DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY

SURGICAL FOUNDATIONS EXAM

February 19, 2013

7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

EXAMINATION INSTRUCTIONS

1. Please write and code your name on the Computer Answer Sheet – left side.

2. This examination is multiple-choice. Choose the single best answer.

3. This examination is two hours in length.

4. Examination results will be sent from the Department of Surgery

5. Questions highlighted with an asterisks are optional for residents in the ENT and OB-GYN programs.
1) A 67 year old man with a 7 cm abdominal aortic aneurysm and bilateral iliac occlusive disease undergoes
open aorto-femoral bypass grafting. Four hours post-operatively, the nurse notices that the left foot is cold
and that there is no left femoral pulse.

The most appropriate next step would be?

a) Heparin 10,000 units IV

b) arteriography

c) four compartment left leg fasciotomy

d) immediate exploration of the left femoral anastomosis

2) A 35 year old man has been cared for in the Intensive Care Unit because of severe pancreatitis and
pneumonia for two weeks. He is receiving total parenteral nutrition. Blood tests reveal:

Total bilirubin normal

INR 2.0

APPT normal

Platelet count normal

The most likely course of his coagulopathy is:

a) factor VII deficiency

b) disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)

c) vitamin K deficiency

d) chronic liver disease

3) Red man syndrome is associated with the use of which of the following antibiotics?

a) Vancomycin

b) Clindamycin

c) Ciprofloxacin

d) Levofloxacin

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4) Which of the following is the best indication for placement of an IVC filter?

a) prior to elective gastrectomy for cancer in a patient with an episode of DVT one month ago

b) in a trauma patient with severe pelvic fractures and concomitant closed head injury

c) in a patient with recent pulmonary emboli despite anticoagulation with Coumadin

d) in a patient with a known distal vena caval thrombosis

5) A 65 year old woman is scheduled for an elective right nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma. The patient’s
history is significant for coronary artery disease, hypertension, and Type II diabetes mellitus. The patient
had two vessel coronary angioplasty with stenting six months ago and is now symptom free and exercising
three times a week. Appropriate pre-op cardiac testing would be?

a) none needed

b) ECG

c) treadmill stress test

d) 2-D echo heart (trans thoracic)

6) A 58 year old woman presents with a 4 cm mass in her right thigh. Core biopsy demonstrates a low-grade
soft tissue sarcoma. Physical examination and CT do not demonstrate any metastases. The next step should
be:

a) present patient to tumor board to decide treatment

b) surgical excision with 2- cm negative margins

c) pre-operative external beam radiotherapy

d) pre-operative chemotherapy

7) With regard to hemolytic transfusion reactions, which of the following statements is FALSE?

a) they are generally caused by ABO incompatibility

b) urticaria and puritis are the commonest symptoms

c) alkalanization of the urine helps prevent precipitation of hemoglobin in the kidneys

d) the laboratory findings include a positive direct hemoglobin test and a free hemoglobin
concentration high than 5 mg/dl in a post-transfusion blood sample
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8) The brightness of each pixel in a CT scan is proportional to the relative attenuation coefficient for x-rays of
the tissue transversed, expressed in Hounsfield units (HU). Which of the following tissues has the
HIGHEST HU?

a) water

b) muscle

c) air

d) cortical bone

9) A 45 year old male homeless chronic alcoholic is brought to the Emergency Room because of abdominal
pain. He undergoes Laparotomy and omental patch of a perforated gastric ulcer. On post-operative day two
in the Intensive Care Unit, he develops tachycardia, hypertension and agitation. This could be treated with
all of the following drugs, EXCEPT?

a) Benzodiazepine

b) Fentanyl

c) Proprofol

d) Haldol

10) The earliest symptoms of extremity compartment syndrome are due to tissue intolerance to hypoxia.
Which of the following structures is the most sensitive to hypoxia?

a) skin

b) nonmylinated nerve

c) myelinated nerve

d) skeletal muscle

11) In a patient with abnormal bleeding, which of the following findings would make primary fibrinolysis
more likely as the cause of the bleeding than disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)?

a) normal platelet count

b) prolonged aPTT

c) low fibrinogen levels

d) increase in fibrin degradation products

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12) Five days after right radical nephrectomy for adenocarcinoma, the patient reports sharp pleuritic right
sided chest pain and dyspnea. On examination:

Temperature 37.1

Heart rate 115

Blood pressure 102/78

CVP 26 mmHg

O2 Sat 78 (room air)

Portable chest x-ray is normal.

The next step in his management should be?

a) CT chest (PE protocol)

b) Heparin 100 u/kg IV

c) duplex ultrasound scan both legs

d) nuclear medicine perfusion scan (V/Q)

13) A 40 year old woman presents with pain and tenderness at the site of a long-standing varicose vein in her
calf. There is a palpable cord with surrounding erythema. Management should consist of?

a) IV heparin

b) warm compresses and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

c) ligation of the saphenofemoral junction

d) IV antibiotics

14) A 75 year old man with no significant past medical history and normal lab test values is scheduled to
undergo an elective mesh plug inguinal hernia repair. In the pre-operative holding area, his ECG monitor
demonstrated an irregularly irregular rhythm without T waves. His heart rate varies between 70 and 85
bpm. What is the most appropriate management of this patient?

a) proceed with surgery and discharge patient home post-operatively

b) proceed with surgery and admit to hospital post-operatively for cardiac monitoring

c) cancel the surgery but admit the patient to hospital for a cardiac work up

d) cancel the surgery and refer the patient to the Cardiology Clinic for out-patient work up

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15) Which of the following statements about organ donation is NOT true?

a) a 65 year old brain dead patient would not be considered for organ donation

b) donor management is directed towards maintaining organ perfusion

c) separating notification of brain death from the request for donation leads to higher consent
rates

d) hospitals are required to notify Trillium Gift of Life (organ procurement organization) of
deaths

16) With regard to fibrinolysis, which of the following statements is NOT true?

a) plasmin is essential to fibrinolysis

b) plasmin acts only on cross-linked fibrin polymers

c) ischemia is a potent activator of the fibrinolytic system

d) pathologic fibrinolysis occurs when plasminogen which is free in plasma is activated

17) A 36 year old man with HIV infection and a CD4 count of 500/mm3 has an incarcerated groin hernia. In
addition to universal precautions, which of the following is recommended?

a) avoidance of prosthetic mesh

b) disposable surgical instruments

c) double gloving

d) prophylactic trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole

*18) A 19 year old man is injured in a high speed motor vehicle crash. He is intubated for a GCS of 5. He
also suffers from multiple rib fractures and a femur fracture. A CT scan shows evidence of an elevated
intracranial pressure. During transfer to a Trauma Centre, his elevated ICP should be managed with all
of the following EXCEPT?

a) IV Proprofol and muscle paralysis

b) Mannitol infusion over one hour

c) Solu-Medrol 1 gram IV bolus

d) mechanical ventilation to a pCO2 of 35 mmHg

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19) A 70 year old woman with chronic renal disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is
struck by a car while crossing a street. In the Emergency Room she had a GCS of 15 with normal vital
signs. She complains of diffuse chest wall pain. Blood tests show:

NA 144

K 4.6

Cl 110

CO2 14

Creatinine 350

ABG on nasal prongs 4L/m

pH 7.10

pCO2 65

pO2 70

What is this patient’s acid-base disorder?

a) anion-gap metabolic acidosis

b) non-anion gap metabolic acidosis

c) respiratory acidosis

d) mixed respiratory and metabolic acidosis

20) A 42 year old woman with metastatic breast cancer is lethargic and has mental status changes. Blood work
reveals:

Serum calcium 4.2 mmol/L

ALP 2000 IU/L

Creatinine 130 umol/L

BUN 15 mm/L

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Immediate treatment of her acute hypercalcemia should include IV saline, calcitonin AND?

a) Mithramycin

b) bisphosphatates

c) loop diuretics

d) glucocorticoids

21) After excision of multiple subcutaneous lipomas under local anesthesia, a 42 year old woman develops
generalized tonic-colonic seizures. The surgeon should be aware that the maximum safe dose of local
anesthetic in a 70 kg patient is about?

a) 30-40 mls of 0.5% lidocaine

b) 30-40 mls of 1% lidocaine

c) 30-40 mls of 1% lidocaine with epinephrine

d) 30-40% mls of 0.5% bupivocaine

22) Which of the following conditions is not an indication for a “damage control” approach to the management
of traumatic injuries?

a) diffuse bleeding secondary to coagulopathy

b) severe metabolic acidosis

c) hypothermia (core temp <32)

d) sustained supraventriculer tachycardia (HR >140)

23) A 45 year old man with severe morbid obesity (BMI 70) is about to undergo a laparoscopic gastric bypass
procedure. Induction of anaesthesia and intubation are best accomplished with?

a) rapid sequence induction and intubation to avoid aspiration

b) routine induction and oral tracheal intubation

c) routine induction and nasal tracheal intubation

d) awake fiber-optic intubation followed by induction of general anesthesia

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24) A 75 year old man is admitted for investigation and treatment of a brain tumor. One day after admission he
becomes confused and developed a left hemiparesis. Decisions about his future would best be decided by:

a) what the neurosurgeon feels would be best for the patient

b) an advanced directive made by the patient two years ago

c) what the patient’s wife feels is best for the patient

d) what the public guardian feels is best for the patient

25) A 50 year old man is severely injured in a MVC. Following surgical treatment he requires mechanical
ventilatory support in the ICU. Which of the following factors is the BEST predictor of the likelihood of
contracting pneumonia?

a) thoracic as opposed to abdominal surgery

b) pre-existing COPD

c) length of time on the ventilator

d) use of NG feeds

26) Which of the following statements about transmission of HIV to a surgeon after a percutaneous injury is
FALSE?

a) a source patient with advanced HIV infection with a CD4 count of 50 cells/mm3 is more likely
to transmit the disease

b) a hollow bore needle is more likely to transmit the disease than a suture needle

c) visible blood present on the sharp object causing the injury is a risk factor

d) antiretroviral drug prophylaxis following injury does not reduce the risk of HIV transmission,
but results in milder disease

27) All of the following antibiotic classes are potentially nephrotoxic, EXCEPT?

a) aminoglycosides

b) metronidazole

c) penicillin

d) cephalosporins

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28) Lung injury due to smoke inhalation is caused by?

a) thermal injury to major airways

b) adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) induced by the burn wound

c) small airway obstruction with soot

d) toxic chemicals in smoke

29) Which of the following ECG changes is least likely to occur with hypokalemia?

a) ST-T segment depression

b) T-wave inversion

c) second or third degree AV block

d) PVCs

30) A 34 year old woman undergoes a total thyroidectomy for thyroid cancer. In the recovery room she
develops anxiety, progressive respiratory distress, and strider. Her initial management should be?

a) heliox therapy and bronchodilators

b) rapid-sequence intubation

c) needle aspiration of the neck wound

d) rapidly open the incision at the bedside

*31) A 25 year old man is brought to the Emergency room following a MVC. He is hemodynamically stable,
GCS 5 with a dilated right pupil. CT scan shows a large right epidural hematoma, multiple rib fractures, a
pulmonary contusion and non-opacification of a normal size right kidney. The left kidney opacifies
normally. There is no free fluid in the abdomen.

The patient is taken to the Operating Room for craniotomy. Following this procedure, management of his
right kidney should be?

a) repair of renal artery using saphenous vein interposition graft

b) endovascular stenting

c) nephrectomy

d) observation

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32) A 70 year old man with severe COPD requires an elective sigmoid colon resection for cancer. You are
particularly concerned about post-op respiratory complications. Which of the following is most likely to
help avoid these complications?

a) post-operative analgesia with PCA morphine

b) post-operative epidural analgesia

c) perioperative corticosteroid administration

d) post-operative mechanical ventilation for 1-2 days

33) A previously healthy 66 year old woman is brought to the Emergency Room after being found unconscious
on the her bathroom floor. On arrival, she is lethargic (GCS 14). Vitals are HR 110, BP 80/55, RR 18, O2
Sat 90 on N/P oxygen 4L/min. The abdomen is distended with generalized tenderness and guarding.
Initial laboratory data include:

Hgb 9.0 gm/dl

WBC 23,200 /mm3

Na 131 mol/L

K 2.9 mm/L

Cr 350 mmol/L

pH 7.08

lactate 7.4 mg/dL

The next step in her management should be?

a) crystalloid resuscitation to normalize her serum lactate

b) pulmonary artery catheter placement to guide fluid resuscitation

c) CT abdomen

d) laparotomy

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34) A 65 year old woman undergoes a total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy as
well as omentectomy for treatment of an ovarian cancer. On post-operative day 2, she becomes acutely
short of breath. Vitals are:

HR 110

BP 140/90

RR 22

O2 Sat 85% (room air)

Temp 37.3

What is the most appropriate next step in her management?

a) administration of 40 mgs of lasix IV and placement of a Foley catheter

b) sputum for C&S, portable chest x-ray, and administration of broad-spectrum antibiotics

c) initiation of anticoagulants with unfractionated heparin, ECG, CT chest (PE protocol)

d) ABG, portable chest x-ray, ECG, Doppler U/S of both legs

35) Which of the following statements concerning chemical injuries is TRUE?

a) immediate wound care involves application of a neutralizing agent

b) acid burns cause liquefaction necrosis

c) alkali burns produce deeper injuries than do acid burns

d) chemical injuries frequently cause severe hyperkalemia secondary to metabolic acidosis

36) A 65 year old woman is about to undergo a laparotomy and defunctioning ileostomy because of a colo-
visical fistula. Three months prior to her surgery she was treated with oral prednisone (30 mgs/d) for 20
days. Peri-operative steroid coverage for this patient should consist of:

a) none needed

b) solu-cortef 100 mgs IV on induction of anaesthesia

c) solu-cortef 100 mgs IV on induction and 50 mgs IV bid for 48 hours post-operatively

d) solu-cortef 100 mgs IV on induction and prednisone 20 mgs po od for 7 days post-op

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37) A 45 year old man is admitted to the ICU because of severe acute pancreatitis. His vital signs are:

HR 120

Temp 38.5

BP 90/50

RR 25

O2 SAT 92 (FIO2 0.4)

Blood tests show: Hgb 90

WBC 30,000

Cr 230

Initial IV fluid therapy should consist of?

a) IV Ringers Lactate

b) IV 5% albumin in N/S

c) packed RBC

d) 3% hydroxyethyl starch solution

*38) A 21 year old man who was the unbelted driver in a MVC has a pulse of 140/min, respiratory rate 36
breaths/minute, BP 70 mmHg systolic. He has palpable subcutaneous emphysema and poor breath sounds
in the right hemithorax. The next step in his management should be?

a) intubation and ventilation

b) right tube thoracostomy

c) insertion of a cordis IV into a femoral vein for fluid resuscitation

d) transfer to OR for right thoracotomy

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39) Five days after an esophogectomy for cancer, a 65 year old man develops fever as well as edema,
erythema, and tenderness over the right cheek. Which of the following is TRUE?

a) it is usually due to streptococcal infection

b) massage of the area is beneficial

c) it can be prevented with antibiotics

d) it is associated with decreased saliva formation

40) A 50 year old man has been in the ICU for three weeks following repair of a ruptured AAA. He develops
fever, hypotension, and a new heart murmur. Blood cultures grow vancomycin-resistant enterococcus.
The best antibiotic treatment for this condition is?

a) azithromycin

b) linezolid

c) levofloxacin

d) ciprofloxacin

41) Death occurring many weeks after severe injury may be the result of any of the following, EXCEPT?

a) adrenal failure

b) neurologic injury

c) sepsis-induced multi-organ system failure

d) suicide

42) A 25 year old man is admitted to the ICU because of a severe closed head injury from a skiing accident.
He has no other significant injuries. The most appropriate approach to feeding this patient is?

a) nasogastric feeds

b) nasojejunal feeds

c) start TPN on day 3

d) peripheral caloric support until a feeding gastrostomy can be inserted endoscopically

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43) A 55 year old man comes to the ER with a 24 hour history of a painful, erythematous right leg. His vitals
are:

HR 150

BP 95/60

RR 22

O2 SAT 93% on N/P 02 4L/min

Regarding resuscitation of this patient in the ER before transfer to the Operating Room, which of the
following statements is TRUE?

a) intravenous administration of antibiotics is the first priority

b) a central line should be inserted to measure CVP

c) 2-4 litres of crystalloid should be administered intravenously

d) endotrachial intubation should be established promptly

*44) A 28 year old woman is an unrestrained driver in a MVC. She has stable vital signs and left upper
quadrant abdominal tenderness, but no peritoneal signs. What is the next step in her management?

a) admission for observation

b) abdominal ultrasound

c) diagnostic peritoneal lavage

d) CT scan abdomen/pelvis

45) A 66 year old woman undergoes total gastrectomy for carcinoma of the stomach. Because of the resection
of the gastro-esophageal junction, the surgeon is worried the patient may suffer from aspiration
pneumonitis. All the following are helpful in preventing this complication, EXCEPT:

a) head of bed at 30 degrees at all times

b) Ancet 1 gram IV q8hx72 hrs post-operatively

c) vigorous chest physio tid

d) post-operative epidural analgesia

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46) A 65 year old woman is brought to the operating room for a total hip replacement. Following induction of
anaesthesia and intubation she is given Ancet 2 grams IV for prophylaxis. Five minutes later she develops
severe tachycardia hypotension, and increased airway pressures. This condition should be treated with all
of the following, EXCEPT?

a) epinephrine IV

b) Solu-Medrol IV

c) theophyline IV

d) benedryl (antihistamine) IV

47) Which of the following is NOT a finding in patients with acute pulmonary embolism?

a) heart rate 120/min

b) blood pressure 90/60 mmHg

c) PaO2 60 mmHg

d) left atrial pressure 25 mmHg

48) A 65 year old woman undergoes laparoscopic sigmoid resection for diverticulitis. On post-operative day
three she develops fever and dyspnea. Clinical examination suggests left lower lobe pneumonia.
Nevertheless you are concerned that there is a small probability of her having a pulmonary embolus. The
first test of choice to rule out this diagnosis in this patient is:

a) CT thorax (PE protocol)

b) nuclear medicine V/Q scan

c) D-Dimer assay

d) bilateral leg venous Doppler ultrasound scan

49) Peripheral neuropathy with prolonged use of antibiotics is commonly associated with?

a) clindamycin

b) metronidazole

c) ciprofloxacin

d) vancomycin

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50) A 40 year old woman undergoes open total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy for ovarian
cancer. Post-op analgesia consists of PCA dilaudid and Tylenol. You are called to see her eight hours
after her surgery as her respiratory rate is only 8. She is nonresponsive to painful stimuli. Heart rate is 60,
BP 100/70. You treat her with naloxone 0.04 mgs IV with no response after 5 minutes. You should next
treat her with?

a) intubation and mechanical ventilation

b) naloxine 0.5 mgs IV

c) n-acetylcysteine for presumed tylenol toxicity

d) fluid bolus – 1000 cc N/S

51) Three days after elective left hemicolectomy for cancer, a 76 year old woman develops acute respiratory
distress with a respiratory rate of 28. Her arterial blood gasses are:

pH 7.42

PCO2 36

PO2 62 on an FI02 of 0.6

Portable chest x-ray shows bilateral interstitial pulmonary edema. Which of the following diagnoses can
be excluded?

a) pulmonary embolism

b) acute respiratory distress syndrome

c) myocardial infarction

d) congestive heart failure

52) The abdominal visceral peritoneum is innervated by C fibers as part of the autonomic nervous system.
Which one of the following is NOT a trigger of visceral pain?

a) ischemia

b) distension

c) traction

d) heat

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*53) A 24 year old woman undergoes laparotomy to repair a severe blunt liver injury. During the procedure she
receives 12 units of packed red blood cells, 4 units FFP, and 4 units of platelets. Despite appropriate
surgical treatment, there is persistent oozing of blood from the raw surface of the liver. The patient’s core
temperature is now 33.4 degrees centigrade, the most appropriate treatment would be?

a) administer more FFP and platelets

b) administer Factor VII a

c) try to control bleeding with diathermy

d) pack liver and transfer to ICU for rewarming and correction of metabolic abnormalities

54) A 47 year old man is investigated because of a three week history of intermittent fever and back pain. He
is found to have a staph aureus psoas abscess of unknown etiology. This would be best treated with?

a) percutaneous drainage and 2 weeks of IV cloxacillin

b) percutaneous drainage and 6 weeks of IV cloxacillin

c) surgical drainage and 6 weeks of IV cloxacilin

d) surgical drainage and 2 weeks of IV cloxacillin followed by oral cloxacillin once a day for life

55) Following injury or surgery, nutrient intake is often inadequate for many days. The CNS and white blood
cells rely on energy supplied by glucose which must be synthesized de novo. Glucose is mainly
synthesized from?

a) amino acids released from skeletal muscle

b) fatty acids released from adipose tissue

c) liver glycogen stores

d) lactate produced by the Cori cycle

56) After application of positive end-expiration pressure (PEEP) of 8 cm H20, which of the following
parameters is likely to INCREASE?

a) PaCO2

b) cardiac output

c) functional residual capacity

d) left ventricular end-systolic volume

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57) A 60 year old man with chronic ascites due to liver disease presents with abdominal pain and fever. Which
of the following statements concerning his management is TRUE?

a) antibiotics should only be started if his ascitic fluid culture is positive

b) antibiotics should be started of the leukocyte count in his ascitic fluid is greater than 300
cells/mm3

c) his ascitic fluid should be drained before starting antibiotic treatment

d) laparotomy or laparoscopy is indicated to rule out a GI source of bacteria

58) Forty-eight hours after total mastectomy, high fever, diarrhea, vomiting and skin erythema over the entire
body and hypotension develops in a 48 year old woman. The mastectomy incision appears unremarkable.
The following day, diffuse desqamation develops. The most likely bacterial etiology of this condition is:

a) clostridium perfringens

b) beta-hemolytic streptococcus

c) staphylococcus aureus

d) bacteriodes fragilis

59) A 37 year old woman with a history of short bowel syndrome due to Crohn’s disease is managed with
home TPN. She comes to the emergency room complaining of fever, neck pain, and paresthesia of her
arms. The next step in her management should be?

a) lumbar puncture for C&S

b) urgent MR spine

c) retrograde blood culture from the central line

d) remove central line and send tip for culture

60) Post-operative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is one of the most prevalent factors leading to delay in
discharge from ambulatory surgical centres or unanticipated hospitalization after out-patient procedures.
Which of the following statements about PONV is TRUE?

a) PONV is associated with opiod use

b) PONV occurs frequently following induction of general anesthesia with propofol

c) PONV prophylaxis should be administered to all patients before ambulatory surgery

d) PONV is increased in adults who are required to ingest oral fluids before discharge

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*61) A 36 year old man is being observed in hospital because of blunt splenic trauma that did not require
surgery. On post-injury day 5 his clinical condition deteriorates.

Day 5 8am 8pm

HR 75 115

BP 120/80 110/70

Hgb 88 61

Lactate 1.0 7.3

Creatinine 83 200

Potassium 4.3 7.1

Management should consist of:

a) blood transfusion and treatment of his hyperkalemia

b) transfer to ICU for close monitoring

c) urgent CT scan to look for bleeding

d) immediate laparotomy

62) A 65 year old married financial analyst underwent aortic-coronary bypass grafting 3 days ago. On the
evening of the 3rd post-operative day, he called 911, left the ward and was stopped leaving the hospital by a
security guard at the main entrance.

On return to the ward, physical examination and laboratory tests were normal. He would be best treated
with?

a) physical restraint and a “sitter”

b) Haldol and a “sitter”

c) ativan IV till he falls asleep

d) immediate transfer to the psychiatry floor

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63) Severely malnourished patients who are started on TPN may develop a “refeeding syndrome” which may
result in respiratory failure or even cardiac arrest. The electrolyte abnormalities that contribute to the
refeeding syndrome include all of the following, EXCEPT?

a) hypophosphatemia

b) hyponatremia

c) hypokalemia

d) hypomagnesemia

*64) A 40 year old woman presents to the emergency room after a MVC with a seat belt mark across her right
neck and weakness and numbness of her left arm and leg. She is otherwise hemdynamically stable, alert,
and oriented.

The next step in her management should be?

a) CTA head and neck

b) MRI C-spine

c) duplex U/S both carotid arteries

d) surgical exploration right neck

65) Which of the following drugs is most useful in the pre-operative management of patients with a
pheochromocytoma?

a) phenoxybenzamine (alpha blocker)

b) metoprolol (beta blocker)

c) furosemide (diuretic)

d) enalapril (ACE inhibitor)

66) The risk of developing a surgical site infection is dependent on all of the following factors, EXCEPT?

a) length of operation

b) serum glucose level

c) body temperature

d) hemoglobin level

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67) A 65 year old man undergoes emergency femoral embolectomy for an acutely ischemic right leg. The
following morning his vitals are normal but his urine output is only 10 cc/h. Blood work is:

NA 134

K 7.4

Cr 370

Glucose 12.3

ECG shows peeked T waves and a wide QRS complex. Which of the following treatments should be given
FIRST?

a) glucose and insulin infusion

b) calcium gluconate

c) sodium bicarbonate

d) potassium binding resins (Kayexalate)

68) Which of the following statements about low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) for the initial treatment
of DVT is TRUE?

a) unfractionated heparin has more predictable pharmacokinetics than LMWH

b) LMWH does not require laboratory monitoring in most patients

c) LMWH does not require dosage adjustments in patients with chronic renal failure

d) LMWH is useful in patients with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia

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69) A 30 year old woman is brought to the emergency room with a stab wound to the abdomen sustained
during a robbery attempt in which she was also knocked unconscious. She is hypotensive and ultrasound of
the abdomen is positive for free intraperitoneal fluid.

She is taken to the operating room for Laparotomy. During the procedure, the family arrives and informs
the hospital staff that she is a Jehovah’s Witness and would not want a blood transfusion. She is
hypotensive with a hemoglobin of 5 mg/dl.

The most appropriate management would be?

a) transfusion as medically necessary

b) vasopressors

c) ask police to check her clothes and home for a Jehovah Witness card

d) stop blood transfusion and complete operation expeditiously

70) A 67 year old woman is scheduled for a right hemicolectomy for carcinoma. She has adult-onset diabetes
and is dyspneic when climbing stairs. An ECG shows a left bundle-branch block. The serum creatinine is
220. What is the most appropriate next step?

a) proceed with surgery and book ICU bed for post-operative care

b) institute beta-blockade with metoprolol and proceed with surgery

c) consult cardiology for work-up with a cardiac catheterization

d) administer a dobutamine stress echocardiogram

71) Which of the following statements is true regarding statistical hypothesis testing in clinical trials?

a) Type I error (alpha) is the probability of concluding that no difference exists when, in fact, it
does

b) Type II error (beta) is the probability of concluding that a difference exists when it does not

c) the Bonferroni adjustment ensures that significant differences are detected during multiple
comparisons

d) the statistical power of a test is equal to one minus alpha

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72) A 3 year old child is brought to the emergency room because she has a painful left leg. Physical
examination demonstrates a hematoma in the left thigh muscle. She is also found to have old ecchymosis
on her chest and x-ray demonstrated at least two old rib fractures. The best course of action at this time is?

a) admit the child to hospital for further investigation

b) consult social worker re possible child abuse

c) report the case to the police immediately

d) discharge the patient home and inform the parents that you will be contacting the Children’s
Aid society because of your suspicion of child abuse

73) Which of the following is not needed in the calculation of systemic vascular resistance?

a) mean arterial pressure

b) pulmonary capillary wedge pressure

c) cardiac output

d) central venous pressure

74) Which of the following is the most common cause of death within five years in patients with intermittent
leg claudication?

a) stroke

b) myocardial infarction

c) cancer

d) lower extremity gangrene

75) Which of the following treatments is LEAST likely to help in the prevention of post-op pulmonary
complications in a 65 year smoker?

a) post-operative use of an incentive spirometer

b) post-operative deep breathing exercises

c) smoking cessation one week prior to surgery

d) routine use of bronchodilators after surgery

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76) A 90 year old woman with Type II diabetes mellitus is admitted to hospital because of acute sigmoid
diverticulitis. On the second hospital day, she was noted to have a decreased level of consciousness (GCS
12). Blood work demonstrates:

Na 125

K 3.1

Cr 157

Glucose 26.2

All of the following treatments would be appropriate, EXCEPT:

a) IV normal saline

b) insulin infusion

c) broad-spectrum antibiotics

d) mannitol

*77) A morbidly obese 43 year old man is brought to the emergency room after a high-speed MVC. On arrival,
vitals are: HR 130, BP 80 mmHg systolic despite 2,000 normal saline. Chest x-ray is normal. FAST is
indeterminate because of obesity. Pelvic x-ray shows a complex pelvic fracture. He remains in shock
despite transfusion of 2 units of packed RBC.

The next step in the management of this patient should be?

a) CT scan head, C-spine, chest, abdomen and pelvis

b) diagnostic peritoneal lavage

c) placement of pelvic external fixator

d) abdominal and pelvic angiography

78) A laryngeal mask airway (LMA):

a) provides protection from aspiration

b) requires a laryngoscope for placement

c) assures adequate ventilation in the face of increasing peak airway pressures

d) can achieve a clear airway in over 99% of patients

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79) Intubation of a spontaneously breathing but obtunded patient with a closed head injury is best
accomplished by which of the following?

a) awake “blind” nasal intubation

b) induction with Proprofol, muscle relaxation with suxinycholine, and oral tracheal intubation
while maintaining manual in-line axial cervical traction

c) awake fiberoptic intubation

d) tracheostomy

80) Regarding irradiation of normal tissues during cancer treatment, the risk of long term injury (late
complications) depends on all of the following EXCEPT:

a) type and amount of tissue treated

b) total dose of radiation

c) severity of acute reaction to treatment

d) dose given with each daily fraction

81) A 75 year old man develops pseudomembraneous colitis two weeks after undergoing bilateral total knee
replacement. He is treated with oral metronidzole for 15 days. One week later he again develops diarrhea.
This is best treated with?

a) another 14 day course of oral metronidazole

b) oral vancomycin for 14 days

c) Imodium 2 mg tab prn

4) fecal enemas

*82) A 25 year old man is brought to the emergency room with a gunshot wound to the left mid cervical region.
Vitals on arrival are HR 120, BP 130/70, RR 25. O2SAT 92, GCS 14. He is noted to have a right
hemiparesis.

The next step in his management should be?

a) endotrachial intubation

b) CTA head and neck

c) carotid arteriography with possible endovascular stenting

d) immediate neck exploration in OR for repair of carotid injury

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83) The Child-Pugh scoring system for liver function is frequently used to assess the risk of surgery in patients
known to have liver disease. Which of the following factors is NOT part of the Child-Pugh score?

a) overall nutritional status

b) presence of ascites

c) presence of encephalopathy

d) INR

84) A 53 year old man is admitted to hospital for investigation and treatment of a partially obstructing mid
esophageal cancer. Which of the following statements concerning the use of pre-operative TPN to prevent
post-operative complications is TRUE?

a) it is useful even if used for as little as 3 days

b) it is efficacious only if the patient is severely malnourished

c) there is no evidence that it lowers the complication rate

d) slightly overfeeding for 7 days with mild to moderate hyperglycemia reduces the risk of septic
complications

85) Part of the cardiovascular response to injury or infection is arterial vasodilation and increased protein
permeability in the capillary membranes. Which of the following inflammatory mediators causes arterial
vasodilatation but NOT increased capillary permeability.

a) nitric oxide

b) bradykinin

c) histamine

d) platelet-activating factor

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*86) A 22 year old man has a gunshot wound in the left anterior axillary line below the costal margin. Vitals
are HR 130, BP 90/60. A left chest tube drains 500 ccs blood. His abdomen is tender and mildly
distended. Uncross matched blood transfusion is begun. The next step in his management should be?

a) focused assessment with sonography for trauma (FAST U/S)

b) CT scan chest and abdomen

c) laparotomy

d) left thoracotomy

87) A 57 year old female whose body mass index (BMI) is 23 undergoes thoracotomy for resection of a
solitary pulmonary nodule. A thoracic epidural catheter is placed for pain management. Post-operatively
she is started on 2% lidocaine at 6 ml/h.

The following day, she develops light-headedness and perioral tingling. She appears sedated and is
twitching.

The next step in her management should be?

a) decrease the lidocaine infusion to 4 ml/hr

b) change to bupivacaine 0.25% at 6 ml/hr

c) re-position the catheter in the epidural space

d) stop the epidural infusion and start phenytoin (dilantin)

88) A 30 year old man undergoes repair of an inguinal hernia under spinal anesthesia as a day surgery
procedure. He calls the next day complaining of a headache that worsens then he sits up. He also has
complaints of tinnitus. Initial treatment should include?

a) bed rest, increased fluid intake, analgesics

b) admission to hospital for neuro-observation

c) urgent CT scan head

d) placement of an epidural blood patch

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89) When deciding how widely to resect a primary malignancy, which one of the following factors need NOT
be considered?

a) location of tumour

b) capacity for continuing spread through tissue planes

c) capacity for lymphatic dissemination

d) tendency for multifocal disease to be present within the organ in question

90) A 55 year old woman with ovarian cancer is treated with total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral
salpingo-oophorectomy as well as omentectomy. Two units packed red blood cells are given intra-
operatively. Twelve hours after her surgery you are called to see her because of hypotension. Vitals are:

HR 130

BP 80/50

RR 18

O2 SAT (N/P 4L/min) 96

Initial treatment should be?

a) rule out MI and then bolus with 2,000 cc normal saline IV

b) immediate relaparotomy for intra-abdominal bleeding

c) 2,000 cc normal saline IV followed by CT chest-PE protocol

d) 2,000 cc normal saline bolus IV followed by CT abdomen and pelvis to look for bleeding

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91) Five hours after aortic valve replacement, a patient suddenly becomes hypotensive to 80 mm/Hg systolic.
Hemodynamics re:

CVP 19 mm/Hg

Pulmonary artery wedge pressure 20 mmHg

Cardiac index 1.6 l/min

Mediastinal drainage, which was approximately 150 mls/hr has been minimal over the past hour.

Management should consist of:

a) volume resuscitation

b) dobutamine administration

c) nitropruside infusion

d) mediastinal exploration (chest reopening)

92) The most common cause of transfusion-related death is?

a) infection

b) ABO incompatibility

c) transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI)

d) graft-versus-host reaction

93) The most important amino acid used for gluconeogensis by the liver is?

a) glutamine

b) serine

c) alanine

d) tyrosine

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94) Steroid hormones modify cell physiology by binding to regulatory units on DNA. For this to occur, the
molecule must first be bound by an appropriate receptor. These receptors are located in the?

a) extracellar space

b) cell membrane

c) cytoplasm

d) nucleus

*95) Regarding the scenarios listed below, which one of the operations should proceed as scheduled?

a) an 80 year old man scheduled for cataract surgery who has a pulse of 60, blood pressure 180/100
and is completely asymptomatic

b) a 67 year old man scheduled for left total hip arthroplasty who has a pulse of 80 and blood
pressure 180/110, is asymptomatic, and takes beta-blockers

c) a 65 year old hypertensive man scheduled for bilateral total knee arthroplasty who has a pulse of
90 and blood pressure 130/70 and who takes angiotensin-converting enzymes (ACE) inhibitors

d) an 80 year old man scheduled for bilateral laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair who has a pulse of
42 and a blood pressure of 120/60 and who has a pacemaker and takes beta-blockers

96) In regard to cancer epidemiology research, the estimate of survival times using proactive disease screening
is confounded by concerns that?

a) length time biases suggests that fast growing cancers will be more easily detected

b) lead time bias suggests that active screening artificially improves survival times

c) screening doesn’t usually detect slow-growing tumors

d) cancer-specific death rates do not correct adequately for length and lead time biases

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97) A 21 year old woman is recovering from a severe MVC. The stress from her injuries and surgical
treatment causes a hypermetabolic state. Which of the following is NOT seen during stress
hypermetabolism?

a) increased need for linoleic and anachadonic acids

b) elevated resting energy expenditure

c) increased hepatic gluconeogenesis

d) positive nitrogen balance

98) Oncogenes, proto-oncogenes, and tumor suppresser genes pay a major role in carcinogenesis. Which of the
following statements is TRUE?

a) proto-oncogenes are proteins capable of inhibiting oncogenes

b) exposure to carcinogens causes insertion of oncogenes into the human genome

c) proto-oncogenes may be activated by mutation, amplification, or translocation

d) tumour suppressor genes may be activated by certain chemotherapy drugs

99) Massive blood losses are replaced with packed RBC, fresh frozen plasma and pooled platelets.
Cryoprecipitate is sometimes needed to replace losses of?

a) factor VIII

b) Von Willibrands factor

c) thrombin

d) fibrinogen

100) A 60 year old man is admitted to the ICU for treatment of septic shock following removal of an
obstructing right ureteral calculus at cystoscopy. Which of the following treatments is most likely to
increase his survival probability?

a) solucortef 100 mgs IV tid x72 hr

b) administration of IL-1 receptor antagonist

c) administration of broad-spectrum antibiotics for 5-10 days

d) administration of activated protein C

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 SURGICAL FOUNDATIONS EXAM ANSWERS 2012- 2013

Answer Answer Answer Answer

1. D 26. D 51. A 76. D
2. C 27. B 52. D 77. B
3. A 28. D 53. D 78. D
4. C 29. C 54. B 79. B
5. B 30. D 55. A 80. C
6. A 31. D 56. C 81. A
7. B 32. B 57. B 82. A
8. D 33. D 58. C 83. A
9. B 34. C 59. B 84. B
10. B 35. C 60. A 85. A
11. A 36. A 61. D 86. C
12. B 37. A 62. B 87. D
13. B 38. B 63. B 88. A
14. D 39. D 64. A 89. C
15. A 40. B 65. A 90. B
16. B 41. A 66. D 91. D
17. C 42. A 67. B 92. B
18. C 43. C 68. B 93. C
19. D 44. D 69. A 94. C
20. B 45. B 70. D 95. A
21. B 46. C 71. C 96. B
22. D 47. D 72. A 97. D
23. D 48. C 73. B 98. C
24. B 49. B 74. B 99. D
25 C 50. B 75. C 100. C

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