1/18/26, 6:39 AM SAEM Practice 2026 Exam study guide COMPLETE EXAM Questions and Answers (Verified Answers) (Latest Update 2026) UPDA…
SAEM Practice 2026 Exam study guide
COMPLETE EXAM Questions and Answers
(Verified Answers) (Latest Update 2026) UPDATE!!
Save
Terms in this set (508)
Regarding the diagnosis of acute A. Vital signs are usually abnormal, even early in
appendicitis, all the following are the course of acute appendicitis.
true EXCEPT:
A. Vital signs are usually abnormal, The answer is A. The presentation of acute
even early in the course of acute appendicitis varies tremendously. Early in its
appendicitis. course, vital signs including temperature may be
B. Rebound is usually elicited only normal. Once perforation has occurred, the rate of
after the appendix has ruptured or low-grade fever (<38 C) increases to about 40%.
infarcted. Other variations in presentation include pain in the
C. Rovsing's sign is pain in the right right upper quadrant, typically from a retrocecal or
lower quadrant upon palpation of retroiliac appendix.
the left lower quadrant.
D. The obturator sign is pain upon
flexion and internal rotation of the
hip.
E. The psoas sign is pain upon
extension of the hip.
https://quizlet.com/1132093076/saem-practice-2026-exam-study-guide-complete-exam-questions-and-answers-verified-answers-latest-update-2026… 1/327
,1/18/26, 6:39 AM SAEM Practice 2026 Exam study guide COMPLETE EXAM Questions and Answers (Verified Answers) (Latest Update 2026) UPDA…
Rosving's sign is described as: E. Pain in the right lower quadrant when left lower
A. Tenderness in the right upper quadrant is palpated.
quadrant that is worse with
inspiration. The answer is E. Rosving's sign is pain in the right
B. Pelvic pain upon flexion of the lower quadrant when the left lower quadrant is
thigh while the patient is supine. palpated. Rebound tenderness occurs with the
C. Pelvic pain upon internal and release of pressure. The iliopsoas sign is pain
external rotation of the thigh with the associated with thigh flexion. The obturator sign is
knee flexed. pain that occurs with thigh rotation. All of these
D. Pain that increases with the signs are associated with appendicitis. Murphy's
release of pressure of palpation. sign is cessation of inspiration during palpation of
E. Pain in the right lower quadrant the right upper quadrant and is associated with
when left lower quadrant is palpated. acute cholecystitis.
In establishing a differential D. The onset of pain prior to the occurrence of
diagnosis of abdominal pain, which nausea and vomiting is more often suggestive of a
of the following is true? surgical etiology.
A. Radiation of pain to the scapula is
suggestive of acute hepatitis. The answer is D. Pain prior to nausea and vomiting
B. Cervical motion tenderness is a is often suggestive of a surgical etiology of the
useful physical finding for pain, such as small bowel obstruction. Cervical
differentiating women with or motion tenderness has been noted in up to 25% of
without acute appendicitis. women with acute appendicitis. Patients with sickle
C. In patients with sickle cell anemia cell anemia are prone to Salmonella infections.
who present with abdominal pain Radiation of pain to the scapula is classically
and diarrhea, shigellosis should be a present in acute choleycystitis. Diverticulitis pain is
top consideration. generally located in the left lower quadrant.
D. The onset of pain prior to the
occurrence of nausea and vomiting
is more often suggestive of a surgical
etiology.
E. Diverticulitis tends to cause pain in
the right upper quadrant.
https://quizlet.com/1132093076/saem-practice-2026-exam-study-guide-complete-exam-questions-and-answers-verified-answers-latest-update-2026… 2/327
,1/18/26, 6:39 AM SAEM Practice 2026 Exam study guide COMPLETE EXAM Questions and Answers (Verified Answers) (Latest Update 2026) UPDA…
Of the following pain patterns, which C. unrelenting pain over a period of weeks
is the least likely associated with
diagnosis of peptic ulcer disease? The answer is C. Pain from peptic ulcer disease
A. non-radiating, burning epigastric typically occurs in periods of exacerbation and
pain remission. Unrelenting pain over weeks or months
B. pain that awakens a patient in the should suggest an alternative diagnosis. Pain is
middle of the night classically described as non-radiating, burning
C. unrelenting pain over a period of epigastric pain. Some patients may also complain
weeks of chest or back pain. Pain is frequently severe
D. relief of abdominal pain with enough to awaken patients from sleep in early
antacids morning hours but is often not present upon
E. pain that is worse preceding a waking in the morning, as gastric acid secretion
meal peaks around 2 a.m. and nadirs upon awakening.
A mother brings her 6 week old boy E. pyloric stenosis
to the emergency room. She states
the baby has been vomiting The answer is E. Hypertrophic pyloric stenosis
everything she's tried to feed him for typically presents in the second to sixth week of
the past 12 hours. She states that he life and is four times more common in males than
usually eats readily and completes females. Infants with hypertrophic pyloric stenosis
an entire feeding, but he is unable to typically are vigorous eaters but shortly afterward
keep anything down. The emesis is regurgitate the entire feeding contents in a
non-bloody and non-bilious, projectile fashion. The emesis is non-bilious. The
however it is projectile in nature. classic finding on exam is an "olive" palpable in the
What is the most likely condition in abdomen, and diagnosis is typically via ultrasound.
this patient? Intussusception typically presents between the
A. viral gastroenteritis ages of 5 and 12 months. Gastroenteritis is
B. constipation characterized by diarrhea as well as vomiting.
C. appendicitis Neither constipation nor appendicitis typically
D. intussusception present with protracted vomiting, though the latter
E. pyloric stenosis condition tends to present atypically in young
children (and elderly adults).
https://quizlet.com/1132093076/saem-practice-2026-exam-study-guide-complete-exam-questions-and-answers-verified-answers-latest-update-2026… 3/327
, 1/18/26, 6:39 AM SAEM Practice 2026 Exam study guide COMPLETE EXAM Questions and Answers (Verified Answers) (Latest Update 2026) UPDA…
A 46 year old woman presents to the C. Helical CT scan greater than 95% sensitive and
emergency department complaining specific for renal calculi.
of abrupt onset of intermittent
severe pain in the left flank and Helical CT scan has been shown to be both highly
abdomen that woke her from sleep. sensitive and specific in the diagnosis of renal
She is pacing around the stretcher calculi. It is the preferred modality for evaluation in
and appears extremely many centers. Although urinalysis typically
uncomfortable. She has never demonstrates hematuria in patients with renal
experienced this type of pain calculi, hematuria is not specific enough to confirm
previously and denies fevers or other the diagnosis, and imaging is warranted in all first-
symptoms. Renal calculus is time presenters. KUB detects approximately 60-
suspected. Which of the following is 70% of calculi (though studies addressing this issue
true regarding the diagnosis of renal are somewhat methodologically flawed).
calculi in this patient? Ultrasound is not reliable for detecting small
A. Urinalysis demonstrating calculi, but is 85-94% sensitive and 100% specific at
hematuria confirms the diagnosis. demonstrating hydronephrosis. IVP is
B. KUB detects less than 10% of contraindicated in patients with renal insufficiency
calculi. due to the dye load necessary to perform the
C. Helical CT scan greater than 95% study.
sensitive and specific for renal
calculi.
D. Ultrasound is the study of choice
for detecting small ureteral calculi.
E. Intravenous pyelogram (IVP) may
be used in patients with renal
insufficiency.
https://quizlet.com/1132093076/saem-practice-2026-exam-study-guide-complete-exam-questions-and-answers-verified-answers-latest-update-2026… 4/327
SAEM Practice 2026 Exam study guide
COMPLETE EXAM Questions and Answers
(Verified Answers) (Latest Update 2026) UPDATE!!
Save
Terms in this set (508)
Regarding the diagnosis of acute A. Vital signs are usually abnormal, even early in
appendicitis, all the following are the course of acute appendicitis.
true EXCEPT:
A. Vital signs are usually abnormal, The answer is A. The presentation of acute
even early in the course of acute appendicitis varies tremendously. Early in its
appendicitis. course, vital signs including temperature may be
B. Rebound is usually elicited only normal. Once perforation has occurred, the rate of
after the appendix has ruptured or low-grade fever (<38 C) increases to about 40%.
infarcted. Other variations in presentation include pain in the
C. Rovsing's sign is pain in the right right upper quadrant, typically from a retrocecal or
lower quadrant upon palpation of retroiliac appendix.
the left lower quadrant.
D. The obturator sign is pain upon
flexion and internal rotation of the
hip.
E. The psoas sign is pain upon
extension of the hip.
https://quizlet.com/1132093076/saem-practice-2026-exam-study-guide-complete-exam-questions-and-answers-verified-answers-latest-update-2026… 1/327
,1/18/26, 6:39 AM SAEM Practice 2026 Exam study guide COMPLETE EXAM Questions and Answers (Verified Answers) (Latest Update 2026) UPDA…
Rosving's sign is described as: E. Pain in the right lower quadrant when left lower
A. Tenderness in the right upper quadrant is palpated.
quadrant that is worse with
inspiration. The answer is E. Rosving's sign is pain in the right
B. Pelvic pain upon flexion of the lower quadrant when the left lower quadrant is
thigh while the patient is supine. palpated. Rebound tenderness occurs with the
C. Pelvic pain upon internal and release of pressure. The iliopsoas sign is pain
external rotation of the thigh with the associated with thigh flexion. The obturator sign is
knee flexed. pain that occurs with thigh rotation. All of these
D. Pain that increases with the signs are associated with appendicitis. Murphy's
release of pressure of palpation. sign is cessation of inspiration during palpation of
E. Pain in the right lower quadrant the right upper quadrant and is associated with
when left lower quadrant is palpated. acute cholecystitis.
In establishing a differential D. The onset of pain prior to the occurrence of
diagnosis of abdominal pain, which nausea and vomiting is more often suggestive of a
of the following is true? surgical etiology.
A. Radiation of pain to the scapula is
suggestive of acute hepatitis. The answer is D. Pain prior to nausea and vomiting
B. Cervical motion tenderness is a is often suggestive of a surgical etiology of the
useful physical finding for pain, such as small bowel obstruction. Cervical
differentiating women with or motion tenderness has been noted in up to 25% of
without acute appendicitis. women with acute appendicitis. Patients with sickle
C. In patients with sickle cell anemia cell anemia are prone to Salmonella infections.
who present with abdominal pain Radiation of pain to the scapula is classically
and diarrhea, shigellosis should be a present in acute choleycystitis. Diverticulitis pain is
top consideration. generally located in the left lower quadrant.
D. The onset of pain prior to the
occurrence of nausea and vomiting
is more often suggestive of a surgical
etiology.
E. Diverticulitis tends to cause pain in
the right upper quadrant.
https://quizlet.com/1132093076/saem-practice-2026-exam-study-guide-complete-exam-questions-and-answers-verified-answers-latest-update-2026… 2/327
,1/18/26, 6:39 AM SAEM Practice 2026 Exam study guide COMPLETE EXAM Questions and Answers (Verified Answers) (Latest Update 2026) UPDA…
Of the following pain patterns, which C. unrelenting pain over a period of weeks
is the least likely associated with
diagnosis of peptic ulcer disease? The answer is C. Pain from peptic ulcer disease
A. non-radiating, burning epigastric typically occurs in periods of exacerbation and
pain remission. Unrelenting pain over weeks or months
B. pain that awakens a patient in the should suggest an alternative diagnosis. Pain is
middle of the night classically described as non-radiating, burning
C. unrelenting pain over a period of epigastric pain. Some patients may also complain
weeks of chest or back pain. Pain is frequently severe
D. relief of abdominal pain with enough to awaken patients from sleep in early
antacids morning hours but is often not present upon
E. pain that is worse preceding a waking in the morning, as gastric acid secretion
meal peaks around 2 a.m. and nadirs upon awakening.
A mother brings her 6 week old boy E. pyloric stenosis
to the emergency room. She states
the baby has been vomiting The answer is E. Hypertrophic pyloric stenosis
everything she's tried to feed him for typically presents in the second to sixth week of
the past 12 hours. She states that he life and is four times more common in males than
usually eats readily and completes females. Infants with hypertrophic pyloric stenosis
an entire feeding, but he is unable to typically are vigorous eaters but shortly afterward
keep anything down. The emesis is regurgitate the entire feeding contents in a
non-bloody and non-bilious, projectile fashion. The emesis is non-bilious. The
however it is projectile in nature. classic finding on exam is an "olive" palpable in the
What is the most likely condition in abdomen, and diagnosis is typically via ultrasound.
this patient? Intussusception typically presents between the
A. viral gastroenteritis ages of 5 and 12 months. Gastroenteritis is
B. constipation characterized by diarrhea as well as vomiting.
C. appendicitis Neither constipation nor appendicitis typically
D. intussusception present with protracted vomiting, though the latter
E. pyloric stenosis condition tends to present atypically in young
children (and elderly adults).
https://quizlet.com/1132093076/saem-practice-2026-exam-study-guide-complete-exam-questions-and-answers-verified-answers-latest-update-2026… 3/327
, 1/18/26, 6:39 AM SAEM Practice 2026 Exam study guide COMPLETE EXAM Questions and Answers (Verified Answers) (Latest Update 2026) UPDA…
A 46 year old woman presents to the C. Helical CT scan greater than 95% sensitive and
emergency department complaining specific for renal calculi.
of abrupt onset of intermittent
severe pain in the left flank and Helical CT scan has been shown to be both highly
abdomen that woke her from sleep. sensitive and specific in the diagnosis of renal
She is pacing around the stretcher calculi. It is the preferred modality for evaluation in
and appears extremely many centers. Although urinalysis typically
uncomfortable. She has never demonstrates hematuria in patients with renal
experienced this type of pain calculi, hematuria is not specific enough to confirm
previously and denies fevers or other the diagnosis, and imaging is warranted in all first-
symptoms. Renal calculus is time presenters. KUB detects approximately 60-
suspected. Which of the following is 70% of calculi (though studies addressing this issue
true regarding the diagnosis of renal are somewhat methodologically flawed).
calculi in this patient? Ultrasound is not reliable for detecting small
A. Urinalysis demonstrating calculi, but is 85-94% sensitive and 100% specific at
hematuria confirms the diagnosis. demonstrating hydronephrosis. IVP is
B. KUB detects less than 10% of contraindicated in patients with renal insufficiency
calculi. due to the dye load necessary to perform the
C. Helical CT scan greater than 95% study.
sensitive and specific for renal
calculi.
D. Ultrasound is the study of choice
for detecting small ureteral calculi.
E. Intravenous pyelogram (IVP) may
be used in patients with renal
insufficiency.
https://quizlet.com/1132093076/saem-practice-2026-exam-study-guide-complete-exam-questions-and-answers-verified-answers-latest-update-2026… 4/327
