General Surgery Clinical Rotation Review Course
The Smarty PANCE general surgery rotation exam review course follows the PAEA General Surgery End of Rotation™ Exam Blueprint. This blueprint provides the suggested topics for the general surgery end of rotation exam.
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The Smarty PANCE General Surgery Clinical Rotation (EOR) Review Course follows the PAEA published General Surgery content blueprint and covers all 111+ required general surgery topics:
- General Surgery: Gastrointestinal and Nutritional (PEARLS): 32 topics/50% of EOR exam
- General Surgery: Preoperative and Postoperative Care (PEARLS): 13 topics/12% of EOR exam
- General Surgery: Cardiovascular (PEARLS): 9 topics/9% of EOR exam
- General Surgery: Endocrinology (PEARLS): 10 topics/8% of EOR exam
- General Surgery: Dermatology (PEARLS): 11 topics/5% of EOR exam
- General Surgery: Neurology (PEARLS): 7 topics/5% of EOR exam
- General Surgery: Urology and Renal (PEARLS): 13 topics/5% of EOR Exam
- General Surgery: Hematology (PEARLS): 3 topics/3% of EOR exam
- General Surgery: Pulmonology (PEARLS): 7 topics/3% of EOR exam
- General Surgery: Obstetrics and Gynecology (PEARLS): 6 topics/3% of EOR exam
Lessons, Flashcards, and Cheat Sheets
Along with comprehensive individual topic lessons, there are ten high yield general surgery cheat sheets and pearls tables for rapid study. These pearls tables link directly to general surgery lessons so that you can review topics in greater detail.
- Lessons include flashcards, topic-specific exams, audio, video, and links to Osmosis and Picmonic content.
- For ReelDx + Smarty PANCE members, many lessons include ReelDx, live patient videos.
- Interactive general surgery Trello board which links to Smarty PANCE EOR lessons.
- Lesson tracking allows you to keep track of your progress.
- Tie this all together with a 136 question general surgery rotation practice exam!
General Surgery Rotation Sample Exam
Question 1 |
Transient ischemic attack Hint: Transient ischemic attacks present with focal neurological findings rather than headaches. | |
Bacterial meningitis Hint: Bacterial meningitis is typically acute in onset and causes fever, but immunocompromised patients may have a slower onset and no fever. | |
Migraine headache Hint: Migraines generally do not begin in this age group and are not accompanied by nuchal rigidity. | |
Cryptococcosis |
Question 2 |
Chest x-ray Hint: A chest x-ray should be ordered in an asthmatic patient only if you are concerned about the presence of pneumonia or pneumothorax, neither of which is supported by the H&P findings noted above. | |
Sputum gram stain Hint: A sputum gram stain is performed in patients who you suspect have an infectious process, such as pneumonia | |
Peak flow | |
Ventilation-perfusion scan Hint: A ventilation-perfusion scan (V/Q scan) is indicated in cases of suspected pulmonary embolism. The patient above does not have any risk factors that would lead you to suspect such a diagnosis |
Question 3 |
Renal Hint: The patient most likely has Kawasaki syndrome. The major complication with this disorder is coronary artery | |
Cardiac | |
Pulmonary Hint: The patient most likely has Kawasaki syndrome. The major complication with this disorder is coronary artery
| |
Hepatic Hint: Children with Kawasaki syndrome may have associated hydrops of the gallbladder, but liver involvement is not part of this disorder. |
Question 4 |
Atelectasis Hint: Small atelectasis is commonly asymptomatic, while large atelectasis may produce signs of dyspnea and cough. Exam reveals absence of breath sounds in the area involved and dullness to percussion. A chest x-ray would reveal various findings dependent on the location of the atelectasis, but would not be normal. | |
Pneumothorax Hint: While a pneumothorax commonly presents with pleuritic chest pain and dyspnea, the exam would reveal the presence of diminished breath sounds and hyperresonance on the involved side. A chest x-ray would reveal the presence of a pleural line on the expiratory chest x-ray. | |
Pulmonary embolism | |
Myocardial infarction Hint: While a myocardial infarction usually presents with dyspnea, the chest pain is not usually pleuritic in nature. An EKG would commonly reveal ST segment changes which would be consistent with ischemia or infarct. |
Question 5 |
Atypical lymphocytes | |
Hypersegmented neutrophils Hint: Hypersegmented neutrophils are seen in vitamin B12 deficiency. | |
Hypochromic red blood cells Hint: Anemia, if seen in mononucleosis, is normocytic and normochromic. | |
Schistocytes Hint: Schistocytes are noted in hemolytic anemias. |
List |
Additional Smarty PANCE End of Rotation Courses
Additional Smarty PANCE Rotation Exams
We're excited to add these two emergency medicine rotation exams to a growing list of clinical rotation exams available exclusively to Smarty PANCE members. You must be a member to access the exams.
Other exams include 13 Topic Specific Practice Exams, two full-length PANCE/PANRE Mock Practice Exams, five 250 Question Comprehensive Exams, and many, many more!
The General Surgery Review Course is available to all Smarty PANCE members. To view membership options click here.
- Stephen Pasquini PA-C