PLAB Surgery & Emergency Medicine

Question 1

What is the most common cause of acute appendicitis?

Accepted Answer

Obstruction of the appendiceal lumen, often by a fecalith

Answer

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.

Question 2

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

Accepted Answer

Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability, Exposure

Answer

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).

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

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

Answer

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.

Question 4

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

Accepted Answer

Charcot's triad, suggesting ascending cholangitis

Answer

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

Question 5

What is the initial management for a tension pneumothorax?

Accepted Answer

Needle decompression followed by chest tube insertion

Answer

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.

PLAB - Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board Practice Test

PLAB - Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board Practice Test

PLAB Surgery & Emergency Medicine