Med/Surg Exam Study Guide:
GRADED A+. Questions and
Verified Answers. Latest 2026
Update
Preoperative Phase - Ans✔✔-Decision for surgery is made and ends when the
patient is transferred to the operating room
Intraoperative Phase - Ans✔✔-Begins with the patient's entry into the
operating room and ends with admittance to the postanesthesia care unite
(PACU) or recovery room
Postoperative Phase - Ans✔✔-Begins with the patient's admittance to the
PACU and ends with the patient's complete recovery from the surgical
intervention
Elective Surgery - Ans✔✔-Suggested and scheduled, no forseen ill effects if
postponed
Urgent Surgery - Ans✔✔-Necessary to be performed within 1 to 2 days (ASAP)
Emergency Surgery - Ans✔✔-Performed IMMEDIATELY; life or limb threatening
,Ambulatory Admission - Ans✔✔-Surgeries are performed that DONT require
hospital admission; Outpatient procedure
Same Day Admission - Ans✔✔-Admission of surgical patients to the hospital on
the day of surgery
Early Admission - Ans✔✔-Patient that may have multiple and/or significant
comorbidities are admitted 1 to 2 days prior to surgery to maintain or prepare
Diagnostic Surgery - Ans✔✔-Surgical exploration that alows health care
providers to confirm diagnoses ex: laparotomy
Curative Surgery - Ans✔✔-Surgery performed to resolve a health problem by
repairing or removing the cause
• Ex. Lap chole, Mastectomy, Hysterectomy
Palliative Surgery - Ans✔✔-Surgery that improves comfort or reduces intensity
of disease symptoms; will not produce cure (ex. colostomy, debridement of
necrotic tissue)
Cosmetic Surgery - Ans✔✔-Surgeries specific in the surgical restoration and
reconstruction of body structures (ex. rhinoplasty)
Reconstructive Surgery - Ans✔✔-Surgery performed to improve/restore a
client's functional ability
• Ex. Total knee replacement, Finger reimplantation
, Neuroendocrine Response - Ans✔✔-SNS stimulation (stress response) =
compensatory vasoconstriction
Increased HR and BP (risk for stroke, bleeding)
Decreased Peristalsis (No Bowel Sounds, pain meds not effective)
Hormonal Response - Ans✔✔-Norepinephrine = increased HR
Aldosterone = increased fluid/Na (decreased UO)
Glucocorticoids = increased blood sugar
Metabolic Response - Ans✔✔-Relative rate of starvation
~Gluconeogenesis
~Fat metabolism
~Protein breakdown
~Negative Nitrogen balance
Healing - Ans✔✔-Adequate protein and Vitamin C
Psychological Response - Ans✔✔-Anxiety and Fear r/t to cause for surgery and
poor coping skills
Preoperative Management - Ans✔✔-~Patient Safety is PRIMARY CONCERN
~NPO
~Bowel Prep and Skin Prep
GRADED A+. Questions and
Verified Answers. Latest 2026
Update
Preoperative Phase - Ans✔✔-Decision for surgery is made and ends when the
patient is transferred to the operating room
Intraoperative Phase - Ans✔✔-Begins with the patient's entry into the
operating room and ends with admittance to the postanesthesia care unite
(PACU) or recovery room
Postoperative Phase - Ans✔✔-Begins with the patient's admittance to the
PACU and ends with the patient's complete recovery from the surgical
intervention
Elective Surgery - Ans✔✔-Suggested and scheduled, no forseen ill effects if
postponed
Urgent Surgery - Ans✔✔-Necessary to be performed within 1 to 2 days (ASAP)
Emergency Surgery - Ans✔✔-Performed IMMEDIATELY; life or limb threatening
,Ambulatory Admission - Ans✔✔-Surgeries are performed that DONT require
hospital admission; Outpatient procedure
Same Day Admission - Ans✔✔-Admission of surgical patients to the hospital on
the day of surgery
Early Admission - Ans✔✔-Patient that may have multiple and/or significant
comorbidities are admitted 1 to 2 days prior to surgery to maintain or prepare
Diagnostic Surgery - Ans✔✔-Surgical exploration that alows health care
providers to confirm diagnoses ex: laparotomy
Curative Surgery - Ans✔✔-Surgery performed to resolve a health problem by
repairing or removing the cause
• Ex. Lap chole, Mastectomy, Hysterectomy
Palliative Surgery - Ans✔✔-Surgery that improves comfort or reduces intensity
of disease symptoms; will not produce cure (ex. colostomy, debridement of
necrotic tissue)
Cosmetic Surgery - Ans✔✔-Surgeries specific in the surgical restoration and
reconstruction of body structures (ex. rhinoplasty)
Reconstructive Surgery - Ans✔✔-Surgery performed to improve/restore a
client's functional ability
• Ex. Total knee replacement, Finger reimplantation
, Neuroendocrine Response - Ans✔✔-SNS stimulation (stress response) =
compensatory vasoconstriction
Increased HR and BP (risk for stroke, bleeding)
Decreased Peristalsis (No Bowel Sounds, pain meds not effective)
Hormonal Response - Ans✔✔-Norepinephrine = increased HR
Aldosterone = increased fluid/Na (decreased UO)
Glucocorticoids = increased blood sugar
Metabolic Response - Ans✔✔-Relative rate of starvation
~Gluconeogenesis
~Fat metabolism
~Protein breakdown
~Negative Nitrogen balance
Healing - Ans✔✔-Adequate protein and Vitamin C
Psychological Response - Ans✔✔-Anxiety and Fear r/t to cause for surgery and
poor coping skills
Preoperative Management - Ans✔✔-~Patient Safety is PRIMARY CONCERN
~NPO
~Bowel Prep and Skin Prep
