

CT pulmonary angiography

Answer

CT pulmonary angiography is the gold standard for diagnosing pulmonary embolism and should be ordered promptly given the high clinical suspicion in this post-operative context.

Question 4

When injecting botulinum toxin for glabellar lines, inadvertent diffusion into which muscle most commonly causes upper eyelid ptosis?

Accepted Answer

Levator palpebrae superioris

Answer

Botulinum toxin diffusion through the orbital septum can weaken the levator palpebrae superioris, causing upper eyelid ptosis.

Question 5

Which of the following is the safest patient position for reducing the risk of venous thromboembolism during a prolonged cosmetic surgery?

Accepted Answer

Sequential compression devices applied before induction and maintained throughout

Answer

Sequential compression devices started before induction of anesthesia and continued throughout surgery are the most evidence-based mechanical prophylaxis for VTE prevention.

(ABPS) Certified American Board of Plastic Surgery Practice Test

(ABPS) Certified American Board of Plastic Surgery Practice Test

ABPS Aesthetic Procedures & Patient Safety 2