Surgery & Emergency Medicine Flashcards

What is the most common cause of acute appendicitis?

Answer: Obstruction of the appendiceal lumen, often by a fecalith

Acute appendicitis most commonly results from obstruction of the appendiceal lumen by a fecalith (hardened stool), lymphoid hyperplasia, or rarely a foreign body, leading to inflammation and infection.

In trauma assessment, what does the primary survey (ABCDE) stand for?

Answer: Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability, Exposure

The ABCDE primary survey systematically assesses life-threatening conditions: Airway (with cervical spine protection), Breathing, Circulation (hemorrhage control), Disability (neurological status), and Exposure (undress and examine).

What is the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) used to assess?

Answer: Level of consciousness based on eye opening, verbal response, and motor response

The GCS scores three components — eye opening (1-4), verbal response (1-5), and motor response (1-6) — with a total range of 3-15, where lower scores indicate deeper impairment of consciousness.

A patient presents with right upper quadrant pain, fever, and jaundice. What is this triad known as?

Answer: Charcot's triad, suggesting ascending cholangitis

Charcot's triad (right upper quadrant pain, fever, and jaundice) classically indicates ascending cholangitis — infection of the bile duct system requiring urgent drainage.

What is the initial management for a tension pneumothorax?

Answer: Needle decompression followed by chest tube insertion

Tension pneumothorax is a clinical diagnosis requiring immediate needle decompression (2nd intercostal space, midclavicular line) to relieve the life-threatening pressure, followed by definitive chest tube placement.

What are the signs of peritonitis on abdominal examination?

Answer: Board-like rigidity, rebound tenderness, and guarding

Peritonitis presents with a rigid, board-like abdomen, rebound tenderness (pain on release of pressure), involuntary guarding, and absent bowel sounds, indicating peritoneal inflammation.