Answer and Explanation 9

9.  The correct answer is C.  This patient likely has biliary dyskinesia.  This patient may have peptic ulcer disease but gall bladder disease has not been ruled out.  An abdominal series would not be helpful.  There is nothing in the data to suggest pneumoperitoneum or bowel obstruction.  A upper GI with small bowel follow through would be helpful only if a stricture was expected.  An ERCP would not be helpful because if the patient had a common bile duct stone, the patient would have some abnormalities on her liver function tests.

Question 9

9.  Your patient is a 43 year old female that presents with recurrent epigastric/RUQ pain that has been going on for several months.  She has had a negative gall bladder ultrasound.  Her labs including lipase and liver function tests were normal.  She has tried diet modifications and they have not helped.  Given the above data, what is the next best management option?

A.  Send the patient for an acute abdominal series

B.  Send the patient for an upper GI with small bowel follow through

C.  Send the patient for a HIDA scan

D.  Send the patient for an ERCP

Answer and Explanation 8

8.  D is the  correct answer.  This patient has pneumoperitoneum on the chest x ray.  This is a surgical emergency.  In general geriatric abdominal pain presenting the emergency department has a high mortality rate anyway, getting a general surgeon involved as soon as possible is the best management.  A CT scan is a long procedure and will take at least 90 minutes to prepare for.  Giving the patient pain and nausea medicine is a decent option but not the best option now.  Until it is clear exactly where the perforation is at, a NG tube should probably not be inserted yet.

Question 8

8.  Your patient is a 82 year old male who presented with a sudden onset of abdominal pain.  He is diffusely tender with involuntary guarding.  He has hypoactive bowel sounds.  He has had some nausea and vomiting.  His vital signs are as follows Temp 97.9,  O2 Sat 99% RR-20 Pulse 99, BP 143/76.  An upright chest x ray has been ordered prior to you seeing the patient by the triage nurse.  Take a look at the X Ray below.

Given the above data, what is the best management option for this patient now?

A.  Send the patient for a 3 dose oral and IV contrast CT scan of the Abdomen and pelvis

B.  Order the patient some Morphine 4 mg IV and Zofran 4 mg IV.

C.  Place an NG tube in the patient

D.  Call for a general surgery consult right now.

Answer and Explanation 7

7.  A is the correct answer.  CA 19-9 is a tumor marker for pancreatic cancer.  It is also used for gall bladder cancer, bile duct cancer and gastric cancer.  CA-125 is used in ovarian cancer.  Alpha Fetal Protein (AFP) is used in liver and germ cell cancers.  CA 15-3 is in breast cancer.

Question 7

7.  Your patient is a 54 year old unfortunate male who presented to you with a 3 month history of Abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and an unintentional 34 pound weight loss.  You did a CT scan of his abdomen and pelvis with IV and oral contrast that the report reveals a mass at the head of the pancreas suspicious for adenocarcinoma of the pancreas.  Which tumor marker would it be appropriate to order at this point?

A.  CA 19-9

B.  CA-125

C.  CA 15-3

D.  Alpha Fetal Protein

Answer and Explanation 6

6.  D is the correct answer.  High potassium levels have not been correlated with causing pancreatitis.  Elevated triglycerides and calcium levels have been known to cause pancreatitis.  Alcohol as well as gall bladder disease are the top two causes of acute pancreatitis in the United States.