American Board of Surgery Qualifying Exam (ABS QE) Practice Test

Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $2.99 payment

Prepare for the American Board of Surgery Qualifying Exam with our interactive quizzes. Utilize detailed flashcards and multiple-choice questions to enhance your learning. Each question is complemented with hints and explanations to help you ace the exam!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.

What surgical intervention is recommended for middle extraperitoneal rectal trauma?

Primary repair without diversion
End-ostomy
Loop colostomy
Low anterior resection

The correct answer is: End-ostomy

For middle extraperitoneal rectal trauma, the recommended surgical intervention is typically to perform an end-ostomy. This approach is often favored in the setting of significant injury to the rectum, particularly when there is a concern for contamination or a high risk of subsequent complications such as fistula formation. In extraperitoneal rectal injuries, the integrity of the rectal wall may be compromised, and if the injury is severe enough, attempting a primary repair without diversion can increase the risk of significant morbidity, including sepsis from fecal contamination. The creation of an end-ostomy diverts the fecal stream away from the injured site, thereby allowing for bowel rest and the potential for healing or further surgical intervention at a later date. This strategy reduces the risk of complications associated with direct repair in cases of unstable or contaminated injuries. Furthermore, it provides a safer initial management of the trauma while allowing the surgical team flexibility as the patient's condition evolves.