
NBME OBGYN Form 4 - Answers & Explanations
Updated: Nov 16, 2019
1) Increasing her current anticonvulsant medication
• This patients phenytoin concentration is low - the dose should be increased
• Pregnancy → ↑ proteins that bind phenytoin → ↓ phenytoin concentration
• The benefits of treating with phenytoin outweigh the risks, as seizures in mom are dangerous for the baby; additionally, the majority of infants born to women who take phenytoin during pregnancy will not develop fetal hydantoin syndrome
• There is evidence that children exposed to multiple anticonvulsants may be at greater risk for birth defects
2) Hemoglobin electrophoresis
• This patient has microcytic anemia (MCV <80)
• Serum ferritin and iron are normal = no iron deficiency
• Hemoglobin electrophoresis should be used to check for other causes of microcytic anemia (eg, thalassemia)
3) Cervicitis • This patient is afebrile with postcoital bleeding from a new partner • Acute cervicitis commonly presents with postcoital bleeding, mucopurulent discharge, and a friable cervix
4) Normal labor
• Dilation of cervix + painful contractions = labor
• Closed cervix + painless contractions = Braxton-Hicks contractions
• Cervical insufficiency (incompetence) = painless dilation of cervix that can lead to 2nd trimester pregnancy loss
5) Cystic teratoma • Dermoid cysts are seen on U/S as a partially calcified mass (teeth) with multiple thin echogenic bands (hair) • Torsion (twisting of ovary around the infundibulopelvic and utero-ovarian ligaments) → acute-onset severe pain
6) Placement of an IUD
• IUDs are the most effective contraceptives options (~99% efficacy) • This patient is non-compliant with her HTN meds - this makes oral contraceptives (taken daily) and Depo-Provera (injections every 3 months) a poor choice
7) Intraductal papilloma • MCC of unilateral bloody nipple discharge
• No assocaited mass or LAD
8) BMI
• Low body weight, especially < 128lbs (58kg) → ↓ peak bone density → ↑ risk of fracture
• If the patient had suffered a previous fracture (not family history), then that would be the greatest risk factor for an osteoporotic fracture
9) Hysterectomy • Endometrial cancer tx: hysterectomy • Endometrial hyperplasia tx: hysterectomy or progestin
10) Uterine synechiae • Uterine synechiae = Asherman’s syndrome
• D&C → trauma to basal layer of endometrium → intrauterine scars → failure to respond to estrogen
11) Amenorrhea
• Suction and sharp curettage → denuded basal layer of endometrium → Asherman’s syndrome → 2° amenorrhea
• Diagnosis and treatment = hysteroscopy (lyse adhesions)
12) Down syndrome • Down syndrome (trisomy 21) is associated with Duodenal atresia (→ duodenal bubble)
13) Atelectasis • 5 W’s of post-op fever
• Wind (atelectasis) = Post-op day (POD) 1-2 • Water (UTI) = POD 3-5 • Walking (DVT) = POD 4-6 • Wound (infection of surgical wound) = POD 5-7 • Wonder (anything) = POD 7+
• Abdominal surgery (c-section) → pain on deep inspiration → shallow breathing → underutilization of lung bases → atelectasis
14) Vasa previa • Fetal bradycardia is an important distinguishing feature of vasa previa; occurs because hemorrhage is of fetal origin (vs. maternal origin in placenta previa)
15) Uteroplacental insufficiency • Uteroplacental insufficiency → Late decelerations (nadir of deceleration occurs after peak of contraction)
16) Vesicovaginal fistula • Pelvic surgery or irradiation → ↑ risk of vesicovaginal fistula
• Characterized by continuous, painless urine leakage form vagina (→ moist vaginal mucosa)
• Dx: Dye test, cystourethroscopy
17) Stress incontinence
• ↓ urethral sphincter tone and/or urethral hypermobility → stress incontinence → leakage of urine with ↑ abdominal pressure (eg, coughing, lifting, sneezing)
• Tx: Pelvic floor exercises, pessary
18) Placental dysfunction
• Fetal complications of maternal HTN include fetal growth restriction, oligohydramnios, and preterm delivery
• This patient has been receiving prenatal care since 8 weeks gestation - rules out incorrect gestational age
19) Amnioinfusion
• Maternal repositioning (eg, left lateral decubitus) is first-line intervention for variable decelerations as it may reduce cord compression and subsequently improve fetal placental blood flow
• Amnioinfusion is a possible second-line intervention - artificially creates more amniotic fluid which can reduce umbilical cord compression and decrease variable decelerations
20) Chlamydia trachomatis infection
• Chlamydia → cervicitis → Inflamed, friable cervix
• Tx: Azithromycin and Ceftriaxone
21) 50% • Sickle cell is autosomal recessive
• Mom has it (aa), Dad is carrier (Aa)
22) Colonoscopy • Adults 50-75 years old should be screened for colorectal cancer with a colonoscopy q10y, Sigmoidoscopy q5y, or an FOBT yearly
23) Varicella-zoster immune globulin therapy
• Post-exposure prophylaxis for infants = human varicella-zoster immune globulin therapy
• Tx of disseminated infection in infants = IV acyclovir x 10 days
24) Arrest of active phase
• Recent ACOG guidelines state active phase starts at 6 cm (in an attempt to reduce the number of patients getting unnecessary c-sections)
• Prior guidelines set active stage at 4 cm (this question is outdated)
25) Pulmonary embolus • Sudden-onset pleuritic chest pain • Normal ECG helps rule out acute coronary syndrome
26) Fetal growth restriction • Preeclampsia arrow underdevelopment of spiral arteries → ↑ vascular resistance → utero-placental insufficiency → asymmetric fetal growth restriction
27) Detrusor hyperreflexia
• MS affecting UMNs → loss of inhibitory control over bladder → urge incontinence
• If this patients MS had affected LMNs → hypotonic bladder → overflow incontinence
• Low postvoid residual volume (< 150mL in women, < 50mL in men) rules out overflow incontinence
• Urgency incontinence sxs: sudden urge to urinate (urinary urgency)
• Urgency incontinence tx: antimuscarinic drugs
28) Pyelonephritis • Asx bacteriuria left untreated → pyelonephritis (→ ⊕ CVA tenderness) • Microorganisms may release cytokines and prostaglandins → uterine contractions
29) Prostaglandin production • During menses, endometrium → ↑ prostaglandins → uterine contractions and endometrial sloughing • ↑ endometrial prostaglandin production → uterine hypercontractility & hypertonicity → ischemia arrow primary dysmenorrhea
30) Oxytocin administration
• Too much oxytocin administration → uterine tachysystole (insufficient uterine relaxation between contractions) → spiral artery constriction → ↓ placental blood flow → fetal hypoxia → late deceleration
• Uterine tachysystole = contractions occurring ≤2 minutes apart or >5 contractions in 10 minutes
• Tx: maternal repositioning, tocolysis, discontinue uterotonic agents (eg, oxytocin)
31) Arrange for an immediate psychiatric evaluation • This patient has suicidal ideations and requires immediate in-patient management
• SSRIs take 4-6 weeks to kick in
32) Fetal sleep state • Fetal sleep is the MCC of a nonreactive nonstress test (eg, no accelerations)