Questions and Answers
A 54 year old female patient arrived to the ER after becoming confused and incoherent
to family and having a syncopal episode. Upon arrival to the ER the patient was
hypotensive at 75/45, tachycardic at 123, temperature of 100.3 and RR of 20. Blood
glucose was 56. CBC was within normal limits. BMP results showed K+ 6.0 mM and
Na+ 127 mM. Further lab tests showed cortisol was decreased and ACTH was
increased, compared with normal. Which of the following is most likely? -
answerAddison's disease
Two weeks after orthopedic surgery, a 62 year-old female presented with uncontrolled
pain and purulent drainage from the surgical incision. She was admitted and taken to
the OR for irrigation and debridement of the infection site. Additionally, she was started
on antibiotics to control the infection. Later that week she started having 3-4 foul
smelling watery stools a day, became febrile, and complained of N/V. Which of the
following pathogens is most likely causing her abdominal problems? - answerC. diff
A 56 year-old male presents with no specific complaint. He works as a truck driver and
has been in 2 accidents recently and his boss insists that he gets "checked out" by a
medical professional before he can drive again. He claims that objects suddenly appear
from out of nowhere. He admits to recent loss of libido and erectile dysfunction. Which
of the following is most likely? - answerprolactinoma
A 63 year-old male presents with depression, confusion, vague pains in his bones, and
ulcers. He was recently diagnosed with kidney stones. Blood tests reveal that PTH is
decreased, while both serum Ca++ and phosphate are increased. Which of the
following is most likely? - answermetastatic bone cancer
The mother of a 2-year old girl brings her daughter to the pediatrician's office. The
mother states that the patient has had frequent watery, foul smelling and sometimes
greasy stools on and off for the past 3 months. At other times she seems to be
constipated. She is noticeably small for her age - in the 50th percentile for height and
25th percentile for weight. The mother also reports that after the patient's last cold, the
cough did not subside for several weeks and each cough was producing thick, grayish
mucus. Her medical record shows 3 hospitalizations in the past 2 years from respiratory
tract infections, all of which were treated with antibiotics. Today, she appears to be in
good health with no apparent cough, but she looks malnourished and pale. Abdominal
ultrasound showed no obstructions or mechanical blockages, and stool culture revealed
normal bacterial growth, without viral infection. Stool sample was po - answercystic
fibrosis
, A 2 month-old female presents for evaluation of poor feeding. She is in no apparent
acute distress, but mom reports that she has difficulty with feeding and get short of
breath at times. Mom is concerned that the baby seems to be losing weight and is
excessively tired. The baby's weight is below average for age and length. She is alert at
this time and does not appear to be in any acute distress. Respiratory rate is 41, and
auscultation reveals crackles in bilateral bases. Patient is afebrile and has strong
peripheral pulses in upper and lower extremities. Auscultation reveals a HR of 140 with
a continuous murmur. Which scenario is most likely in this patient? - answerpatent
ductus ateriosus
A 72 year old male presents to the ED comatose. Vitals are HR 132 (Sinus
Tachycardia), BP 87/45. CMP shows blood glucose 2250 (mg/dl), pH 7.41, Na+ 133, K+
4.6, Cl- 97, HCO3- 23, and serum osmolarity 356 mOsm. Which scenario is most likely
in this patient? - answerhyperosmolar hyperglycemic non-ketotic syndrome
One week after a severe strep throat, a 6 year old female patient presents with oliguria.
Which type of glomerular nephritis is most likely in this patient? - answeracute
proliferative (postinfectious) glomerulonephritis
A 34 y/o female presents to the ED with anxiety, palpitations, and chest pain. She is
currently receiving radiation to the chest as a result of breast cancer. She denies fever,
chills, SOB, cough, abdominal pain, or N/V/D. Vital signs are: T 98.9, BP 90/60, HR
100, RR 26, SpO2 98% RA. Lungs are clear to auscultation bilaterally. Heart shows
regular rhythm with weak S1, S2, and faint rub. Jugular venous distension is present.
Peripheral pulses are weak bilaterally. EKG shows normal sinus rhythm with decreased
voltage. Chest x-ray shows increased cardiac silhouette. Echocardiogram is positive for
effusion. Which scenario is most likely in this patient? - answercardiac tamponade
A 23 year-old male presented to the ED with complaints of chest pain of 19 months
duration. Chest pain was aggravated by strenuous activities and moderately relieved
with rest. Patient stated a history of dyspnea on exertion and effort intolerance since
childhood. Patient remembered frequent squatting to relieve episodes of breathlessness
following exertion. Patient denies history of cough, change in urine or bowels, leg
swelling, nocturia or oliguria. General examination showed central cyanosis with digital
clubbing. Pulse was regular with a rate of 80 BPM, and BP was 120/70 mmHg. Cardiac
examination found a systolic murmur. The lungs were clear and abdomen was non-
tender. Chest radiograph showed enlarged heart with pulmonary oligemia with right
ventricular hypertrophy. There was no aortic or mitral regurgitation. Patient Hct was
72%. Which scenario is most likely in this patient? - answerTetralogy of Fallot
A 3 year old presents to the ER with acute left sided facial palsy. Patient's mother states
her son has been irritable over the last few weeks. His current VS include: 36.6 degrees
C, HR 80 bpm in sinus rhythm, BP 180/110, RR 22, and oxygen saturation of 99% on
RA. On assessment, patient has a normal neurologic exam except for his left sided
facial palsy. He has no cardiac murmur and has 2+ pulses on both upper and lower
extremities. His lungs are clear to auscultation. Patient is placed on a cardiac monitor,