ABFM KSA - Care Of Hospitalized Patients Questions And Answers Latest Update (2025)!!
ABFM KSA - Care Of Hospitalized Patients
Questions And Answers Latest Update
(2025)!!
1. CT would usually be indicated as the initial imaging study for which one of the
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
nfollowing patients? n
An 8-year-old with a 2-day history of nausea, anorexia, and periumbilical pain
n n n n n n n n n n n
that has migrated to the right lower quadrant with localized tenderness,
n n n n n n n n n n n
guarding, and leukocytosis with a left shift
n n n n n n n
A43-year-old witha 1-day history ofepigastric painandnausea withvomiting, and
n n n n n n n n n n n n n
elevated serum lipase
n n n
A 66-year-old with diffuse abdominal pain,leukocytosis,and fever
n n n n n n n n
A 55-year-old with unrelenting severe low back pain associated with right leg pain
n n n n n n n n n n n n
and weakness
n n
A 68-year-old with crushing, retrosternal chest pain, an EKG showing sinus
n n n n n n n n n n
tachycardia with left bundle branch block,and a cardiac troponin I level of 14 ng/m
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
(N <0.04)ANS: C
n n n
The use of CT has increased significantly in recent years due to increased avail- ability,
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
better resolution, and faster scan times.However, there are rising concerns about
n n n n n n n n n n n n
cumulative radiation exposure and an increasing need to contain costs in medicine.To
n n n n n n n n n n n n n
assist clinicians in making wise use of all imaging techniques, the American College of
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
Radiology (ACR) has developed appropriateness criteria that recommend modalities
n n n n n n n n n
for various clinical problems.Patients with undifferentiated abdominal pain often
n n n n n n n n n
present a diagnostic challenge because of the wide range of pathology or organ
n n n n n n n n n n n n n
involvement that can produce this symptom. Fever associated with abdominal pain
n n n n n n n n n n n
increases the likelihood of intra-abdominal infection, abscess, orotherconditionsthat
n n n n n n n n n n n
n n
,mayrequireanurgentdefinitivediagnosisorintervention.In oneretrospectivestudy,CT
n n n n n n n n n n n n n
resultschangedtheleadingdiagnosisin51%ofpatients and the decision to admit
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
patients presenting to the emergency department with abdominal pain in 25% of
n n n n n n n n n n n n
patients.In contrast, no imaging may be indicated when the diagnosis is
n n n n n n n n n n n
straightforward based on other clinical indicators.Ultrasonography should be the first
n n n n n n n n n n n
imaging study in a pediatric patient with a classic history and physical and laboratory
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
findings of appendicitis.Similarly, while CT is unlikely to provide useful additional
n n n n n n n n n n n n
information in a patient with unequivocal, uncomplicated acute pancreatitis,
n n n n n n n n n
ultrasonography is a reasonable first imaging study to evaluate for gallstones. Patients
n n n n n n n n n n n n
with suspected acute coronary syndrome should be taken for coronary angiography
n n n n n n n n n n n
without delay.A patient with severe back pain and leg weakness should be evaluated
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
with MRI.
n n
2. A 75-year-old male is hospitalized with new-onset atrial fibrillation and a
n n n n n n n n n n
rapid ventricularrate.His current medical problems include COPD,hyperten-
n n n n n n n n n
sion, coronary artery disease, and depression. A metabolic panel including a
n n n n n n n n n n n
magnesium level is normal on admission.After a diltiazem continuous in-
n n n n n n n n n n
n n
,travenous infusion his pulse rate is 85 beats/min and irregular. The following n n n n n n n n n n n
morning he converts to normal sinus rhythm.Which one of the following would be
n n n n n n n n n n n n n
appropriate at this point?
n n n n
Administer a loading dose of warfarin,10 mg orally Start n n n n n n n n n
apixaban (Eliquis), 5 mg twice daily
n n n n n n
Stop the diltiazem infusion and administer metoprolol intravenously
n n n n n n n
Stop the diltiazem infusion and administer digoxin,0.25 mg intravenously ANS: B
n n n n n n n n n n n
It is generally not recommended to give a loading dose of warfarin, as the benefit is
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
minimal, especially if treating atrial fibrillation.There is no benefit to administering
n n n n n n n n n n n n
digoxin ormetoprolol intravenously once the patienthasconverted to sinus rhythm.
n n n n n n n n n n n n
Apixaban and other direct oral anticoagulants are recommended for stroke prophy-
n n n n n n n n n n n
laxis and should be initiated as soon as possible.This could have been started at the
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
time ofadmission for thispatient because there isnoreason to waituntilnormal sinus
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
rhythm is achieved.The dosage should be lowered to 2.5 mg twice daily for patients
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
with two of the following: age e80, body weight d60 kg (130 lb), or serum creatinine e1.5
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
mg/dL.
n
3. You admit a 74-year-old patient to the hospital with shortness of breath and
n n n n n n n n n n n n
bilateral pleural effusions seen on a chest radiograph.Which one of the
n n n n n n n n n n n n
following is true regarding pleural effusions?
n n n n n n
Noncontrast CT should be performed initially in all patients with pleural effu- n n n n n n n n n n n
sions if the cause is unknown
n n n n n n
Ultrasound-guided thoracentesis should be performed on admission in all n n n n n n n n
patients with small bilateral pleural effusions
n n n n n n
In patients with heart failure who are treated with diuretics,pleural effusions may
n n n n n n n n n n n n
be misclassified as exudative rather than transudative
n n n n n n n
Negativecytologyonanadequatesampleofpleuralfluid( e1 0 mL)effectively rules
n n n n n n n n n n n n
out malignancy as the cause of a unilateral pleural effusion
n n n n n n n n n n n
ANS: C n
CT can detect effusions not apparent on plain radiographs, distinguish between
n n n n n n n n n n
n n
, n pleural fluid and pleural thickening, and provide clues to the underlying cause.
n n n n n n n n n n n
Contrast CT is recommended to provide additional information that can be used in
n n n n n n n n n n n n
making the diagnosis.Thoracentesis should not be performed in patients with
n n n n n n n n n n n
bilateraleffusionsiftheclinicalfindingsstronglysuggestapleuraltransudate,unless there
n n n n n n n n n n n n
are atypical features (fever, pleuritic chest pain, or widely asymmetric effusion size) or
n n n n n n n n n n n n n
the effusion fails to respond to therapy (SOR C).Thoracentesis should
n n n n n n n n n n n
be performed with ultrasound guidance, when possible, to improve the likelihood of
n n n n n n n n n n n
successful aspiration and decrease the risk of organ puncture, especially when
n n n n n n n n n n n
effusions are small.About 20% of patients with a pleural effusion caused by heart
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
n n
ABFM KSA - Care Of Hospitalized Patients
Questions And Answers Latest Update
(2025)!!
1. CT would usually be indicated as the initial imaging study for which one of the
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
nfollowing patients? n
An 8-year-old with a 2-day history of nausea, anorexia, and periumbilical pain
n n n n n n n n n n n
that has migrated to the right lower quadrant with localized tenderness,
n n n n n n n n n n n
guarding, and leukocytosis with a left shift
n n n n n n n
A43-year-old witha 1-day history ofepigastric painandnausea withvomiting, and
n n n n n n n n n n n n n
elevated serum lipase
n n n
A 66-year-old with diffuse abdominal pain,leukocytosis,and fever
n n n n n n n n
A 55-year-old with unrelenting severe low back pain associated with right leg pain
n n n n n n n n n n n n
and weakness
n n
A 68-year-old with crushing, retrosternal chest pain, an EKG showing sinus
n n n n n n n n n n
tachycardia with left bundle branch block,and a cardiac troponin I level of 14 ng/m
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
(N <0.04)ANS: C
n n n
The use of CT has increased significantly in recent years due to increased avail- ability,
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
better resolution, and faster scan times.However, there are rising concerns about
n n n n n n n n n n n n
cumulative radiation exposure and an increasing need to contain costs in medicine.To
n n n n n n n n n n n n n
assist clinicians in making wise use of all imaging techniques, the American College of
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
Radiology (ACR) has developed appropriateness criteria that recommend modalities
n n n n n n n n n
for various clinical problems.Patients with undifferentiated abdominal pain often
n n n n n n n n n
present a diagnostic challenge because of the wide range of pathology or organ
n n n n n n n n n n n n n
involvement that can produce this symptom. Fever associated with abdominal pain
n n n n n n n n n n n
increases the likelihood of intra-abdominal infection, abscess, orotherconditionsthat
n n n n n n n n n n n
n n
,mayrequireanurgentdefinitivediagnosisorintervention.In oneretrospectivestudy,CT
n n n n n n n n n n n n n
resultschangedtheleadingdiagnosisin51%ofpatients and the decision to admit
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
patients presenting to the emergency department with abdominal pain in 25% of
n n n n n n n n n n n n
patients.In contrast, no imaging may be indicated when the diagnosis is
n n n n n n n n n n n
straightforward based on other clinical indicators.Ultrasonography should be the first
n n n n n n n n n n n
imaging study in a pediatric patient with a classic history and physical and laboratory
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
findings of appendicitis.Similarly, while CT is unlikely to provide useful additional
n n n n n n n n n n n n
information in a patient with unequivocal, uncomplicated acute pancreatitis,
n n n n n n n n n
ultrasonography is a reasonable first imaging study to evaluate for gallstones. Patients
n n n n n n n n n n n n
with suspected acute coronary syndrome should be taken for coronary angiography
n n n n n n n n n n n
without delay.A patient with severe back pain and leg weakness should be evaluated
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
with MRI.
n n
2. A 75-year-old male is hospitalized with new-onset atrial fibrillation and a
n n n n n n n n n n
rapid ventricularrate.His current medical problems include COPD,hyperten-
n n n n n n n n n
sion, coronary artery disease, and depression. A metabolic panel including a
n n n n n n n n n n n
magnesium level is normal on admission.After a diltiazem continuous in-
n n n n n n n n n n
n n
,travenous infusion his pulse rate is 85 beats/min and irregular. The following n n n n n n n n n n n
morning he converts to normal sinus rhythm.Which one of the following would be
n n n n n n n n n n n n n
appropriate at this point?
n n n n
Administer a loading dose of warfarin,10 mg orally Start n n n n n n n n n
apixaban (Eliquis), 5 mg twice daily
n n n n n n
Stop the diltiazem infusion and administer metoprolol intravenously
n n n n n n n
Stop the diltiazem infusion and administer digoxin,0.25 mg intravenously ANS: B
n n n n n n n n n n n
It is generally not recommended to give a loading dose of warfarin, as the benefit is
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
minimal, especially if treating atrial fibrillation.There is no benefit to administering
n n n n n n n n n n n n
digoxin ormetoprolol intravenously once the patienthasconverted to sinus rhythm.
n n n n n n n n n n n n
Apixaban and other direct oral anticoagulants are recommended for stroke prophy-
n n n n n n n n n n n
laxis and should be initiated as soon as possible.This could have been started at the
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
time ofadmission for thispatient because there isnoreason to waituntilnormal sinus
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
rhythm is achieved.The dosage should be lowered to 2.5 mg twice daily for patients
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
with two of the following: age e80, body weight d60 kg (130 lb), or serum creatinine e1.5
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
mg/dL.
n
3. You admit a 74-year-old patient to the hospital with shortness of breath and
n n n n n n n n n n n n
bilateral pleural effusions seen on a chest radiograph.Which one of the
n n n n n n n n n n n n
following is true regarding pleural effusions?
n n n n n n
Noncontrast CT should be performed initially in all patients with pleural effu- n n n n n n n n n n n
sions if the cause is unknown
n n n n n n
Ultrasound-guided thoracentesis should be performed on admission in all n n n n n n n n
patients with small bilateral pleural effusions
n n n n n n
In patients with heart failure who are treated with diuretics,pleural effusions may
n n n n n n n n n n n n
be misclassified as exudative rather than transudative
n n n n n n n
Negativecytologyonanadequatesampleofpleuralfluid( e1 0 mL)effectively rules
n n n n n n n n n n n n
out malignancy as the cause of a unilateral pleural effusion
n n n n n n n n n n n
ANS: C n
CT can detect effusions not apparent on plain radiographs, distinguish between
n n n n n n n n n n
n n
, n pleural fluid and pleural thickening, and provide clues to the underlying cause.
n n n n n n n n n n n
Contrast CT is recommended to provide additional information that can be used in
n n n n n n n n n n n n
making the diagnosis.Thoracentesis should not be performed in patients with
n n n n n n n n n n n
bilateraleffusionsiftheclinicalfindingsstronglysuggestapleuraltransudate,unless there
n n n n n n n n n n n n
are atypical features (fever, pleuritic chest pain, or widely asymmetric effusion size) or
n n n n n n n n n n n n n
the effusion fails to respond to therapy (SOR C).Thoracentesis should
n n n n n n n n n n n
be performed with ultrasound guidance, when possible, to improve the likelihood of
n n n n n n n n n n n
successful aspiration and decrease the risk of organ puncture, especially when
n n n n n n n n n n n
effusions are small.About 20% of patients with a pleural effusion caused by heart
n n n n n n n n n n n n n n
n n