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Surgery and Emergency Medicine Flashcards

6 cards from real COMLEX-USA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 6 Surgery and Emergency Medicine flashcards as text

  1. A patient presents with sudden onset of tearing chest pain radiating to the back, with unequal blood pressures in bilateral arms. The most likely diagnosis is:

    Answer: Aortic dissection

    Aortic dissection classically presents with sudden severe tearing or ripping chest/back pain and pulse or blood pressure differentials between extremities.

  2. In the initial management of an acute burn patient, fluid resuscitation in the first 24 hours is guided by which formula?

    Answer: Parkland formula

    The Parkland formula (4 mL × weight in kg × % TBSA burned) with lactated Ringer's guides IV fluid resuscitation in major burns in the first 24 hours.

  3. Beck's triad (hypotension, muffled heart sounds, JVD) is the classic presentation of which emergency?

    Answer: Cardiac tamponade

    Beck's triad (hypotension, muffled/distant heart sounds, and JVD) is the hallmark of cardiac tamponade from pericardial fluid compressing the heart.

  4. A 35-year-old woman presents with right lower quadrant pain, fever, anorexia, and elevated WBC. Rebound tenderness at McBurney's point is present. Diagnosis is:

    Answer: Acute appendicitis

    Acute appendicitis classically presents with periumbilical pain migrating to the RLQ (McBurney's point), fever, anorexia, and leukocytosis.

  5. During ATLS primary survey, which is assessed as part of the 'C' component of ABCDE?

    Answer: Circulation and hemorrhage control

    In ATLS, C stands for Circulation with hemorrhage control — including assessment of blood pressure, pulses, and control of external bleeding.

  6. Which sign, elicited by passive right hip flexion with knee extended while supine, suggests peritoneal irritation from appendicitis?

    Answer: Psoas sign

    The psoas sign is positive when extension of the right hip (or passive flexion against resistance) causes RLQ pain, suggesting a retrocecal appendix irritating the psoas muscle.