SAEM Practice Exam 2026/2027 | Actual Questions and Answers
Latest Updated 2026/2027 (Graded A+)
•
Regarding the diagnosis of acute appendicitis, all the following are true EXCEPT:
A. Vital signs are usually abnormal, even early in the course of acute appendicitis.
B. Rebound is usually elicited only after the appendix has ruptured or infarcted.
C. Rovsing's sign is pain in the right lower quadrant upon palpation of the left lower quadrant.
D. The obturator sign is pain upon flexion and internal rotation of the hip.
E. The psoas sign is pain upon extension of the hip.
- ✔✔A. Vital signs are usually abnormal, even early in the course of acute appendicitis.
•
The answer is A. The presentation of acute appendicitis varies tremendously. Early in its course, vital
signs including temperature may be normal. Once perforation has occurred, the rate of low-grade fever
(<38 C) increases to about 40%. Other variations in presentation include pain in the right upper
quadrant, typically from a retrocecal or retroiliac appendix.
•
Rosving's sign is described as:
A. Tenderness in the right upper quadrant that is worse with inspiration.
B. Pelvic pain upon flexion of the thigh while the patient is supine.
C. Pelvic pain upon internal and external rotation of the thigh with the knee flexed.
D. Pain that increases with the release of pressure of palpation.
E. Pain in the right lower quadrant when left lower quadrant is palpated.
- ✔✔E. Pain in the right lower quadrant when left lower quadrant is palpated.
•
The answer is E. Rosving's sign is pain in the right lower quadrant when the left lower quadrant is
palpated. Rebound tenderness occurs with the release of pressure. The iliopsoas sign is pain
associated with thigh flexion. The obturator sign is pain that occurs with thigh rotation. All of these signs
are associated with appendicitis. Murphy's sign is cessation of inspiration during palpation of the right
upper quadrant and is associated with acute cholecystitis.
•
In establishing a differential diagnosis of abdominal pain, which of the following is true? A. Radiation of
pain to the scapula is suggestive of acute hepatitis.
B. Cervical motion tenderness is a useful physical finding for differentiating women with or without
acute appendicitis.
C. In patients with sickle cell anemia who present with abdominal pain and diarrhea, shigellosis should
be a top consideration.
D. The onset of pain prior to the occurrence of nausea and vomiting is more often suggestive of a
surgical etiology.
E. Diverticulitis tends to cause pain in the right upper quadrant.
- ✔✔D. The onset of pain prior to the occurrence of nausea and vomiting is more often
suggestive of a surgical etiology.
,•
The answer is D. Pain prior to nausea and vomiting is often suggestive of a surgical etiology of the pain,
such as small bowel obstruction. Cervical motion tenderness has been noted in up to 25% of women
with acute appendicitis. Patients with sickle cell anemia are prone to Salmonella infections. Radiation of
pain to the scapula is classically present in acute choleycystitis. Diverticulitis pain is generally located in
the left lower quadrant.
•
Of the following pain patterns, which is the least likely associated with diagnosis of peptic ulcer
disease?
A. non-radiating, burning epigastric pain
B. pain that awakens a patient in the middle of the night
C. unrelenting pain over a period of weeks
D. relief of abdominal pain with antacids
E. pain that is worse preceding a meal
- ✔✔C. unrelenting pain over a period of weeks
•
The answer is C. Pain from peptic ulcer disease typically occurs in periods of exacerbation and
remission. Unrelenting pain over weeks or months should suggest an alternative diagnosis. Pain is
classically described as non-radiating, burning epigastric pain. Some patients may also complain of
chest or back pain. Pain is frequently severe enough to awaken patients from sleep in early morning
hours but is often not present upon waking in the morning, as gastric acid secretion peaks around 2
a.m. and nadirs upon awakening.
•
A mother brings her 6 week old boy to the emergency room. She states the baby has been vomiting
everything she's tried to feed him for the past 12 hours. She states that he usually eats readily and
completes an entire feeding, but he is unable to keep anything down. The emesis is non-bloody and
non-bilious, however it is projectile in nature. What is the most likely condition in this patient? A. viral
gastroenteritis
B. constipation
C. appendicitis
D. intussusception
E. pyloric stenosis
- ✔✔E. pyloric stenosis
•
The answer is E. Hypertrophic pyloric stenosis typically presents in the second to sixth week of life and
is four times more common in males than females. Infants with hypertrophic pyloric stenosis typically
are vigorous eaters but shortly afterward regurgitate the entire feeding contents in a projectile fashion.
The emesis is non-bilious. The classic finding on exam is an "olive" palpable in the abdomen, and
diagnosis is typically via ultrasound. Intussusception typically presents between the ages of 5 and 12
months. Gastroenteritis is characterized by diarrhea as well as vomiting. Neither constipation nor
appendicitis typically present with protracted vomiting, though the latter condition tends to present
atypically in young children (and elderly adults).
,•
A 46 year old woman presents to the emergency department complaining of abrupt onset of intermittent
severe pain in the left flank and abdomen that woke her from sleep. She is pacing around the stretcher
and appears extremely uncomfortable. She has never experienced this type of pain previously and
denies fevers or other symptoms. Renal calculus is suspected. Which of the following is true regarding
the diagnosis of renal calculi in this patient?
A. Urinalysis demonstrating hematuria confirms the diagnosis.
B. KUB detects less than 10% of calculi.
C. Helical CT scan greater than 95% sensitive and specific for renal calculi.
D. Ultrasound is the study of choice for detecting small ureteral calculi.
E. Intravenous pyelogram (IVP) may be used in patients with renal insufficiency.
- ✔✔C. Helical CT scan greater than 95% sensitive and specific for renal calculi.
•
Helical CT scan has been shown to be both highly sensitive and specific in the diagnosis of renal
calculi. It is the preferred modality for evaluation in many centers. Although urinalysis typically
demonstrates hematuria in patients with renal calculi, hematuria is not specific enough to confirm the
diagnosis, and imaging is warranted in all first-time presenters. KUB detects approximately 60-70% of
calculi (though studies addressing this issue are somewhat methodologically flawed). Ultrasound is not
reliable for detecting small calculi, but is 85-94% sensitive and 100% specific at demonstrating
hydronephrosis. IVP is contraindicated in patients with renal insufficiency due to the dye load
necessary to perform the study.
•
A 50 year old man presents with 1 day of gradually worsening, intermittent, left lower quadrant pain
associated with loose stools. He has had no fevers or bloody bowel movements. Similar symptoms in
the past were self-limited. All vital signs lie within normal limits. Physical examination shows mild
tenderness in the left lower quadrant, normal active bowel sounds and neither masses nor peritoneal
signs. His primary-care physician can see him tomorrow in his clinic. What should be done next in the
E.D.?
A. Discharge home after a single dose of IV antibiotics
B. Discharge home on high-fiber diet, laxatives and stool softeners
C. Gastroenterology consult for endoscopy
D. Admit for observation and serial examinations
- ✔✔B. Discharge home on high-fiber diet, laxatives and stool softeners
•
This patient has classic diverticulosis (saclike protrusions of colonic mucosa through the muscularis)
without signs of acute diverticulitis (inflammation of diverticula). Usually these patients can be managed
as outpatients with a high-fiber diet and treatments to decrease intestinal spasm. If the patient develops
fever or pain increases he may need further evaluation to rule out abscess formation. Diverticulitis is
treated with antibiotics, bowel rest and analgesics.
•
You are treating a 25 year old male with the recent diagnosis of Crohn's disease in the ED. Regarding
Crohn's disease, you know that:
, •
A. Lesions are typically contiguous
B. Small bowel involvement is rare
C. Bleeding is common due to superficial bowel wall inflammation
D. There is a small increased risk of colon cancer
- ✔✔D. There is a small increased risk of colon cancer
•
Although Crohn's disease may involve the entire bowel tract, the rectum is rarely involved. Involved
areas are typically non-contiguous (known as "skip lesions") and the inflammation involves all of the
layers of the bowel wall--resulting in many of the complications of Crohn's such as abscess and fistula
formation, intestinal obstruction, and perforation. The risk of colon cancer is only slightly elevated
above baseline. In contrast, Ulcerative colitis begins in the rectum and may spread to the upper parts of
the colon but never involves the small intestine. The ulcerations are contiguous and involve only the
colonic mucosa. The incidence of colon cancer may be increased up to 30 times over baseline.
•
A 53 year old obese woman presents to the emergency department, accompanied by three of her
children, complaining of severe abdominal pain that began this afternoon after lunch. Physical exam
reveals marked RUQ tenderness. Likely findings on this patient would include all of the following
EXCEPT:
A. positive sonographic Murphy's sign
B. pain in the right scapula
C. leukocytosis with left shift
D. marked inguinal lymphadenopathy
E. aminotransferases and bilirubin within normal limits
- ✔✔D. marked inguinal lymphadenopathy
•
This woman is likely suffering from acute cholecystitis. Predisposing factors include female gender,
obesity, increased age and increased parity. Inflammation of the gallbladder causes RUQ pain and
sonographic Murphy's sign (inspiratory arrest, due to pain, while the ultrasound probe is positioned
over the gallbladder). Pain may radiate to the right scapula. Lab studies usually show leukocytosis with
or without a left shift, and aminotransferases and bilirubin are usually within normal limits.
•
A 45 year old woman presents with right upper quadrant pain and fever. The pain is worse after eating.
On physical exam she has a Murphy's sign. The most likely diagnosis is:
•
A. Appendicitis
B. Diverticulitis
C. Cholelithiasis
D. Cholecystitis
E. Mesenteric Ischemia
- ✔✔D. Cholecystitis
•
Right upper quadrant pain, fever and a Murphy's sign suggests cholecystitis. Cholelithiasis presents
with similar pain, but is not associated with fever or a Murphy's sign
Latest Updated 2026/2027 (Graded A+)
•
Regarding the diagnosis of acute appendicitis, all the following are true EXCEPT:
A. Vital signs are usually abnormal, even early in the course of acute appendicitis.
B. Rebound is usually elicited only after the appendix has ruptured or infarcted.
C. Rovsing's sign is pain in the right lower quadrant upon palpation of the left lower quadrant.
D. The obturator sign is pain upon flexion and internal rotation of the hip.
E. The psoas sign is pain upon extension of the hip.
- ✔✔A. Vital signs are usually abnormal, even early in the course of acute appendicitis.
•
The answer is A. The presentation of acute appendicitis varies tremendously. Early in its course, vital
signs including temperature may be normal. Once perforation has occurred, the rate of low-grade fever
(<38 C) increases to about 40%. Other variations in presentation include pain in the right upper
quadrant, typically from a retrocecal or retroiliac appendix.
•
Rosving's sign is described as:
A. Tenderness in the right upper quadrant that is worse with inspiration.
B. Pelvic pain upon flexion of the thigh while the patient is supine.
C. Pelvic pain upon internal and external rotation of the thigh with the knee flexed.
D. Pain that increases with the release of pressure of palpation.
E. Pain in the right lower quadrant when left lower quadrant is palpated.
- ✔✔E. Pain in the right lower quadrant when left lower quadrant is palpated.
•
The answer is E. Rosving's sign is pain in the right lower quadrant when the left lower quadrant is
palpated. Rebound tenderness occurs with the release of pressure. The iliopsoas sign is pain
associated with thigh flexion. The obturator sign is pain that occurs with thigh rotation. All of these signs
are associated with appendicitis. Murphy's sign is cessation of inspiration during palpation of the right
upper quadrant and is associated with acute cholecystitis.
•
In establishing a differential diagnosis of abdominal pain, which of the following is true? A. Radiation of
pain to the scapula is suggestive of acute hepatitis.
B. Cervical motion tenderness is a useful physical finding for differentiating women with or without
acute appendicitis.
C. In patients with sickle cell anemia who present with abdominal pain and diarrhea, shigellosis should
be a top consideration.
D. The onset of pain prior to the occurrence of nausea and vomiting is more often suggestive of a
surgical etiology.
E. Diverticulitis tends to cause pain in the right upper quadrant.
- ✔✔D. The onset of pain prior to the occurrence of nausea and vomiting is more often
suggestive of a surgical etiology.
,•
The answer is D. Pain prior to nausea and vomiting is often suggestive of a surgical etiology of the pain,
such as small bowel obstruction. Cervical motion tenderness has been noted in up to 25% of women
with acute appendicitis. Patients with sickle cell anemia are prone to Salmonella infections. Radiation of
pain to the scapula is classically present in acute choleycystitis. Diverticulitis pain is generally located in
the left lower quadrant.
•
Of the following pain patterns, which is the least likely associated with diagnosis of peptic ulcer
disease?
A. non-radiating, burning epigastric pain
B. pain that awakens a patient in the middle of the night
C. unrelenting pain over a period of weeks
D. relief of abdominal pain with antacids
E. pain that is worse preceding a meal
- ✔✔C. unrelenting pain over a period of weeks
•
The answer is C. Pain from peptic ulcer disease typically occurs in periods of exacerbation and
remission. Unrelenting pain over weeks or months should suggest an alternative diagnosis. Pain is
classically described as non-radiating, burning epigastric pain. Some patients may also complain of
chest or back pain. Pain is frequently severe enough to awaken patients from sleep in early morning
hours but is often not present upon waking in the morning, as gastric acid secretion peaks around 2
a.m. and nadirs upon awakening.
•
A mother brings her 6 week old boy to the emergency room. She states the baby has been vomiting
everything she's tried to feed him for the past 12 hours. She states that he usually eats readily and
completes an entire feeding, but he is unable to keep anything down. The emesis is non-bloody and
non-bilious, however it is projectile in nature. What is the most likely condition in this patient? A. viral
gastroenteritis
B. constipation
C. appendicitis
D. intussusception
E. pyloric stenosis
- ✔✔E. pyloric stenosis
•
The answer is E. Hypertrophic pyloric stenosis typically presents in the second to sixth week of life and
is four times more common in males than females. Infants with hypertrophic pyloric stenosis typically
are vigorous eaters but shortly afterward regurgitate the entire feeding contents in a projectile fashion.
The emesis is non-bilious. The classic finding on exam is an "olive" palpable in the abdomen, and
diagnosis is typically via ultrasound. Intussusception typically presents between the ages of 5 and 12
months. Gastroenteritis is characterized by diarrhea as well as vomiting. Neither constipation nor
appendicitis typically present with protracted vomiting, though the latter condition tends to present
atypically in young children (and elderly adults).
,•
A 46 year old woman presents to the emergency department complaining of abrupt onset of intermittent
severe pain in the left flank and abdomen that woke her from sleep. She is pacing around the stretcher
and appears extremely uncomfortable. She has never experienced this type of pain previously and
denies fevers or other symptoms. Renal calculus is suspected. Which of the following is true regarding
the diagnosis of renal calculi in this patient?
A. Urinalysis demonstrating hematuria confirms the diagnosis.
B. KUB detects less than 10% of calculi.
C. Helical CT scan greater than 95% sensitive and specific for renal calculi.
D. Ultrasound is the study of choice for detecting small ureteral calculi.
E. Intravenous pyelogram (IVP) may be used in patients with renal insufficiency.
- ✔✔C. Helical CT scan greater than 95% sensitive and specific for renal calculi.
•
Helical CT scan has been shown to be both highly sensitive and specific in the diagnosis of renal
calculi. It is the preferred modality for evaluation in many centers. Although urinalysis typically
demonstrates hematuria in patients with renal calculi, hematuria is not specific enough to confirm the
diagnosis, and imaging is warranted in all first-time presenters. KUB detects approximately 60-70% of
calculi (though studies addressing this issue are somewhat methodologically flawed). Ultrasound is not
reliable for detecting small calculi, but is 85-94% sensitive and 100% specific at demonstrating
hydronephrosis. IVP is contraindicated in patients with renal insufficiency due to the dye load
necessary to perform the study.
•
A 50 year old man presents with 1 day of gradually worsening, intermittent, left lower quadrant pain
associated with loose stools. He has had no fevers or bloody bowel movements. Similar symptoms in
the past were self-limited. All vital signs lie within normal limits. Physical examination shows mild
tenderness in the left lower quadrant, normal active bowel sounds and neither masses nor peritoneal
signs. His primary-care physician can see him tomorrow in his clinic. What should be done next in the
E.D.?
A. Discharge home after a single dose of IV antibiotics
B. Discharge home on high-fiber diet, laxatives and stool softeners
C. Gastroenterology consult for endoscopy
D. Admit for observation and serial examinations
- ✔✔B. Discharge home on high-fiber diet, laxatives and stool softeners
•
This patient has classic diverticulosis (saclike protrusions of colonic mucosa through the muscularis)
without signs of acute diverticulitis (inflammation of diverticula). Usually these patients can be managed
as outpatients with a high-fiber diet and treatments to decrease intestinal spasm. If the patient develops
fever or pain increases he may need further evaluation to rule out abscess formation. Diverticulitis is
treated with antibiotics, bowel rest and analgesics.
•
You are treating a 25 year old male with the recent diagnosis of Crohn's disease in the ED. Regarding
Crohn's disease, you know that:
, •
A. Lesions are typically contiguous
B. Small bowel involvement is rare
C. Bleeding is common due to superficial bowel wall inflammation
D. There is a small increased risk of colon cancer
- ✔✔D. There is a small increased risk of colon cancer
•
Although Crohn's disease may involve the entire bowel tract, the rectum is rarely involved. Involved
areas are typically non-contiguous (known as "skip lesions") and the inflammation involves all of the
layers of the bowel wall--resulting in many of the complications of Crohn's such as abscess and fistula
formation, intestinal obstruction, and perforation. The risk of colon cancer is only slightly elevated
above baseline. In contrast, Ulcerative colitis begins in the rectum and may spread to the upper parts of
the colon but never involves the small intestine. The ulcerations are contiguous and involve only the
colonic mucosa. The incidence of colon cancer may be increased up to 30 times over baseline.
•
A 53 year old obese woman presents to the emergency department, accompanied by three of her
children, complaining of severe abdominal pain that began this afternoon after lunch. Physical exam
reveals marked RUQ tenderness. Likely findings on this patient would include all of the following
EXCEPT:
A. positive sonographic Murphy's sign
B. pain in the right scapula
C. leukocytosis with left shift
D. marked inguinal lymphadenopathy
E. aminotransferases and bilirubin within normal limits
- ✔✔D. marked inguinal lymphadenopathy
•
This woman is likely suffering from acute cholecystitis. Predisposing factors include female gender,
obesity, increased age and increased parity. Inflammation of the gallbladder causes RUQ pain and
sonographic Murphy's sign (inspiratory arrest, due to pain, while the ultrasound probe is positioned
over the gallbladder). Pain may radiate to the right scapula. Lab studies usually show leukocytosis with
or without a left shift, and aminotransferases and bilirubin are usually within normal limits.
•
A 45 year old woman presents with right upper quadrant pain and fever. The pain is worse after eating.
On physical exam she has a Murphy's sign. The most likely diagnosis is:
•
A. Appendicitis
B. Diverticulitis
C. Cholelithiasis
D. Cholecystitis
E. Mesenteric Ischemia
- ✔✔D. Cholecystitis
•
Right upper quadrant pain, fever and a Murphy's sign suggests cholecystitis. Cholelithiasis presents
with similar pain, but is not associated with fever or a Murphy's sign
