SURGERY EOR EXAM TEST PAPER
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS 2026 100%
CORRECT.
◍ If the post op fever occurs within days 5-10 post op, what is the
most likely cause? Answer:wound infection, pneumonia, abscess,
infected hematoma, C diff colitis, anastomotic leak, DVT, peritoneal
abscess, drug fever, PE, parotitis
◍ _______is the most common pathogen in wound infections and
around foreign bodies. Answer:Staph aureus
◍ _______invades the inner ear and enteric tissues as well as the
lung. Answer:Klebsiella
◍ ______organisms are often found together with anaerobes.
Answer:Enteric organisms ie. enterobacteriaceae and enterococci
◍ Among the anaerobes, ___&___are often present in surgical
infections and _____species are major pathogens in ischemic tissue.
Answer:Bacteroides & Peptostreptococci; Clostridium
◍ ___&___are usually nonpathogenic surface contaminants but may
be opportunistic.
,Some fungi and yeast cause abscesses in sinus tracts.
Answer:Pseudomonas & Serratia
◍ History of recent surgery, trauma, cancer, prolonged
immobilization, or oral contraceptive use increases the risk of ____.
Answer:DVT - deep vein thrombosis
◍ What is Homan's sign? Answer:pain on passive dorsiflexion of
ankle
◍ What is the test of choice for DVT? Answer:doppler ultrasound
◍ How is the D-dimer text useful? Answer:It is good at ruling a DVT
out (if the text is negative) but not rule it in
◍ Tx of DVT --
1. Initiate use of ____or____to what dose?
2. Overlap with the use of ____to what therapeutic range?
3. Why overlap therapies? Answer:DVT
1. Initiate Heparin to PTT of 0.3-0.7 U/mL or LMWH wo monitoring.
2. Overlap with warfarin to INR between 2-3.
3. Overlap therapies to decrease changes of hypercoagulable state.
◍ The most common cause of SIRS (systemic inflammatory response
syndrome) is sepsis. What are the criteria for dx of SIRS? Answer:At
least 2 of the following:
,1. temp >38C or <36C
2. tachy >90
3. tachypnea > 20 breaths/minute
4. PCO2 <32mmHg
5. WBC > 12,000/uL or <4000/uL
◍ After sepsis, what are the next two most common causes of SIRS?
Answer:pancreatitis and drugs
◍ What is the difference between hypovolemia and dehydration?
Answer:hypovolemia is loss of both water and sodium while
dehydration is loss of intracellular water or deficit with hypernatremia
-- dehydration occurs when patient can not adjust water intake for
water loss
◍ What are the clinical signs of dehydration and hypovolemia?
Answer:tachycardia, hypotension, pale skin, increased capillary refill
time, dizziness, faintness, nausea, thirst, decreased urine output -- in
hypovolemia, urine will demonstrate low sodium concentration
◍ What are 2 common conditions with dehydration? Answer:diabetes
insipidus (lack of ADH or unable to respond to ADH), fever with
increased water loss
◍ Hyponatremia Causes
_______ = cirrhosis, CHF, nephrotic syndrome, massive edema
, _______=states of severe pain or nausea, trauma, brain damage,
SIADH
_______=prolonged vomiting, decreased oral intake, severe diarrhea,
diuretic use
Misc causes = factitious hyponatremia, hypothyroidism, adrenal
insufficiency, malnourished states, primary polydipsia
Answer:Hypervolemic, Euvolemic, Hypovolemic
◍ What are the two most common treatments for hyponatremia?
Other less common treatment? Answer:salt tabs and fluid restriction;
vasopressin receptor antagonist in SIADH, CHF, and cirrhosis
◍ Hypernatremia is almost always due to _______. Therefore, what is
the treatment? Answer:dehydration; rehydrate!
◍ What s/s can result in a hyperkalemic patient? Answer:cardiac
arrhythmias (tall peaked T waves) and weakness
◍ If the potassium level is above 6meq/L or the patient has EKG
changes, what treatments can lower K temporarily? Answer:calcium
gluconate, sodium bicarbonate, insulin and glucose, kayexalate (takes
longer to be effective)
◍ ______&______ is extremely effective in decreasing potassium.
Answer:Dialysis and furosemide
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS 2026 100%
CORRECT.
◍ If the post op fever occurs within days 5-10 post op, what is the
most likely cause? Answer:wound infection, pneumonia, abscess,
infected hematoma, C diff colitis, anastomotic leak, DVT, peritoneal
abscess, drug fever, PE, parotitis
◍ _______is the most common pathogen in wound infections and
around foreign bodies. Answer:Staph aureus
◍ _______invades the inner ear and enteric tissues as well as the
lung. Answer:Klebsiella
◍ ______organisms are often found together with anaerobes.
Answer:Enteric organisms ie. enterobacteriaceae and enterococci
◍ Among the anaerobes, ___&___are often present in surgical
infections and _____species are major pathogens in ischemic tissue.
Answer:Bacteroides & Peptostreptococci; Clostridium
◍ ___&___are usually nonpathogenic surface contaminants but may
be opportunistic.
,Some fungi and yeast cause abscesses in sinus tracts.
Answer:Pseudomonas & Serratia
◍ History of recent surgery, trauma, cancer, prolonged
immobilization, or oral contraceptive use increases the risk of ____.
Answer:DVT - deep vein thrombosis
◍ What is Homan's sign? Answer:pain on passive dorsiflexion of
ankle
◍ What is the test of choice for DVT? Answer:doppler ultrasound
◍ How is the D-dimer text useful? Answer:It is good at ruling a DVT
out (if the text is negative) but not rule it in
◍ Tx of DVT --
1. Initiate use of ____or____to what dose?
2. Overlap with the use of ____to what therapeutic range?
3. Why overlap therapies? Answer:DVT
1. Initiate Heparin to PTT of 0.3-0.7 U/mL or LMWH wo monitoring.
2. Overlap with warfarin to INR between 2-3.
3. Overlap therapies to decrease changes of hypercoagulable state.
◍ The most common cause of SIRS (systemic inflammatory response
syndrome) is sepsis. What are the criteria for dx of SIRS? Answer:At
least 2 of the following:
,1. temp >38C or <36C
2. tachy >90
3. tachypnea > 20 breaths/minute
4. PCO2 <32mmHg
5. WBC > 12,000/uL or <4000/uL
◍ After sepsis, what are the next two most common causes of SIRS?
Answer:pancreatitis and drugs
◍ What is the difference between hypovolemia and dehydration?
Answer:hypovolemia is loss of both water and sodium while
dehydration is loss of intracellular water or deficit with hypernatremia
-- dehydration occurs when patient can not adjust water intake for
water loss
◍ What are the clinical signs of dehydration and hypovolemia?
Answer:tachycardia, hypotension, pale skin, increased capillary refill
time, dizziness, faintness, nausea, thirst, decreased urine output -- in
hypovolemia, urine will demonstrate low sodium concentration
◍ What are 2 common conditions with dehydration? Answer:diabetes
insipidus (lack of ADH or unable to respond to ADH), fever with
increased water loss
◍ Hyponatremia Causes
_______ = cirrhosis, CHF, nephrotic syndrome, massive edema
, _______=states of severe pain or nausea, trauma, brain damage,
SIADH
_______=prolonged vomiting, decreased oral intake, severe diarrhea,
diuretic use
Misc causes = factitious hyponatremia, hypothyroidism, adrenal
insufficiency, malnourished states, primary polydipsia
Answer:Hypervolemic, Euvolemic, Hypovolemic
◍ What are the two most common treatments for hyponatremia?
Other less common treatment? Answer:salt tabs and fluid restriction;
vasopressin receptor antagonist in SIADH, CHF, and cirrhosis
◍ Hypernatremia is almost always due to _______. Therefore, what is
the treatment? Answer:dehydration; rehydrate!
◍ What s/s can result in a hyperkalemic patient? Answer:cardiac
arrhythmias (tall peaked T waves) and weakness
◍ If the potassium level is above 6meq/L or the patient has EKG
changes, what treatments can lower K temporarily? Answer:calcium
gluconate, sodium bicarbonate, insulin and glucose, kayexalate (takes
longer to be effective)
◍ ______&______ is extremely effective in decreasing potassium.
Answer:Dialysis and furosemide
