SAQ Stack

Short Answer Questions for ED Fellowship Study

Case: Ventriculoperitoneal shunt failure

A 21-year-old woman with a VP shunt presents with worsening headache, nausea, lethargy and reduced GCS. Obs on arrival : T 37.9

  • HR 80
  • BP 130/70
  • RR 16
  • Sats 98%RA
  • GCS E3V4M5 = 12 (baseline 15)

1. What is your main concern? 1 mark

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2. List and justify three specific investigations you would organise. 6 marks

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On return from radiology the nurse rushes up to inform you that the patient’s GCS has dropped to 9 and she is becoming more bradycardic and hypertensive.

3. State five strategies for managing this patient’s raised intracranial pressure. 5 marks

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This case forms part of a collaborative marking project designed to support fellowship preparation. In the week leading up to each tutorial, you can contribute answers to any active case. If you contribute, your answers may be reviewed, marked, and used to refine the model answers during the weekly fellowship teaching sessions.

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Your personal results and updated model answers become available the day after the tutorial.

After the tutorial you can still do the case and self-mark your answers, but your answers will not be included in the group review.