1.Easy
Which blood test is commonly used to diagnose acute pancreatitis?
- ATroponin above the 99th centile
- BBilirubin over three times the upper normal limit
- CThyroid-stimulating hormone level
- DLipase or amylase over 3 times normal
2.Easy
What does "coffee-ground" vomit usually indicate?
- AA side effect of drinking strong coffee
- BBlood that has been partly digested by stomach acid
- CBile coming back from an obstructed small bowel
- DUndigested food from several days ago
3.Easy
What is atelectasis?
- AA blood clot in a leg vein
- BSwelling of both ankles caused by lying in bed after surgery
- CCollapse of small air sacs in part of the lung
- DInfection of the surgical wound
4.Medium
Which medicine commonly delays wound healing?
- AParacetamol
- BSaline eye drops
- CVitamin C supplements
- DLong-term corticosteroids
5.Medium
Why might urea rise much more than creatinine in a patient with an upper GI bleed?
- ADigested blood is a protein load that raises urea
- BUrea is produced by the bleeding stomach lining
- CThe bleed always damages the kidney tubules directly
- DCreatinine is lost from the body in the vomit
6.Medium
Why are accurate fluid balance charts kept after major surgery?
- ATo record when visitors come and go
- BTo check how far the patient has walked and how often they get out of bed
- CTo detect dehydration, fluid overload or kidney problems early
- DTo decide which meal the patient will have next
7.Hard
Why is naloxone usually given in small, repeated doses to a postoperative patient with opioid-induced respiratory depression?
- ATo make the opioid work faster and more strongly
- BBecause large doses of naloxone have no extra effect at all
- CBecause high doses of naloxone cause respiratory depression
- DTo restore breathing without causing severe pain and withdrawal
8.Hard
Which patient is at highest risk of respiratory depression from a postoperative opioid PCA?
- AAn opioid-naive older patient with sleep apnoea who also takes a sedative
- BA young patient who has used opioids regularly for many months
- CA patient whose pain score is 8/10 and who is wide awake and alert
- DA patient with no other medical problems who receives paracetamol
Answer key
- 1. D · Lipase or amylase over 3 times normal
- 2. B · Blood that has been partly digested by stomach acid
- 3. C · Collapse of small air sacs in part of the lung
- 4. D · Long-term corticosteroids
- 5. A · Digested blood is a protein load that raises urea
- 6. C · To detect dehydration, fluid overload or kidney problems early
- 7. D · To restore breathing without causing severe pain and withdrawal
- 8. A · An opioid-naive older patient with sleep apnoea who also takes a sedative
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