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Question 1
Incorrect
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A 29-year-old man with gunshot to the abdomen is transferred to the operating theatre, following his arrival in the A&E department. He is unstable and his FAST scan is positive. During the operation, extensive laceration to the right lobe of the liver and involvement of the IVC are found, along with massive haemorrhage. What should be the most appropriate approach to blood component therapy?
Your Answer: Transfuse packed cells, FFP, and platelets in fixed ratio of 1:1:1
Correct Answer:
Explanation:There is strong evidence to support haemostatic resuscitation in the setting of massive haemorrhage due to trauma. This advocates the use of 1:1:1 ratio.
Uncontrolled haemorrhage accounts for up to 39% of all trauma-related deaths. In the UK, approximately 2% of all trauma patients need massive transfusion. Massive transfusion is defined as the replacement of a patient’s total blood volume in less than 24 hours or the acute administration of more than half the patient’s estimated blood volume per hour. During acute bleeding, the practice of haemostatic resuscitation has been shown to reduce mortality rates. It is based on the principle of transfusion of blood components in fixed ratios. For example, packed red cells, FFP, and platelets are administered in a ratio of 1:1:1.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Emergency Medicine And Management Of Trauma
- Principles Of Surgery-in-General
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Question 2
Correct
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A 37 year old firefighter notices a swelling in his left hemiscrotum and visits his family doctor. A left sided varicocele was noticed when he was examined. The ipsilateral testis is normal on palpation. Which of the following would be the best course of action?
Your Answer: Abdominal ultrasound
Explanation:Abdominal Ultrasound is the imaging method of choice for varicocele.
A varicocele is abnormal dilation and enlargement of the scrotal venous pampiniform plexus which drains blood from each testicle. While usually painless, varicoceles are clinically significant because they are the most commonly identified cause of abnormal semen analysis, low sperm count, decreased sperm motility, and abnormal sperm morphology. Varicoceles are far more common (80% to 90%) in the left testicle. If a left varicocele is identified, there is a 30% to 40% probability it is a bilateral condition.There are three theories as to the anatomical cause:
– The Nutcracker effect which occurs when the left internal spermatic vein gets caught between the superior mesenteric artery and the aorta. This entrapment causes venous compression and spermatic vein obstruction.
– Failure of the anti-reflux valve where the internal spermatic vein joins the left renal vein. This failure causes reflux and retrograde flow in the testicular vein.
– Angulation at the juncture of the left internal spermatic vein and the left renal vein.Varicoceles are usually asymptomatic. The patient may describe a bag of worms if the varicocele is large enough. Varicoceles present as soft lumps above the testicle, usually on the left side of the scrotum. Patients may sometimes complain of pain or heaviness in the scrotum.
A sudden onset of varicocele in a man over the age of 30 years requires the exclusion of renal tumours, particularly in elderly patients. In such cases it is necessary to extend diagnostic ultrasonography with abdominal examination. The diagnosis of varicocele is based on medical history and physical examination, which involves palpation and observation of the scrotum at rest and during the Valsalva manoeuvre. -
This question is part of the following fields:
- Generic Surgical Topics
- Urology
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Question 3
Incorrect
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Enlargement of the spleen as seen in Gaucher's disease pushes the spleen downward and medially. What structure limits the straight-vertical-downward movement?
Your Answer: Ligament of Treitz
Correct Answer: Left colic flexure
Explanation:The left colic flexure (also known as the splenic flexure), is the point where the colon takes a sharp turn downwards. It is the point where the transverse colon ends and the descending colon begins. It is located immediately inferior to the spleen so an enlarged spleen must move medially to avoid this colic flexure.
The left suprarenal gland is retroperitoneal.
The Ligament of Treitz suspends the fourth part of the duodenum from the posterior abdominal wall.
The stomach, pancreas and liver lie medial to the spleen and thus would not prevent a vertical downward movement. -
This question is part of the following fields:
- Anatomy
- Basic Sciences
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Question 4
Correct
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Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is likely to result in:
Your Answer: Respiratory acidosis
Explanation:COPD leads to respiratory acidosis (chronic). This occurs due to hypoventilation which involves multiple causes, such as poor responsiveness to hypoxia and hypercapnia, increased ventilation/perfusion mismatch leading to increased dead space ventilation and decreased diaphragm function.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Basic Sciences
- Physiology
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Question 5
Correct
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Gastrocnemius, semimembranosus and semitendinosus together with which other muscle form the boundaries of the popliteal fossa?
Your Answer: Biceps femoris
Explanation:The popliteal fossa is located at the back of the knee. It is bounded laterally by the biceps femoris above and the plantaris and lateral head of the gastrocnemius below and medially by the semitendinosus and semimembranosus above and by the medial head of the gastrocnemius below.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Anatomy
- Basic Sciences
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Question 6
Correct
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Which of the following statements is true regarding the umbilical cord?
Your Answer: Is filled with jelly of Wharton
Explanation:The umbilical cord that connects the fetus to the placenta is about 50cm long. This tissue consists of the body stalk and vitelline duct. The former containing the allantoic diverticulum and the umbilical vessels. The latter contains the connection linking the digestive tube and the yolk sac. This cord is wrapped by stratum of ectoderm and gelatinous tissue or jelly of Wharton. The right umbilical vein plus the vitelline vessels and ducts disappear and this at birth the cord has three vessels which are the umbilical vein and two umbilical arteries.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Anatomy
- Basic Sciences
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Question 7
Correct
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C5a (a complement component) is a potent?
Your Answer: Anaphylotoxin
Explanation:C5a is a strong chemoattractant as well as an anaphylotoxin and is involved in the recruitment of inflammatory cells such as neutrophils, eosinophils, monocytes, and T lymphocytes. It is also involved in activation of phagocytic cells, release of granule-based enzymes and generation of oxidants. All of which contribute to innate immune functions.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Basic Sciences
- Physiology
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Question 8
Incorrect
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A 34 year old woman underwent a wide local excision for her breast carcinoma. Histology reveals an invasive lobular carcinoma present at three of the resection margins. Cavity shavings that were taken at the original operation are also involved. The sentinel lymph node biopsy was reported to be negative. Which of the following management plans would be the most appropriate for this patient?
Your Answer: Arrange for breast radiotherapy alone
Correct Answer: Arrange for completion mastectomy alone
Explanation:Mastectomy should ideally be done in this patient. This patient has extensive spread of disease and tumour margins are unclear which makes radiotherapy the less likely option. Mastectomy is the safest option in this scenario. Patients who have undergone mastectomy may be offered a reconstructive procedure either in conjunction with their primary resection or as a staged procedure at a later date.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Breast And Endocrine Surgery
- Generic Surgical Topics
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Question 9
Correct
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A 33 year old woman presents with a history of recurrent infections and abscesses in the neck. Examination reveals a midline defect with an overlying scab which moves upwards on tongue protrusion. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?
Your Answer: Thyroglossal cyst
Explanation:Congenital neck masses are developmental anomalies typically seen in infants or children. Common conditions include thyroglossal duct cysts, branchial cleft cysts, and cystic hygromas. These malformations present as painless neck masses, which can cause dysphagia, respiratory distress, and neck pain due to compression of surrounding structures. The location of the mass depends on the embryological structure the cysts arise from. Diagnosis is made based on clinical findings and imaging results (ultrasound, CT, MRI), which also help in surgical planning. Treatment consists of complete surgical resection to prevent recurrence and complications such as infection or abscess formation.
The thyroglossal cyst is present from birth and usually detected during early childhood. It presents as a painless, firm midline neck mass, usually near the hyoid bone, which elevates with swallowing and tongue protrusion. May cause dysphagia or neck/throat pain if the cyst enlarges. -
This question is part of the following fields:
- Generic Surgical Topics
- Head And Neck Surgery
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Question 10
Correct
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When inserting a chest drain anteriorly into the second intercostal space, one must identify the second costal cartilage by palpating which landmark?
Your Answer: Sternal angle
Explanation:The sternal angle is the site for identification of the second rib as the second rib is attached to the sternum at this point.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Anatomy
- Basic Sciences
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Question 11
Correct
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Which of the following mediators of inflammation requires arachidonic acid for synthesis?
Your Answer: Prostaglandins
Explanation:Arachidonic acid is normally present in the phospholipids that make up the cell membrane and is cleaved by phospholipase A2 from the phospholipid. Arachidonic acid is a precursor for the production of eicosanoids which include: 1) prostaglandins, prostacyclins and thromboxane, 2) leukotrienes and 3) anandamides. The production of these products along with their action on the body is called the arachidonic acid cascade.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Basic Sciences
- Pathology
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Question 12
Correct
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A 26 year old female student presents with diarrhoea, bloating and crampy abdominal pain after returning from a student exchange trip in Nigeria. She states that she had been swimming in a public pool in the afternoons after class and she has had bowel movements four to five times per day. She notices that her stools float on top of the toilet water but there is no presence of blood. Which of the following is the most likely cause?
Your Answer: Giardia lamblia
Explanation:Giardia is a microscopic parasite that causes the diarrheal illness known as giardiasis. Giardia (also known as Giardia intestinalis, Giardia lamblia, or Giardia duodenalis) is found on surfaces or in soil, food, or water that has been contaminated with faeces from infected humans or animals.
Giardia is protected by an outer shell that allows it to survive outside the body for long periods of time and makes it tolerant to chlorine disinfection. While the parasite can be spread in different ways, water (drinking water and recreational water) is the most common mode of transmission.
Signs and symptoms may vary and can last for 1 to 2 weeks or longer. In some cases, people infected with Giardia have no symptoms.
Acute symptoms include:
Diarrhoea
Gas
Greasy stools that tend to float
Stomach or abdominal cramps
Upset stomach or nausea/vomiting
Dehydration (loss of fluids)
Other, less common symptoms include itchy skin, hives, and swelling of the eye and joints. Sometimes, the symptoms of giardiasis might seem to resolve, only to come back again after several days or weeks. Giardiasis can cause weight loss and failure to absorb fat, lactose, vitamin A and vitamin B12.In children, severe giardiasis might delay physical and mental growth, slow development, and cause malnutrition.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Clinical Microbiology
- Principles Of Surgery-in-General
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Question 13
Correct
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An 18 year old male is given a total of 6 litres of 0.9% sodium chloride solution, over 24 hours after having an elective right hemicolectomy. Which of the following complications may develop?
Your Answer: Hyperchloremic acidosis
Explanation:Answer: Hyperchloremic acidosis
Hyperchloremic acidosis is a form of metabolic acidosis associated with a normal anion gap, a decrease in plasma bicarbonate concentration, and an increase in plasma chloride concentration. In general, the cause of a hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis is a loss of base, either a gastrointestinal loss or a renal loss.
1) Gastrointestinal loss of bicarbonate (HCO3-)
-Severe diarrhoea (vomiting will tend to cause hypochloraemic alkalosis)
-Pancreatic fistula with loss of bicarbonate rich pancreatic fluid
-Nasojejunal tube losses in the context of small bowel obstruction and loss of alkaline proximal small bowel secretions
-Chronic laxative abuse
2) Renal causes
-Proximal renal tubular acidosis with failure of (HCO3-) resorption
-Distal renal tubular acidosis with failure of H+
secretion
-Long-term use of a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor such as acetazolamide
3) Other causes
-Ingestion of ammonium chloride, hydrochloric acid, or other acidifying salts
-The treatment and recovery phases of diabetic ketoacidosis
-Volume resuscitation with 0.9% normal saline provides a chloride load, so that infusing more than 3-4L can cause acidosis
-Hyperalimentation (i.e., total parenteral nutrition).This patient received 6L of 0.9% normal saline which lead to hyperchloremic acidosis.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Post-operative Management And Critical Care
- Principles Of Surgery-in-General
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Question 14
Correct
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A 26-year-old female patient had the following blood report: RBC count = 4. 0 × 106/μl, haematocrit = 27% and haemoglobin = 11 g/dl, mean corpuscular volume (MCV) = 80–100 fl, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) = 31–37 g/dl. Which of the following is correct regarding this patient’s erythrocytes:
Your Answer: Normal MCV
Explanation:MCV is the mean corpuscular volume and it is calculated from the haematocrit and the RBC count. It is normally 90 fl. Mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) [g/dl] = haemoglobin [g/dl]/haematocrit = 11/0.27 = 41 g/dl and is higher than normal range (32 to 36 g/dL).
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Basic Sciences
- Physiology
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Question 15
Correct
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What occurs during cellular atrophy?
Your Answer: Cell size decreases
Explanation:Atrophy is the decrease in the size of cells, tissues, or organs. There are several causes including inadequate nutrition, poor circulation, loss of hormonal support or nerve supply, disuse, lack of exercise, or disease. An increase in cell size is termed hypertrophy which is distinguished from hyperplasia, in which the cells remain approximately the same size but increase in number.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Basic Sciences
- Pathology
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Question 16
Correct
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A patient had sudden complete loss of vision of the right eye. Fundoscopy showed the distinct cherry red spot on the retina. Which of the following arteries was occluded?
Your Answer: Central artery of the retina
Explanation:The central retinal artery supplies all the nerve fibres that form the optic nerve, which carries the visual information to the lateral geniculate nucleus of the thalamus. Thus if the central retinal artery gets occluded, there is complete loss of vision in that eye and the entire retina (with the exception of the fovea) becomes pale, swollen and opaque while the central fovea still appears reddish (this is because the choroid colour shows through). This is the basis of the famous Cherry red spot seen on examination of the retina on fundoscopy of a central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO).
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Anatomy
- Basic Sciences
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Question 17
Correct
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A 31-year-old woman who is 30 weeks pregnant presents with sudden onset of chest pain associated with loss of consciousness. On examination, she is afebrile and her heart rate is 120 bpm, blood pressure is 170/90 mmHg, and saturation is 93% on 15L oxygen. Furthermore, an early diastolic murmur and occasional bibasilar crepitations are auscultated and mild pedal oedema is observed. Her ECG shows ST-segment elevation in leads II, III, and aVF.What is the most likely diagnosis?
Your Answer: Aortic dissection
Explanation:The most likely diagnosis is aortic dissection.
Aortic dissection occurs following a tear in the aortic intima with subsequent separation of the tissue within the weakened media by the propagation of blood. There are four different classifications of aortic dissection and the commonest one used is the Stanford classification dividing them into type A and type B. A type A dissection involves the ascending aorta and/or the arch whilst type B dissection involves only the descending aorta and occurs distal to the origin of the left subclavian artery.
Aortic dissection in pregnancy occurs most commonly in the third trimester due to the hyperdynamic state and hormonal effect on vasculature. Other common predisposing factors for aortic dissection include Marfans syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, and bicuspid aortic valve. Aortic dissection often presents with sudden severe, tearing chest pain, vomiting, and syncope, most often from acute pericardial tamponade. The patient may be hypertensive, clinically. The right coronary artery may become involved in the dissection, causing myocardial infarct in up to 2% of the cases (hence ST-segment elevation in the inferior leads). An aortic regurgitant murmur may be auscultated.
The management options during pregnancy include:
1. <28 weeks of gestation: aortic repair with the foetus kept in utero
2. 28–32 weeks of gestation: dependent on foetal condition
3. >32 weeks of gestation: caesarean section followed by aortic repair in the same operation -
This question is part of the following fields:
- Emergency Medicine And Management Of Trauma
- Principles Of Surgery-in-General
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Question 18
Correct
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The primary somatosensory cortex is located in the:
Your Answer: Postcentral gyrus
Explanation:The primary somatic sensory cortex is located in the postcentral gyrus and is the largest cortical receiving area for information from somatosensory receptors. Through corticocortical fibres, it then sends the information to other areas of the neocortex and further analysis takes place in the posterior parietal association cortex.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Basic Sciences
- Physiology
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Question 19
Correct
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What is the likely diagnosis in a 55-year old man presenting with jaundice, weight loss, pale coloured stools and elevated alkaline phosphatase?
Your Answer: Pancreatic carcinoma
Explanation:Increased alkaline phosphatase is indicative of cholestasis, with a 4x or greater increase seen 1-2 days after biliary obstruction. Its level can remain elevated several days after the obstruction is resolved due to the long half life (7 days). Increase up to three times the normal level can be seen in hepatitis, cirrhosis, space-occupying lesions and infiltrative disorders. Raised alkaline phosphatase with other liver function tests being normal can occur in focal hepatic lesions like abscesses or tumours, or in partial/intermittent biliary obstruction. However, alkaline phosphatase has several isoenzymes, which originate in different organs, particularly bone. An isolated rise can also be seen in malignancies (bronchogenic carcinoma, Hodgkin’s lymphoma), post-fatty meals (from the small intestine), in pregnancy (from the placenta), in growing children (from bone growth) and in chronic renal failure (from intestine and bone). One can differentiate between hepatic and non-hepatic cause by measurement of enzymes specific to the liver e.g. gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT).
In an elderly, asymptomatic patient, isolated rise of alkaline phosphatase usually points to bone disease (like Paget’s disease). Presence of other symptoms such as jaundice, pale stools, weight loss suggests obstructive jaundice, most probably due to pancreatic carcinoma. -
This question is part of the following fields:
- Basic Sciences
- Pathology
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Question 20
Incorrect
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A 53-year-old female with a history of rheumatoid presents with a suspected septic knee joint. A diagnostic aspiration is performed and sent to microbiology. Which of the organisms below is most likely to be responsible?
Your Answer: Neisseria gonorrhoeae
Correct Answer: Staphylococcus aureus
Explanation:Septic arthritis, also known as infectious arthritis, may represent a direct invasion of the joint space by various microorganisms, most commonly caused by bacteria.
Neisseria gonorrhoeae remains the most common pathogen (75% of cases) among younger sexually active individuals.
Staphylococcus aureus infection causes the vast majority of acute bacterial arthritis cases in adults and in children older than 2 years. -
This question is part of the following fields:
- Clinical Microbiology
- Principles Of Surgery-in-General
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SESSION STATS - PERFORMANCE PER SPECIALTY
