Practice targeted AMC-style multiple-choice questions on vomiting.
A 3-year-old boy presents with intermittent abdominal pain, vomiting, and currant jelly stools. An ultrasound is performed, revealing the finding shown. What is the MOST appropriate next step in the management of this patient?
A 6-week-old male presents with projectile vomiting after feeds. He is otherwise well-appearing, with normal vital signs and no abdominal distension. An ultrasound was performed, and an image is shown. What is the MOST appropriate next step in management?
A previously well 3-year-old boy presents to the emergency department with a 12-hour history of sudden onset, intermittent, severe, colicky abdominal pain, associated with non-bilious vomiting. Between episodes, he appears lethargic and pale. His vital signs are stable: HR 110, BP 90/60, RR 24, Temp 37.2. Abdominal examination reveals mild distension and tenderness, but no guarding or rebound. Bowel sounds are present. A point-of-care ultrasound is performed by the emergency physician. Considering the clinical presentation, the patient's current stable vital signs, and the specific findings demonstrated in the provided ultrasound image, which of the following represents the single most appropriate immediate next step in the management of this patient in an Australian tertiary paediatric centre?
A 3-year-old boy presents to the emergency department with a 12-hour history of sudden onset, severe, colicky abdominal pain, drawing his legs up, and non-bilious vomiting. His parents report he has been listless between episodes and had a small amount of red jelly-like stool earlier. Vitals: T 37.2°C, HR 110, RR 24, BP 95/60, Sats 98% on air. Abdominal examination reveals tenderness in the right upper quadrant and a palpable mass. Bowel sounds are diminished. A point-of-care ultrasound is performed. Based on the clinical presentation and the findings demonstrated in the provided ultrasound image, what is the most appropriate initial management step for this patient?
A 62-year-old woman presents to the emergency department with a 2-day history of right upper quadrant abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. She reports that the pain started gradually but has become increasingly severe and constant. She denies any fever or chills. Her past medical history is significant for hypertension and hyperlipidemia, both well-controlled with medications. On physical examination, she is afebrile, with a heart rate of 92 bpm, blood pressure of 140/85 mmHg, and an oxygen saturation of 98% on room air. Abdominal examination reveals marked tenderness to palpation in the right upper quadrant with guarding. Murphy's sign is positive. The provided image was obtained. Which of the following is the MOST appropriate next step in the management of this patient?
A 32-year-old woman presents to the emergency department with severe right lower abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. She reports that the pain started suddenly a few hours ago and has been worsening. Her last menstrual period was two weeks ago. On examination, she has tenderness and guarding in the right lower quadrant. A pregnancy test is negative. What is the most likely diagnosis?
A 63-year-old woman with a 20-year history of Crohn's disease presents with worsening abdominal pain, bloating, and occasional post-prandial vomiting. She is currently managed with mesalazine and budesonide. Physical examination reveals mild right lower quadrant tenderness. Laboratory tests show a slightly elevated CRP. Given her presentation and the provided imaging, what is the most appropriate next step in her management?
A 4-week-old male presents with non-bilious emesis. An upper GI series is performed (image shown). What acid-base abnormality is MOST likely?
A 6-week-old male infant presents with increasing frequency of non-bilious vomiting after feeds for the past week. He is otherwise well, afebrile, and has wet nappies. On examination, he is alert and interactive. Abdominal examination is unremarkable. Vitals are stable. You order an ultrasound, which is shown. Based on the clinical presentation and the provided image, what is the most appropriate immediate next step in management?
A 72-year-old male presents with a painful, irreducible right groin mass. He reports vomiting and abdominal distension. His vitals are: HR 110, BP 100/60, RR 22, SpO2 96% RA. The provided image was obtained. What is the next step?
A 38-year-old male presents to the emergency department complaining of sudden onset, severe left flank pain that radiates to his groin. He reports associated nausea and vomiting. He denies any fever, dysuria, or hematuria. His vital signs are: Temperature 37.0°C, Heart Rate 88 bpm, Blood Pressure 130/80 mmHg, Respiratory Rate 16 breaths/min, and SpO2 98% on room air. A urine dipstick is positive for blood. An ultrasound is performed, and the image is shown. Given the clinical presentation and the ultrasound findings, what is the MOST appropriate next step in management?
A 32-year-old man presents to the emergency department with severe abdominal pain that started suddenly 6 hours ago. The pain is located in the right lower quadrant and is associated with nausea and vomiting. On examination, he has rebound tenderness and guarding in the right lower quadrant. His temperature is 37.8°C, heart rate is 110 beats per minute, and blood pressure is 120/80 mmHg. A CT scan of the abdomen shows an inflamed appendix with surrounding fat stranding. What is the most appropriate next step in management?
A 3-week-old male presents with projectile vomiting. Upper GI series (image shown). What electrolyte abnormality is MOST likely?
A 4-week-old male presents with persistent non-bilious vomiting after feeding. He is mildly dehydrated, but otherwise active. An ultrasound is performed, as shown. What is the MOST likely acid-base disturbance?
A 68-year-old male presents to the ED with abdominal distension, obstipation, and vomiting. He reports a history of multiple abdominal surgeries. An upright abdominal X-ray is performed. Based on the image, what is the MOST appropriate next step in management?
A neonate, born at 38 weeks gestation, presents with bilious vomiting starting 12 hours after birth. Antenatal ultrasound revealed polyhydramnios. On examination, the baby is active and has a distended upper abdomen but a scaphoid lower abdomen. An abdominal X-ray shows a 'double bubble' sign. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in the management of this neonate, considering potential associated complications?
A 3-year-old boy presents with sudden onset, intermittent, severe abdominal pain, vomiting, and lethargy. On examination, he is pale but haemodynamically stable. An abdominal ultrasound is performed. Based on the clinical presentation and the provided image, what is the most appropriate next step in the management of this patient?
A 3-year-old boy presents with a 12-hour history of intermittent, severe abdominal pain, drawing his legs up to his chest. He has vomited several times. His vital signs are stable: HR 110, BP 95/60, RR 24, Temp 37.2°C. On examination, he is irritable but comfortable between episodes of pain. His abdomen is soft but mildly distended. A focused abdominal ultrasound is performed, yielding the image provided. Based on the clinical presentation and the findings shown, which of the following non-surgical interventions is typically attempted first to resolve the underlying issue?
A 3-week-old male infant presents with persistent, non-bilious projectile vomiting after each feed. He appears hungry and eagerly accepts the bottle, but vomits shortly after. On examination, mild dehydration is noted. An abdominal X-ray is ordered, the relevant image is attached. What is the MOST appropriate next step in management?
A 5-week-old male infant presents to the emergency department with a 3-day history of non-bilious, projectile vomiting after each feed. He is otherwise well-appearing and afebrile. His mother reports that he is feeding well but seems increasingly hungry after vomiting. On examination, the infant is alert and active, with slightly dry mucous membranes. Abdominal examination is unremarkable, with no palpable masses. An ultrasound of the abdomen is performed, the image of which is shown. What is the most appropriate next step in the management of this patient?
A 3-year-old boy presents with a 12-hour history of intermittent, severe abdominal pain, non-bilious vomiting, and decreased activity. Parents report redcurrant jelly stool. On exam, a palpable mass is noted. Vitals are stable. An ultrasound is performed (shown above). Considering the clinical picture and the image findings, which non-surgical intervention is indicated?
A 67-year-old man presents to the emergency department with sudden onset of severe headache, nausea, and vomiting. He has a history of hypertension and is currently on amlodipine. On examination, he is drowsy but arousable, with a blood pressure of 210/120 mmHg and a heart rate of 90 bpm. Neurological examination reveals a left-sided hemiparesis and a right-sided facial droop. A CT scan of the head shows a hyperdense lesion in the right basal ganglia with surrounding edema. Which of the following is the most appropriate initial management step?
A 45-year-old man presents to the emergency department with sudden onset of severe headache, nausea, and vomiting. He describes the headache as the worst he has ever experienced. He has a history of hypertension but is otherwise healthy. On examination, he is alert but in distress due to the headache. His blood pressure is 180/110 mmHg, heart rate is 90 bpm, and he has no focal neurological deficits. A CT scan of the head shows no acute intracranial hemorrhage. What is the next best step in management?
A 3-year-old boy presents with sudden onset, intermittent, severe abdominal pain, vomiting, and lethargy. On examination, he is pale and has a palpable mass in the right upper quadrant. An ultrasound is performed (image provided). Based on the clinical presentation and the image, what is the most appropriate next step in management?
A 32-year-old male presents to the emergency department complaining of intermittent abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting for the past 24 hours. He reports passing a small amount of blood in his stool this morning. He denies any fever or chills. His past medical history is significant for multiple cutaneous hemangiomas, which he has had since childhood. On physical examination, his abdomen is mildly distended and tender to palpation in the periumbilical region. Bowel sounds are hyperactive. The patient is hemodynamically stable. A CT scan of the abdomen is performed, the results of which are shown. Given the clinical presentation and imaging findings, what is the MOST appropriate next step in the management of this patient?
A 78-year-old male presents with persistent vomiting and epigastric pain. He reports a history of NSAID use for chronic arthritis. An X-ray is performed. Which of the following is the MOST likely complication associated with this finding?
A 38-year-old male presents to the emergency department complaining of sudden onset, severe left flank pain that radiates to his groin. He reports associated nausea and vomiting. He denies any fever, dysuria, or hematuria. His vital signs are stable: blood pressure 120/80 mmHg, heart rate 88 bpm, respiratory rate 16 breaths/min, and temperature 37.0°C. A urinalysis reveals microscopic hematuria. A point-of-care ultrasound is performed, and the image is shown. Given the clinical presentation and ultrasound findings, what is the MOST appropriate next step in management?
A 58-year-old male presents to the emergency department complaining of severe, constant right upper quadrant pain for the past 12 hours. He reports associated nausea and several episodes of non-bilious vomiting. He denies any fever or chills. His past medical history includes type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension, both managed with oral medications. On examination, the patient is alert and oriented. His vital signs are: temperature 37.2°C, heart rate 105 bpm, blood pressure 150/90 mmHg, respiratory rate 20 breaths/min, and SpO2 97% on room air. Abdominal examination reveals significant tenderness to palpation in the right upper quadrant, with guarding. Murphy's sign is positive. Laboratory investigations reveal a white blood cell count of 14,000/µL with neutrophilic predominance, total bilirubin of 2.5 mg/dL, alkaline phosphatase of 250 U/L, ALT of 150 U/L, and AST of 120 U/L. The provided image was obtained. Given the clinical scenario and the findings on the image, which of the following is the MOST appropriate initial management strategy?
A 6-week-old male infant presents to the emergency department with a 2-week history of progressively worsening non-bilious vomiting, which has become projectile over the past few days. His parents report he is feeding eagerly but vomits most feeds shortly after completion. He has had fewer wet nappies than usual and appears more lethargic. On examination, he is irritable but consolable. His weight is below the 3rd percentile, having dropped from the 10th percentile at birth. Vital signs are: Temperature 36.8°C, Heart Rate 155 bpm, Respiratory Rate 40 bpm, Blood Pressure 85/50 mmHg, Oxygen Saturation 98% on room air. Capillary refill time is 3 seconds. Abdominal examination reveals a soft, non-distended abdomen with active bowel sounds; no palpable masses are appreciated. Initial blood gas shows pH 7.52, pCO2 40 mmHg, Bicarbonate 32 mmol/L, Na+ 132 mmol/L, K+ 3.0 mmol/L, Cl- 88 mmol/L. A point-of-care ultrasound was performed, and the image provided was obtained. Considering the clinical presentation and the findings demonstrated in the image, what is the most appropriate immediate next step in the management of this infant?
A 75-year-old female presents to the emergency department with a 24-hour history of worsening colicky abdominal pain, nausea, and multiple episodes of bilious vomiting. She reports no passage of flatus or stool for the past 18 hours. Her past medical history includes an open appendectomy 30 years ago and a hysterectomy 10 years ago. On examination, she is afebrile, heart rate 92 bpm, blood pressure 130/80 mmHg, respiratory rate 18/min, oxygen saturation 98% on room air. Her abdomen is distended and diffusely tender to palpation, with high-pitched tinkling bowel sounds on auscultation. A plain abdominal X-ray series, including the image provided, was obtained. Considering the patient's clinical presentation and the findings demonstrated in the provided image, which of the following represents the most appropriate immediate next step in her management?
A 3-year-old boy presents with sudden onset, intermittent, severe abdominal pain, vomiting, and lethargy. Examination reveals a palpable mass. Vitals stable. Ultrasound performed. Based on the clinical presentation and the provided image, what is the most appropriate next step in management?
A 62-year-old woman presents to the emergency department with sudden onset of severe headache, nausea, and vomiting. She describes the headache as the worst she has ever experienced. Her medical history includes hypertension and hyperlipidemia, for which she is on regular medication. On examination, she is alert but in distress, with a blood pressure of 180/100 mmHg, heart rate of 90 bpm, and respiratory rate of 18 breaths per minute. Neurological examination reveals neck stiffness but no focal neurological deficits. A CT scan of the head shows no acute intracranial hemorrhage. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management?
A 5-week-old male presents with non-bilious projectile vomiting after each feed for the past week. He is alert but appears dehydrated. An ultrasound is performed, as shown. What electrolyte abnormality is MOST likely present?
A 6-week-old infant presents with a 1-week history of increasing frequency of non-bilious, projectile vomiting occurring shortly after feeds. He has lost some weight since his last check-up. Examination is otherwise unremarkable. An ultrasound is performed, shown in the image. Based on the clinical presentation and the provided image, which of the following electrolyte abnormalities is the most likely consequence if this condition remains untreated?
A 3-year-old boy presents with sudden onset intermittent severe abdominal pain, vomiting, and lethargy. On examination, he is pale but haemodynamically stable. Abdominal examination reveals a palpable mass in the right upper quadrant. An ultrasound is performed (image provided). What is the most appropriate next step in management?
A 75-year-old female presents to the emergency department with a 24-hour history of worsening colicky abdominal pain, nausea, and multiple episodes of bilious vomiting. She reports no passage of flatus or stool for the past 18 hours. Her past medical history includes an open appendectomy 30 years ago and a hysterectomy 10 years ago. On examination, she is afebrile, heart rate 92 bpm, blood pressure 130/80 mmHg, respiratory rate 18/min, oxygen saturation 98% on room air. Her abdomen is distended and diffusely tender to palpation, with high-pitched tinkling bowel sounds on auscultation. A plain abdominal X-ray series, including the image provided, was obtained. Considering the patient's clinical presentation and the findings demonstrated in the provided image, which of the following represents the most appropriate immediate next step in her management?
A 4-week-old male presents with persistent projectile vomiting after feeding. He is otherwise well-appearing. An upper GI series is performed, with relevant images attached. What acid-base disturbance is MOST likely present?
A 68-year-old male with a history of reflux presents with epigastric pain and vomiting. An X-ray is performed (shown). What is the most likely complication?
A 6-week-old infant presents with a 1-week history of increasing non-bilious projectile vomiting after feeds. He is otherwise well, afebrile, and has wet nappies. Examination is unremarkable. An ultrasound is performed, shown in the image. Considering the clinical presentation and the findings in the provided image, what is the most appropriate definitive surgical intervention for this condition?
A 75-year-old female presents to the emergency department with a 24-hour history of worsening colicky abdominal pain, nausea, and multiple episodes of bilious vomiting. She reports no passage of flatus or stool for the past 18 hours. Her past medical history includes an open appendectomy 30 years ago and a hysterectomy 10 years ago. On examination, she is afebrile, heart rate 92 bpm, blood pressure 130/80 mmHg, respiratory rate 18/min, oxygen saturation 98% on room air. Her abdomen is distended and diffusely tender to palpation, with high-pitched tinkling bowel sounds on auscultation. A plain abdominal X-ray series, including the image provided, was obtained. Given the clinical presentation and the findings demonstrated in the provided image, which of the following is the most appropriate *next* investigation to guide definitive management?
A 72-year-old male with a history of diverticulitis presents with severe abdominal pain, vomiting, and inability to pass flatus for 24 hours. An upright abdominal X-ray is performed. Based on the image, what is the MOST likely underlying cause?
A 4-week-old male presents with projectile vomiting after feeding. He is irritable and appears dehydrated. An upper GI series is performed, as shown. After addressing immediate concerns, what is the MOST appropriate next step?
A 45-year-old man presents to the emergency department with severe epigastric pain radiating to his back, which started suddenly a few hours ago. He has a history of alcohol use disorder and has been drinking heavily over the past week. On examination, he is diaphoretic and in distress. His vital signs show a blood pressure of 100/60 mmHg, heart rate of 110 bpm, respiratory rate of 22 breaths per minute, and temperature of 37.8°C. Laboratory tests reveal elevated serum lipase and amylase levels. An abdominal ultrasound shows no gallstones. Which of the following is the most appropriate initial management step for this patient?
A 65-year-old man presents to the emergency department with sudden onset of severe headache, nausea, and vomiting. He has a history of hypertension and is currently on antihypertensive medication. On examination, he is alert but in distress due to the headache. His blood pressure is 180/110 mmHg, heart rate is 90 bpm, and he has no focal neurological deficits. A CT scan of the head shows a subarachnoid hemorrhage. Which of the following is the most appropriate initial management step in this patient?
A 3-year-old boy presents to the emergency department with a 12-hour history of intermittent, severe abdominal pain, drawing his legs up to his chest. He has vomited several times. His vital signs are stable: HR 110, BP 95/60, RR 24, Temp 37.2°C. On examination, he is irritable but comfortable between episodes of pain. His abdomen is soft but mildly distended. A focused abdominal ultrasound is performed, yielding the image provided. Based on the clinical presentation and the findings shown, what is the most appropriate next step in the management of this patient?
A 3-year-old boy presents with a 12-hour history of intermittent, severe abdominal pain, drawing his legs up to his chest. He has vomited several times. His vital signs are stable: HR 110, BP 95/60, RR 24, Temp 37.2°C. On examination, he is irritable but comfortable between episodes of pain. His abdomen is soft but mildly distended. A focused abdominal ultrasound is performed, yielding the image provided. Based on the clinical presentation and the findings shown, what is the most appropriate initial therapeutic intervention?
A 32-year-old woman presents to the emergency department with severe right lower quadrant abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. She reports her last menstrual period was 6 weeks ago. On examination, she has tenderness and guarding in the right lower quadrant. A urine pregnancy test is positive. What is the most appropriate next step in management?
A 6-week-old male presents with projectile vomiting after feeds. He is otherwise well-appearing, with normal vital signs. An abdominal ultrasound is performed (image attached). What is the MOST appropriate next step in management?
A 3-year-old boy presents with sudden onset, intermittent, severe abdominal pain, vomiting, and lethargy. His vital signs are stable. On examination, he is pale. An abdominal ultrasound is performed, shown in the image. Based on the clinical presentation and imaging findings, what is the most appropriate next step in management?
A 3-year-old boy presents with intermittent abdominal pain, vomiting, and currant jelly stools. An ultrasound is performed, revealing the image shown. What is the MOST appropriate next step in management?