ABSITE Operative Techniques 2025 – Essential Surgical
Procedures, Step-by-Step Best Practices, and
Intraoperative Decision-Making Strategies for Exam and
OR Success
An intubated patient has been on TPN for about a week. In an attempt to help get him
extubated, the RQ is measured at 0.85. This most closely correlates with which of the following?
a.) Lipogenesis
b.) Ketogenesis
c.) Pure carbohydrate metabolism
d.) Protein metabolism
e.) Pure fat metabolism - -CORRECT ANS- -(d)
Remember fat 0.7, protein 0.8, carb 1.0
A 40yr old patient undergoes a superficial parotidectomy for pleomorphic adenoma. Postop,
while eating a cracker, he notes slight burning & sweating on the ipsilateral face. What is the
most likely diagnosis?
a.) Bell's palsy
b.) Cluster headache
c.) Frey Syndrome
d.) Trigeminal neuralgia - -CORRECT ANS- -(c)
,post-gustatory sweating over parotid associated with parotidectomy -- due to auriculotemporal
nerve damage -- antiperspirant
A 32yr old patient falls over the handlebars of their bicycle. In the ER, they are holding their arm
away from their body slightly. On exam, there is a loss of the normal shoulder contour and a
palpable depression under the acromion. Which of the following nerves is at risk of injury given
the most likely injury?
a.) Axillary nerve
b.) Brachiocephaic nerve
c.) Ulnar nerve
d.) Radial nerve
e.) Brachioplexus injury - -CORRECT ANS- -(a)
These patients with humerus dislocation will hold arm slightly abducted and be unable to lower
it. The nerve at risk of injury is the axillary
A patient arrives to the ER after an MVA. There is an obvious deformity of the upper arm and
they are unable to extend their wrist or MCP joint The likely nerve injury sustained is
a.) Axillary nerve
b.) Brachiocephaic nerve
c.) Ulnar nerve
d.) Radial nerve
e.) Brachioplexus injury - -CORRECT ANS- -(d)
most commonly "spiral" fracture of humerus; also supra and intercondylar fractures can injure
the radial nerve
, A young patient is found after being passed out on the floor for the last 2 days after
"touching the face of god". He complains of right arm pain and undergoes a compartment
release. At that time, there was no exam for other injuries. Now, 3 days later, he is unable to
dorsiflex his right foot. His calf appears tense. Which of the following nerves is already damaged
and at high risk of permanent damage?
a.) Common peroneal
b.) Sciatic
c.) Tibial
d.) Femoral - -CORRECT ANS- -(a)
Damage is caused by 1) trauma to fibular head; 2) compression of the lateral aspect of the knee
and injury causes foot drop with diminished dorsiflexion of the ankle
Which of the following can mimic breast cancer on mammography or physical examination?
a.) radial scar
b.) fibromatosis
c.) granular cell tumor
d.) fat necrosis
e.) all of the above - -CORRECT ANS- -(e)
Regarding the blood supply of kidneys & suprarenal glands, all the following are true, EXCEPT:
a.) Left gonadal artery usually originates from left renal artery
b.) Left adrenal vein usually drains into left renal vein
c.) Left renal vein passes anterior to the abdominal aorta
d) Right renal vein drains directly into inferior vena cava
Procedures, Step-by-Step Best Practices, and
Intraoperative Decision-Making Strategies for Exam and
OR Success
An intubated patient has been on TPN for about a week. In an attempt to help get him
extubated, the RQ is measured at 0.85. This most closely correlates with which of the following?
a.) Lipogenesis
b.) Ketogenesis
c.) Pure carbohydrate metabolism
d.) Protein metabolism
e.) Pure fat metabolism - -CORRECT ANS- -(d)
Remember fat 0.7, protein 0.8, carb 1.0
A 40yr old patient undergoes a superficial parotidectomy for pleomorphic adenoma. Postop,
while eating a cracker, he notes slight burning & sweating on the ipsilateral face. What is the
most likely diagnosis?
a.) Bell's palsy
b.) Cluster headache
c.) Frey Syndrome
d.) Trigeminal neuralgia - -CORRECT ANS- -(c)
,post-gustatory sweating over parotid associated with parotidectomy -- due to auriculotemporal
nerve damage -- antiperspirant
A 32yr old patient falls over the handlebars of their bicycle. In the ER, they are holding their arm
away from their body slightly. On exam, there is a loss of the normal shoulder contour and a
palpable depression under the acromion. Which of the following nerves is at risk of injury given
the most likely injury?
a.) Axillary nerve
b.) Brachiocephaic nerve
c.) Ulnar nerve
d.) Radial nerve
e.) Brachioplexus injury - -CORRECT ANS- -(a)
These patients with humerus dislocation will hold arm slightly abducted and be unable to lower
it. The nerve at risk of injury is the axillary
A patient arrives to the ER after an MVA. There is an obvious deformity of the upper arm and
they are unable to extend their wrist or MCP joint The likely nerve injury sustained is
a.) Axillary nerve
b.) Brachiocephaic nerve
c.) Ulnar nerve
d.) Radial nerve
e.) Brachioplexus injury - -CORRECT ANS- -(d)
most commonly "spiral" fracture of humerus; also supra and intercondylar fractures can injure
the radial nerve
, A young patient is found after being passed out on the floor for the last 2 days after
"touching the face of god". He complains of right arm pain and undergoes a compartment
release. At that time, there was no exam for other injuries. Now, 3 days later, he is unable to
dorsiflex his right foot. His calf appears tense. Which of the following nerves is already damaged
and at high risk of permanent damage?
a.) Common peroneal
b.) Sciatic
c.) Tibial
d.) Femoral - -CORRECT ANS- -(a)
Damage is caused by 1) trauma to fibular head; 2) compression of the lateral aspect of the knee
and injury causes foot drop with diminished dorsiflexion of the ankle
Which of the following can mimic breast cancer on mammography or physical examination?
a.) radial scar
b.) fibromatosis
c.) granular cell tumor
d.) fat necrosis
e.) all of the above - -CORRECT ANS- -(e)
Regarding the blood supply of kidneys & suprarenal glands, all the following are true, EXCEPT:
a.) Left gonadal artery usually originates from left renal artery
b.) Left adrenal vein usually drains into left renal vein
c.) Left renal vein passes anterior to the abdominal aorta
d) Right renal vein drains directly into inferior vena cava
