Diagnosis of Acute Pancreatitis

Laboratory Studies in Acute Pancreatitis 1. Serum Pancreatic Enzymes 2. Complete Blood Count (CBC) 3. Basic Metabolic Panel (BMP) 4. Inflammatory Markers 5. Liver Chemistries 6. Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) 7. Serum Triglycerides Clinical Notes Imaging in Acute Pancreatitis 1. Ultrasound Abdomen Indications: First-line imaging modality for all patients. Findings: 2. CT Abdomen and Pelvis with … Read more

Acute Pancreatitis

Acute pancreatitis is an inflammatory condition of the pancreas, most often triggered by gallstones or alcohol consumption. It typically presents with sudden and severe epigastric pain radiating to the back, accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and epigastric tenderness on palpation. Diagnosis is confirmed by elevated serum lipase or amylase levels (≥ 3× the upper limit of … Read more

Waddling Gait

A waddling gait is characterized by a distinctive side-to-side, swaying movement of the body while walking. This abnormal gait pattern typically results from muscle weakness or imbalance in the hip muscles, particularly the gluteus medius and gluteus minimus, which are responsible for stabilizing the pelvis during walking. The gait is often seen in conditions that … Read more

Cardiovascular USMLE Question #1

A 15-year-old male presents with severe cardiomyopathy after a Coxsackie virus-induced myocarditis and is placed on the cardiac transplant waiting list. Two weeks post-cardiac transplant, he experiences exertional dyspnea. A comprehensive evaluation, including cardiac catheterization and endomyocardial biopsy, is performed. Which of the following findings is most indicative of acute graft rejection? Options:A. Concentric coronary … Read more

Barrett’s Esophagus:

Definition Barrett’s esophagus is a premalignant condition where the normal squamous epithelium of the esophagus transforms into columnar epithelium with goblet cells, typically due to prolonged exposure to stomach acid from chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). This type of intestinal metaplasia poses a heightened risk for developing esophageal adenocarcinoma. Epidemiology Barrett’s esophagus is seen in … Read more

Chronic Liver Disease (CLD)

Certainly! Here’s the revised version with bullet points: Chronic Liver Disease (CLD) refers to a range of conditions where the liver undergoes prolonged inflammation and damage, eventually leading to fibrosis, cirrhosis, and possibly liver failure. The causes of CLD are diverse and can be categorized into infectious, autoimmune, metabolic, genetic, and alcohol-related factors, among others. … Read more

Understanding the Spectrum of Biliary Tract Diseases

Biliary tract disease progresses from silent, symptomless conditions to more severe, life-threatening ones. Here’s a breakdown of each stage, showing how one can lead to the next. 1. Asymptomatic Gallstones: “The Silent Stage” 2. Biliary Colic: “Temporary Blockage & Pain” 3. Cholecystitis: “Prolonged Blockage & Inflammation” 4. Choledocholithiasis: “Common Bile Duct Blockage” 5. Biliary Sludge: … Read more

MRCS Preps #Abdominal Surgery Q4

Theme: Abdominal Stomas MCQ: Select the Most Appropriate Stoma A. End ileostomyB. End colostomyC. Loop ileostomyD. Loop colostomyE. End jejunostomyF. Loop jejunostomyG. Caecostomy Scenario: A 63-year-old woman presents with large bowel obstruction. On examination, she has a carcinoma located 10 cm from the anal verge. Answer: D. Loop colostomy Explanation Why Loop Colostomy? NEXT Why Not … Read more

MRCS Preps #Abdominal Surgery Q3

Theme: Abdominal Stomas MCQ: Select the Most Appropriate Stoma A. End ileostomyB. End colostomyC. Loop ileostomyD. Loop colostomyE. End jejunostomyF. Loop jejunostomyG. Caecostomy Scenario: A 23-year-old man with uncontrolled ulcerative colitis is undergoing an emergency subtotal colectomy. Answer: A. End ileostomy Explanation Why End Ileostomy? Why Not the Other Options? Summary: In an emergency subtotal colectomy … Read more