ABSITE Exam UPDATED ACTUAL Exam
Questions and CORRECT Answers
Severe hypocalcemia - CORRECT ANSWER - Can lead to heart failure.
Glutamine - CORRECT ANSWER - Comprises 2/3 of the free intracellular amino acid
pool.
Metabolic acidosis with a normal anion gap - CORRECT ANSWER - Results from either
administration or a loss of bicarbonate from gastrointestinal (GI) losses.
Peaked T waves - CORRECT ANSWER - An early ECG change seen with hyperkalemia.
Flattened P wave - CORRECT ANSWER - An ECG change that may be seen with
hyperkalemia.
Prolonged PR interval - CORRECT ANSWER - An ECG change that may indicate first-
degree block associated with hyperkalemia.
Sine wave formation - CORRECT ANSWER - An ECG change that may occur with
severe hyperkalemia.
Ventricular fibrillation - CORRECT ANSWER - A severe ECG change that may be seen
with hyperkalemia.
Best test for metabolic acidosis with increased anion gap - CORRECT ANSWER - What is
the best test to order in a patient showing clinical signs of metabolic acidosis with increased
anion gap?
,Daily maintenance fluid calculation - CORRECT ANSWER - What is the formula to
calculate daily maintenance fluid?
Sign of spasm from pressure on nerves - CORRECT ANSWER - A spasm resulting from
pressure applied to the nerves and vessels of the upper extremity, as when obtaining a blood
pressure.
Sign of spasm from tapping facial nerve - CORRECT ANSWER - A spasm resulting from
tapping over the facial nerve.
Effective osmotic pressure control - CORRECT ANSWER - The effective osmotic
pressure between the plasma and interstitial fluid compartments is primarily controlled by.
Metabolic derangement in profuse vomiting - CORRECT ANSWER - The metabolic
derangement most commonly seen in patients with profuse vomiting.
Best determinant of metabolic acidosis vs alkalosis - CORRECT ANSWER - What is the
best determinant of whether a patient has a metabolic acidosis versus alkalosis?
Excessive administration of normal saline - CORRECT ANSWER - Can lead to what
metabolic derangement?
Acute - CORRECT ANSWER - A patient with hypercalcemia, the first step in
management.
Congestive heart failure - CORRECT ANSWER - This is due to decreased cardiac
contractility.
Serum bicarbonate - CORRECT ANSWER - Helps determine whether the acidosis is due
to increased acid generation or loss of bicarbonate.
, Fluid requirement formula - CORRECT ANSWER - 100 ml/kg/day for the first 10 kg + 50
ml/kg/day for the second 10 kg + 20 ml/kg/day for every kg after the first 20 kg.
Trousseau sign - CORRECT ANSWER - A clinical sign associated with hypocalcemia.
Chvostek sign - CORRECT ANSWER - A clinical sign associated with hypocalcemia.
Hypochloremic, hypokalemic metabolic alkalosis - CORRECT ANSWER - Vomiting with
a closed pylorus results in the loss of gastric fluid, which is high in chloride and hydrogen,
leading to this condition.
Arterial pH (ABG) - CORRECT ANSWER - This is the only test that can confirm
metabolic acidosis.
Sodium chloride - CORRECT ANSWER - Is mildly hypertonic, containing 154 mEq of
sodium balanced by 154 mEq of chloride.
Correct extracellular fluid deficit - CORRECT ANSWER - This is the most important step
in treatment in order to prevent poor prognosis.
Refeeding syndrome - CORRECT ANSWER - Associated with electrolyte derangements.
Hemostasis - CORRECT ANSWER - The 4 major physiologic events in the hemostatic
process.
Platelet aggregation mediators - CORRECT ANSWER - ADP and serotonin are the
principal mediators.
Platelet adherence - CORRECT ANSWER - von Willebrand factor is required for platelet
adherence to injured endothelium.
Questions and CORRECT Answers
Severe hypocalcemia - CORRECT ANSWER - Can lead to heart failure.
Glutamine - CORRECT ANSWER - Comprises 2/3 of the free intracellular amino acid
pool.
Metabolic acidosis with a normal anion gap - CORRECT ANSWER - Results from either
administration or a loss of bicarbonate from gastrointestinal (GI) losses.
Peaked T waves - CORRECT ANSWER - An early ECG change seen with hyperkalemia.
Flattened P wave - CORRECT ANSWER - An ECG change that may be seen with
hyperkalemia.
Prolonged PR interval - CORRECT ANSWER - An ECG change that may indicate first-
degree block associated with hyperkalemia.
Sine wave formation - CORRECT ANSWER - An ECG change that may occur with
severe hyperkalemia.
Ventricular fibrillation - CORRECT ANSWER - A severe ECG change that may be seen
with hyperkalemia.
Best test for metabolic acidosis with increased anion gap - CORRECT ANSWER - What is
the best test to order in a patient showing clinical signs of metabolic acidosis with increased
anion gap?
,Daily maintenance fluid calculation - CORRECT ANSWER - What is the formula to
calculate daily maintenance fluid?
Sign of spasm from pressure on nerves - CORRECT ANSWER - A spasm resulting from
pressure applied to the nerves and vessels of the upper extremity, as when obtaining a blood
pressure.
Sign of spasm from tapping facial nerve - CORRECT ANSWER - A spasm resulting from
tapping over the facial nerve.
Effective osmotic pressure control - CORRECT ANSWER - The effective osmotic
pressure between the plasma and interstitial fluid compartments is primarily controlled by.
Metabolic derangement in profuse vomiting - CORRECT ANSWER - The metabolic
derangement most commonly seen in patients with profuse vomiting.
Best determinant of metabolic acidosis vs alkalosis - CORRECT ANSWER - What is the
best determinant of whether a patient has a metabolic acidosis versus alkalosis?
Excessive administration of normal saline - CORRECT ANSWER - Can lead to what
metabolic derangement?
Acute - CORRECT ANSWER - A patient with hypercalcemia, the first step in
management.
Congestive heart failure - CORRECT ANSWER - This is due to decreased cardiac
contractility.
Serum bicarbonate - CORRECT ANSWER - Helps determine whether the acidosis is due
to increased acid generation or loss of bicarbonate.
, Fluid requirement formula - CORRECT ANSWER - 100 ml/kg/day for the first 10 kg + 50
ml/kg/day for the second 10 kg + 20 ml/kg/day for every kg after the first 20 kg.
Trousseau sign - CORRECT ANSWER - A clinical sign associated with hypocalcemia.
Chvostek sign - CORRECT ANSWER - A clinical sign associated with hypocalcemia.
Hypochloremic, hypokalemic metabolic alkalosis - CORRECT ANSWER - Vomiting with
a closed pylorus results in the loss of gastric fluid, which is high in chloride and hydrogen,
leading to this condition.
Arterial pH (ABG) - CORRECT ANSWER - This is the only test that can confirm
metabolic acidosis.
Sodium chloride - CORRECT ANSWER - Is mildly hypertonic, containing 154 mEq of
sodium balanced by 154 mEq of chloride.
Correct extracellular fluid deficit - CORRECT ANSWER - This is the most important step
in treatment in order to prevent poor prognosis.
Refeeding syndrome - CORRECT ANSWER - Associated with electrolyte derangements.
Hemostasis - CORRECT ANSWER - The 4 major physiologic events in the hemostatic
process.
Platelet aggregation mediators - CORRECT ANSWER - ADP and serotonin are the
principal mediators.
Platelet adherence - CORRECT ANSWER - von Willebrand factor is required for platelet
adherence to injured endothelium.
