Surgery Shelf Prep!

Burning epigastric pain, meal-related symptoms, and sudden complications like bleeding or perforation make peptic ulcer disease a classic Surgery Shelf topic. In this episode, Chris and Mars break down the two major causes, Helicobacter pylori and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, then walk through the key differences between gastric and duodenal ulcers, how to diagnose them, and when to use e...

Pancreatitis is a classic Surgery Shelf topic because the exam loves the presentation, the diagnosis criteria, and the management steps. In this episode, Chris and Mars break down acute versus chronic pancreatitis, the major causes like gallstones, alcohol, and hypertriglyceridemia, and the key diagnostic rule of needing two of three criteria for acute pancreatitis. They also cover the high-yield...

Gastrointestinal bleeding is a must-know Surgery Shelf topic because the first step is always the same: decide if it is an upper bleed or a lower bleed, then determine how sick the patient is. In this episode, Chris and Mars break down the classic presentations of hematemesis, melena, and hematochezia, then walk through the most important causes like peptic ulcer disease, varices, diverticulosis,...

Crampy abdominal pain, vomiting, abdominal distension, and obstipation? That is classic Small Bowel Obstruction, and this is one of the most high-yield Surgery Shelf topics because the exam loves to test both recognition and urgency. In this episode, Chris and Mars walk through the textbook presentation, the most common causes like adhesions and hernias, and the key pathophysiology behind bowel di...

Rectal prolapse looks obvious… until the shelf exam tries to trick you with hemorrhoids, mucosal prolapse, and the wrong operation. In this episode of Surgery Shelf Prep, Chris and Mars break down rectal prolapse step-by-step: how to identify it fast using concentric versus radial folds, why adults need colonoscopy to rule out a lead point malignancy, and how to choose the right surgery based on p...

Hemorrhoids are common and easy points—but they’re a high-yield shelf exam trap, especially when the question is really testing anatomy, rectal bleeding workup, and when to escalate treatment. In this episode of Surgery Shelf Prep, Chris and Mars break down internal versus external hemorrhoids using the dentate line, the classic “painless dripper” versus “painful blueberry” presentations, and the...

Anal cancer is the classic “hemorrhoids” misdirection—and the shelf loves it. If you miss the risk factors, the lymph node drainage, or the treatment algorithm, you’ll bleed points fast. In this episode of Surgery Shelf Prep, Chris and Mars break down the high-yield presentation, key risk factors like Human Papillomavirus and Human Immunodeficiency Virus, why the dentate line predicts inguinal nod...

Anorectal pain with fever is a surgery shelf trap you can’t afford to miss. If the skin looks normal but the digital rectal exam is exquisitely tender, think deep abscess—then move fast. In this episode of Surgery Shelf Prep, Chris and Mars break down perianal versus perirectal abscesses, the cryptoglandular origin at the dentate line, when imaging is actually needed, and the non-negotiable manage...

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...