SURGERY EOR EXAM PREP: QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 2026 FINAL PAPER.
◍ How should hypercalcemia be treated? Answer:fluid and diuretics,
bisphosphonates, and calcitonin
◍ _______is usually caused by ineffective PTH (chronic renal failure,
absent active vit D, ineffective active vit D,
pseudohypoparathyroidism), deficient PTH. Answer:Hypocalcemia
◍ How should hypocalcemia be treated? Answer:intravenous calcium
gluconate, Tums
◍ Increased CO2, hypoventilation, or decreased pH is aka ___.
Answer:respiratory acidosis
◍ Decreased CO2, hyperventilation, or increased pH is aka ___.
Answer:respiratory alkalosis
◍ Increased H+ or HCO3 loss, DKA, lactic acidosis is aka ___.
Answer:metabolic acidosis
◍ Loss of H+ is aka ________. Answer:metabolic alkalosis
,◍ The d/d of post op ___________can be MI, atelectasis, pneumonia,
pleurisy, esophageal reflux, PE, musculoskeletal pain, subphrenic
abscess, aortic dissection, pneumo/chyle/hemothorax, or gastritis.
Answer:chest pain
◍ Who classically gets silent MI's? Answer:diabetics
◍ How should syncope be initially evaluated? Answer:It is important
to distinguish syncope from cardiac arrest from other nonsyncopal
conditions causing LOC
◍ Syncope d/d: Prodrome or aura usually associated with ____.
Answer:seizures (as is loss of continence)
◍ Cardiac syncope's onset is usually ____without a prodrome.
Monitor vitals regularly, EKG, orthostatic challenge, neuro exam etc.
Answer:sudden
◍ In a surgery patient with dyspnea on exertion, what should be ruled
out? Answer:PE or pneumothorax
◍ What are some chronic dyspnea on exertion causes?
Answer:asthma, COPD, interstitial lung disease, myocardial
dysfunction, obesity
◍ What are some acute dyspnea on exertion causes?
Answer:angioedema, anaphylaxis, foreign objects, airway trauma,
,pulmonary infection, pleural effusion, peritonitis/ruptured viscous,
bowel obstruction
◍ __________is pain, cramping, or both of the lower extremity
(usually calf muscle) after walking a specific distance; then resolves
for a specific amount of time while standing. Answer:Claudication
◍ What is claudication associated with? Answer:peripheral vascular
occlusion
◍ D/D of lower extremity claudication? Answer:neurogenic/nerve
entrapment/discs, arthritis, coartation of the aorta, popliteal artery
syndrome, neuromas, anemia, diabetic neuropathy pain
◍ A _________is an abnormal dilation of an artery. Involve all layers
of the arterial wall. Answer:aneurysm
◍ At what size is surgical repair of aneurysm recommended?
Answer:5.5 cm
◍ 95% of aneurysms are associated with ___________.
Answer:atheroschlerosis -- other causes are trauma, infection,
syphilis, & Marfan's syndrome
◍ What is the classic triad of s/s related to ruptured AAA?
Answer:abdominal pain, pulsatile abdominal mass, hypotension
, ◍ Where does the aorta bifurcate? Answer:At the level of umbilicus
◍ Because the ________is often sacrificed during AAA repair,
colonic ischemia can occur. Answer:IMA - inferior mesenteric artery
◍ _______is a separation of the walls of the aorta from an intimal
tear and disease of the tunica media; a false lumen is formed and a
"reentry" tear may occur, resulting in a "double barrel" aorta.
Answer:Aortic dissection
◍ Explain the DeBakey classifications (Type 1,2, & 3) of aortic
dissections. Answer:DeBakey Type 1 - ascending & descending aorta
DeBakey Type 2 - ascending aorta
DeBakey Type 3 - descending aorta
◍ Explain the Stanford classifications of aortic dissections.
Answer:Type A -- ascending +/- descending aorta
Type B - descending aorta
◍ What is the most common cause of aortic dissection. Answer:HTN!
◍ What are the s/s of aortic dissection. Answer:abrupt tearing
pain/sensation
ANSWERS 2026 FINAL PAPER.
◍ How should hypercalcemia be treated? Answer:fluid and diuretics,
bisphosphonates, and calcitonin
◍ _______is usually caused by ineffective PTH (chronic renal failure,
absent active vit D, ineffective active vit D,
pseudohypoparathyroidism), deficient PTH. Answer:Hypocalcemia
◍ How should hypocalcemia be treated? Answer:intravenous calcium
gluconate, Tums
◍ Increased CO2, hypoventilation, or decreased pH is aka ___.
Answer:respiratory acidosis
◍ Decreased CO2, hyperventilation, or increased pH is aka ___.
Answer:respiratory alkalosis
◍ Increased H+ or HCO3 loss, DKA, lactic acidosis is aka ___.
Answer:metabolic acidosis
◍ Loss of H+ is aka ________. Answer:metabolic alkalosis
,◍ The d/d of post op ___________can be MI, atelectasis, pneumonia,
pleurisy, esophageal reflux, PE, musculoskeletal pain, subphrenic
abscess, aortic dissection, pneumo/chyle/hemothorax, or gastritis.
Answer:chest pain
◍ Who classically gets silent MI's? Answer:diabetics
◍ How should syncope be initially evaluated? Answer:It is important
to distinguish syncope from cardiac arrest from other nonsyncopal
conditions causing LOC
◍ Syncope d/d: Prodrome or aura usually associated with ____.
Answer:seizures (as is loss of continence)
◍ Cardiac syncope's onset is usually ____without a prodrome.
Monitor vitals regularly, EKG, orthostatic challenge, neuro exam etc.
Answer:sudden
◍ In a surgery patient with dyspnea on exertion, what should be ruled
out? Answer:PE or pneumothorax
◍ What are some chronic dyspnea on exertion causes?
Answer:asthma, COPD, interstitial lung disease, myocardial
dysfunction, obesity
◍ What are some acute dyspnea on exertion causes?
Answer:angioedema, anaphylaxis, foreign objects, airway trauma,
,pulmonary infection, pleural effusion, peritonitis/ruptured viscous,
bowel obstruction
◍ __________is pain, cramping, or both of the lower extremity
(usually calf muscle) after walking a specific distance; then resolves
for a specific amount of time while standing. Answer:Claudication
◍ What is claudication associated with? Answer:peripheral vascular
occlusion
◍ D/D of lower extremity claudication? Answer:neurogenic/nerve
entrapment/discs, arthritis, coartation of the aorta, popliteal artery
syndrome, neuromas, anemia, diabetic neuropathy pain
◍ A _________is an abnormal dilation of an artery. Involve all layers
of the arterial wall. Answer:aneurysm
◍ At what size is surgical repair of aneurysm recommended?
Answer:5.5 cm
◍ 95% of aneurysms are associated with ___________.
Answer:atheroschlerosis -- other causes are trauma, infection,
syphilis, & Marfan's syndrome
◍ What is the classic triad of s/s related to ruptured AAA?
Answer:abdominal pain, pulsatile abdominal mass, hypotension
, ◍ Where does the aorta bifurcate? Answer:At the level of umbilicus
◍ Because the ________is often sacrificed during AAA repair,
colonic ischemia can occur. Answer:IMA - inferior mesenteric artery
◍ _______is a separation of the walls of the aorta from an intimal
tear and disease of the tunica media; a false lumen is formed and a
"reentry" tear may occur, resulting in a "double barrel" aorta.
Answer:Aortic dissection
◍ Explain the DeBakey classifications (Type 1,2, & 3) of aortic
dissections. Answer:DeBakey Type 1 - ascending & descending aorta
DeBakey Type 2 - ascending aorta
DeBakey Type 3 - descending aorta
◍ Explain the Stanford classifications of aortic dissections.
Answer:Type A -- ascending +/- descending aorta
Type B - descending aorta
◍ What is the most common cause of aortic dissection. Answer:HTN!
◍ What are the s/s of aortic dissection. Answer:abrupt tearing
pain/sensation
