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NBME Surgery Form 2 - Answers & Explanations

Updated: Nov 16, 2019


1) Toxic thyroid adenoma • Focal patch of autonomously functioning thyroid tissue = “hot nodule”


2) Nerve conduction studies

• Confirmatory study for carpal tunnel syndrome (shows slowing in median nerve at wrist)

• EMG rules out other things such as polyneuropathy, plexopathy, radiculopathy, etc.


3) Loss of bicarbonate from the gastrointestinal tract • Drainage of pancreatic fluid can cause metabolic acidosis form loss of bicarbonate


4) CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis

• Acute abdominal pain in LLQ, fever, leukocytosis = acute diverticulitis

• CT is diagnostic

• Tx: NPO, IVF, Abx


5) Duodenal hematoma

• Contrast CT to confirm the diagnosis

• Hematoma may obstruct duodenal lumen → double bubble sign

• Diagnosis may be delayed as the retroperitoneal location prevents peritonitis


6) Urine output of 30-40 mL/h

• Adequate end-organ perfusion is best indicated by urine output of 0.5-1 mL/kg/h; average adult male weighs ~70kg (70 x 0.5 = 35 mL/h)

• HR, mental status, and cap refill may be affected by underlying disease processes (less reliable markers)


7) Pharyngoesophageal (Zenker) diverticulum

• Presents with dysphagia, obstruction, halitosis, and aspiration (leading to multiple episodes of pneumonia)

• Common in elder males


8) Esophagogastroduodenoscopy

• Dysphagia to solids, age >50, chronic smoker/drinker = concern for esophageal cancer

• Definitive diagnosis of esophageal cancer = esophageal endoscopy with biopsy

• Subsequent CT scan can be used for staging or if endoscopy is unrevealing


9) Laparotomy • perforated bowel → free air under diaphragm → laparotomy


10) Cholecystoduodenal fistula with an impacted gallstone

• Multiple dilated loops of small bowel = obstruction

• Gas within small bowel lumen and liver suggests communication (fistula) between enteric and biliary tracts

• Stone leaves through fistula to cause sxs


11) Distal pancreatectomy • Large (>4 cm) cystadenomas should be resected


12) Venous valvular insufficiency

• Ulcer on medial malleolus

• Post-thrombotic syndrome = development of chronic venous insufficiency following DVT


13) Repeat typing and crossmatching of the transfused blood • Crossmatching error - the patient is having an acute hemolytic reaction, most likely due to ABO incompatibility


14) Hypertension • Post-op HTN associated with cerebral hyperperfusion syndrome - manipulation of the carotid artery/sinuses lead to baroreceptor dysfunction


15) Massive hemothorax • Hypotension + flat neck veins + absent breath sounds after knife wound = hemothorax


16) Crohn disease • “string sign” on barium x-ray = thin luminal contrast, usually in terminal ileum from spasm and eventual fibrosis


17) Colonoscopy

• Age >50 with lower GI bleed → colonoscopy

• In all anorectal problems, cancer has to be ruled out first; once diagnosis has been confirmed, internal hemorrhoids are tx with rubber-band ligation, whereas external hemorrhoids require surgery


18) Surgical excision of the cyst • Choledochal cyst (cystic dilation of biliary tree) • U/S is best non-invasive test; ERCP for definitive diagnosis • Tx: surgical excision to relieve obstruction and biliary-enteric anastomosis

• Excision helps prevent malignant transformation (cholangiocarcinoma)


19) Hypovolemia

• Patient was down, laying on the floor for 48 hours (likely volume depleted)

• She hasn’t moved → muscle breakdown and rhabdo → lactic acidosis → compensatory hyperventilation

20) Intubation and hyperventilation • GCS <8 → Intubate • Hyperventilation → ↓ CO2 → vasoconstriction and ↓ ICP (CO2 is a potent vasodilator in the brain)



21) Herpes simplex conjunctivitis • Acute onset pain, conjunctival injection, vesicular lesions, visual blurring, discharge = HSV keratitis


22) Central retinal artery occlusion • Acute painless monocular vision loss with pallor of optic disc = CRAO

• Retinal vein occlusion → retinal hemorrhage and venous engorgement


23) Thyroidectomy • Follicular neoplasm with prior history of head/neck radiation - definitive treatment is total thyroidectomy


24) Bupivacaine • Amides (“i” before “caine" such as bup”i”vacaine) are intermediate/long acting • Esters (no ‘i’ before “caine” such as procaine and chloroprocaine) are short acting (tetracaine is a long-acting exception)


25) Surgical debridement

• Fournier’s gangrene = extensive tissue necrosis/infection of perineum in diabetics

• Tx: urgent surgical debridement


26) Tracheostomy • Recurrence of tumor → obstruction → difficult to maintain an endotracheal airway

• Tracheostomy would be below the lesion → maintain airway


27) Radionuclide scan with thallium and dipyridamole • Pharmacologic stress test (dipyridamole thallium scanning - DTS); dilates coronary arteries without increasing HR or BP


28) Cyclo-oxygenase inhibition with increased norepinephrine release

• Indomethacin is an NSAID that inhibits PGE2 synthesis via COX inhibition

• Increased arterial tension is the natural way that the PDA closes


29) Ruptured diaphragm • Traumatic disruption of hemidiaphragm → gas occupying the lower third of the left hemithorax


30) Ceftriaxone and vancomycin therapy • No spleen → susceptible to encapsulated organisms


31) Collapse of the right middle lobe of the lung from decreased inspiratory effort

• Hasn’t been out of bed yet, POD#1, egophany (consolidated or collapsed) → atelectasis


32) Intraductal papilloma • Most common cause of nipple discharge (serous or bloody)

• Mammillary duct ectasia = mass + green/brown discharge


33) Reintubation and mechanical ventilation • Elevated PCO2 = hypoventilation • Oxygenation is adequate (do not need to increase FiO2)


34) Choledocholithiasis

• Cholangiography/imaging was not performed, suggesting a retained stone in bile duct

• Normal AST/ALT rule out cirrhosis

• No weight loss/painless jaundice rule out pancreatic cancer


35) Rupture of the thoracic aorta

• “hidden injury” - asymptomatic until hematoma contained by the adventitia expands

• 1st rib break, presence of wide mediastinum, severe deceleration injury should all raise suspicion


36) Secondary hyperparathyroidism • Hypocalcemia → ↑ PTH secretion → ↑ ALP

• CKD → ↑ creatinine and ↑ phosphate


37) Cholecystitis • Risk factors: female, fat (BMI >30), fertile, forty


38) Mitral valve prolapse

• Mid-systolic click = MVP

• MVP syndrome is associated with nonspecific sxs (palpitations, dyspnea, dizziness, panic/anxiety attacks, numbness/tingling, etc.)


39) Torn meniscus

• Medial joint line tenderness with effusion = Meniscal; pain when getting up from a

low position is a classic presentation

• Medial joint line tenderness without effusion = MCL


40) Increased serum tumor necrosis factor concentration • Cachectic (weight loss, muscle atrophy, fatigue) is mediated by cytokines TNF, IFN-Ɣ,

IL-1, and IL-6. Appetite is usually suppressed (via hypothalamus) and BMR is increased → ↑ lipolysis, hypotriglyceridemia.


41) Basal cell carcinoma • Upper lip, pearly surface, telangiectasia = basal cell carcinoma

• Lower lip = squamous cell carcinoma


42) Prednisone therapy and temporal artery biopsy immediately • Requires immediate prednisone therapy to prevent blindness and bx to confirm dx


43) Apocrine glands • Hidradenitis Suppurativa = inflammation of apocrine sweat glands


44) Observation • Primary spontaneous pneumothorax


45) Exploratory celiotomy • Atherosclerosis, lactic acidosis and leukocytosis = acute mesenteric ischemia

• Celiotomy (laparotomy) is needed to resect dead bowel


46) Retrograde urethrography

High-riding prostate + blood at urethral meatus = urethral injury

• Suspected urethral injury should be evaluated with retrograde urethrogram

• IV pyelogram is useful for suspected ureter injuries; Cystoscopy is useful for

suspected bladder injuries (should rule out urethral injury first, as cystoscope must go through urethra and could exacerbate existing injuries)


47) Cancel the operation • Respect the patients decision and determine rationale for refusal


48) Varicocele • “ropy mass” = “bag of worms” • Stasis of venous blood → ↑ temp → damage to sperm


49) Exploratory operation • Torsion of ovarian cyst • Tx: surgical uncoiling and possible oophoropexy to fixate ovary (prevent recurrence)

• Drainage is contraindicated as it increases risk of spread/seeding


50) Insulinoma

• Whipple triad: low blood glucose, sxs of hypoglycemia, resolution of sxs with normalization of blood glucose

• Tx: surgical resection




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