Surgery Shelf Prep!

Ogilvie Syndrome can fool you: the colon looks obstructed, the belly is huge, but there’s no mechanical blockage. In this episode of Surgery Shelf Prep, Chris and Mars break down Acute Colonic Pseudo-Obstruction with the exact shelf-style framework you need—classic patient scenarios, key imaging findings, critical cecal diameter cutoffs, and the stepwise treatment algorithm from conservative manag...

Colonic volvulus can go from “constipated and uncomfortable” to “ruptured and crashing” fast. If you cannot instantly tell sigmoid from cecal and know the next best step, the shelf will absolutely punish you. In this episode, Chris and Mars walk through the two big volvulus patterns you must recognize: the elderly, constipated nursing home patient with sigmoid volvulus, and the younger patient wit...

Rectal cancer is where anatomy, oncology, and surgical decision-making all collide. In this episode, learn when to order pelvic MRI, when to give neoadjuvant chemoradiation, and when to choose Low Anterior Resection versus Abdominoperineal Resection. Listen as Chris and Mars walk you through rectal cancer from first symptom to definitive surgery, with a tight focus on staging, local control, and t...

Colon cancer is one of the highest-yield topics on the Surgery Shelf and Step 2 Clinical Knowledge – and one of the easiest places to lose points on subtle traps. This episode walks you through exactly how exam writers expect you to think, so you can move faster and more confidently on test day. In this episode, Chris and Mars break down colon cancer from the ground up: how it presents, how to wor...

Ischemic colitis is one of the highest-yield gastrointestinal emergencies on the Surgery Shelf — and if you don’t know how to spot it fast, you’ll miss the diagnosis both on exams and in real life. In this episode, Chris and Mars break down everything you need to recognize, diagnose, and manage ischemic colitis with complete confidence. From classic elderly patients with low-flow states to the wat...

Diverticulitis is one of those “can’t-miss” shelf exam topics that shows up again and again — and this episode breaks it all down so you’ll never confuse uncomplicated inflammation with a life-threatening perforation. Chris and Mars walk through classic patient presentations, imaging pitfalls, and management strategies — from outpatient antibiotics to emergent surgery. You’ll also learn how to mas...

Familial Adenomatous Polyposis and Lynch Syndrome (Hereditary Nonpolyposis Colorectal Cancer) — two hereditary colorectal cancer syndromes that look similar at first glance but couldn’t be more different when it comes to genetics, screening, and surgical management. In this episode, Chris and Mars walk you through how to instantly spot the differences on exam questions and in real-life surgical de...

Ulcerative Colitis loves to test your nerves — and your shelf knowledge. Continuous inflammation, rectal involvement, and surgical decision-making make this topic a guaranteed favorite on the Surgery Shelf. In this episode, Chris and Mars walk through everything you need to crush Ulcerative Colitis questions — from recognizing the hallmark presentation to knowing exactly when surgery becomes life-...

Crohn’s Disease doesn’t play fair — it’s chronic, sneaky, and full-thickness. From skip lesions to fistulas, this disease hits every level of the gut, and it’s a shelf favorite. In this episode, Chris and Mars break down everything you need to crush Crohn’s questions on your Surgery Shelf exam. They cover classic presentations, key diagnostic clues, medical and surgical management, and the can’t-m...

Peri-operative anticoagulation, simplified. Chris and Mars hit the must-know hold times, monitoring, and reversals for Unfractionated Heparin and Low Molecular Weight Heparin (including partial protamine), warfarin (four factor Prothrombin Complex Concentrate plus intravenous vitamin K), and the direct oral anticoagulants (andexanet for factor ten A inhibitors, idarucizumab for dabigatran). They a...

Bleeding disorders are a classic shelf trap—know how to tell them apart or risk losing easy points. In this episode, Chris and Mars tackle three must-know causes of abnormal bleeding: Von Willebrand Disease, Hemophilia A, and Uremic Platelet Dysfunction. You’ll learn their hallmark presentations, the diagnostic clues that separate them, and the treatments that save patients and score points on tes...

Phosphorus doesn’t always get the spotlight—but on test day, it’s a game changer. From energy metabolism to bone health, imbalances can wreck patients and trip you up on the shelf. In this episode, Chris and Mars break down the most high-yield phosphorus scenarios you need to master: Refeeding Syndrome, DKA after insulin therapy, Hungry Bone Syndrome, antacid and binder use, Fanconi syndrome, CKD-...

Magnesium derangements are sneaky but high-yield! In this episode, Chris and Mars break down hypomagnesemia and hypermagnesemia across classic scenarios you’ll see on the wards and on exams. Learn why magnesium is the key to fixing refractory hypokalemia and hypocalcemia, how alcohol, PPIs, and refeeding syndrome trigger dangerous lows, and why CKD patients with laxatives or OB patients on mag dri...

Calcium disorders can flip a patient’s physiology upside down — and your shelf score with it. From post-thyroidectomy hypocalcemia to malignancy-induced hypercalcemia, these electrolyte shifts demand quick recognition and targeted management. In this episode, Chris and Mars break down everything you need to know about hypocalcemia and hypercalcemia for your surgery shelf. You’ll learn how to recog...

Potassium disturbances can make or break your shelf exam performance—and your patient’s outcome. Whether it’s a sneaky NG tube–induced hypokalemia or a burn patient at risk for fatal hyperkalemia, knowing the patterns, EKG changes, and pitfalls is non-negotiable. In this high-yield episode, Chris and Mars break down hypokalemia and hyperkalemia from the ground up, covering GI losses, Conn syndrome...

Electrolyte imbalances can make or break your management on the wards and in the OR. Sodium, the OG electrolyte, has a way of testing your knowledge under pressure—whether it’s hyponatremia in a trauma patient or hypernatremia in the ICU. In this high-yield episode, Chris and Mars break down everything you need to know about sodium disorders for the surgery shelf exam. From differentiating Cerebra...

High-voltage shocks and lightning strikes are devastating—but the hidden muscle damage, lethal arrhythmias, and silent toxins offer a chance to make a difference in a patient's life. In this high-yield episode, Chris and Mars break down the full spectrum of electrical and thermal trauma you need to know cold for test day. From the iceberg effect of high-voltage contact burns to the sneaky labial a...

Compartment pressure can rise fast—and a missed diagnosis means muscle death. Meanwhile, crushed muscle spills toxins into the bloodstream, and a long-bone fracture can shower fat into the lungs before anyone blinks. In this episode, Chris and Mars unpack three orthopedic trauma syndromes every surgery clerk must spot instantly: Compartment Syndrome, Rhabdomyolysis, and Fat Embolism Syndrome. You’...

One yank of a toddler’s arm or a split-second dashboard hit can spell disaster for tiny nerves and big joints. Don’t let routine-looking fractures and dislocations blindside you on exam day—or in the trauma bay. In this episode, Chris and Mars break down four classic musculoskeletal injuries that love to show up on the shelf: mid-shaft clavicle fractures with Erb palsy, Nursemaid’s Elbow, posterio...

Nerve injuries love to hide behind broken bones—and if you miss them, the consequences can be devastating. Make sure a wrist-drop or badge-patch numbness never slips past you again. In this upbeat episode, Chris and Mars dissect three fracture-related nerve injuries that show up again and again on the surgery shelf (and in real life): axillary nerve palsy with proximal humerus fractures, radial ne...

Pelvic trauma can wreck more than bones—it can shred urethras, pop bladders, and crank intra-abdominal pressure past the danger zone. Don’t let hidden hematuria, missed CT cystograms, or a tight fascial closure sink your patient—or your shelf score. In this episode, Chris and Mars break down three abdominal trauma heavy-hitters you absolutely can’t miss on exam day: Pelvic Fracture Urethral Injuri...

Hidden abdominal injuries can fool even the sharpest trauma team. Don’t let seat-belt bruises, subtle CT findings, or delayed enzyme rises trip you up on exam day. In this episode, Chris and Mars unravel three shelf-favorite abdominal trauma patterns that demand a high index of suspicion: Hollow Viscus tears, Duodenal and Pancreatic “handle-bar” injuries, and the Seat-Belt Sign paired with Chance...

Abdominal trauma isn’t just shelf-worthy—it’s life-saving knowledge in the trauma bay. From subtle splenic bleeds to delayed bilomas, this episode breaks down everything you need to master solid organ injuries. Chris and Mars walk you through the classic presentations, imaging pathways, and life-or-death decisions around spleen, liver, and kidney trauma. Whether it’s a FAST-positive patient crashi...

Abdominal trauma isn’t just high-yield—it’s high-stakes. One missed diagnosis, one delayed move, and your patient’s outcome could spiral fast. That’s why mastering this topic is essential for the shelf—and for real-life emergencies. In this episode, Chris and Mars break down abdominal trauma management like pros. From FAST algorithms to trauma laparotomy, you’ll learn how to quickly triage, resusc...

Sternal fractures aren’t just bruises—and a “crunchy” neck might mean a trip to the OR. Don’t miss these deadly thoracic trauma patterns that hide in plain sight. In this high-octane episode of Surgery Shelf Prep, Chris and Mars break down three clutch thoracic trauma topics that are critical for your shelf exam and real-life resuscitations: Sternal Fracture, Traumatic Pneumomediastinum, and Resus...