ABPS Anesthesiology (BCA) case studies
ABPS Anesthesiology (BCA) · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The Board of Certification in Anesthesiology (BCA) is a member board of the American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS), a multi-specialty certifying body that certified its first physician in 1960 and whose Diplomates now practice across all 50 states, as well as Canada and Puerto Rico. BCA certification is a voluntary credential that allows successful candidates to present themselves to the public as qualified medical specialists in anesthesiology. The ABPS Anesthesiology (BCA) case studies are 5 cases and about 3,500 words.
1Elderly Hip Fracture With Severe Aortic Stenosis
An 84-year-old woman (62 kg, 158 cm) is admitted with a displaced femoral neck fracture after a mechanical fall 38 hours ago. She has severe aortic stenosis (valve area 0.7 cm², mean gradient 44 mmHg, peak velocity 4.3 m/s), preserved LVEF of 55%, hypertension, and CKD stage 3 (eGFR 36).
698 words, about 3 min2Expanding Neck Hematoma After Carotid Endarterectomy
A 72-year-old man (88 kg) is in the PACU 90 minutes after right carotid endarterectomy with patch angioplasty under general anesthesia. He was extubated in the OR and initially talking.
720 words, about 4 min3Sudden ETCO2 Collapse During Laparoscopic Nephrectomy
A 58-year-old woman (BMI 27) is undergoing laparoscopic donor nephrectomy under general anesthesia with desflurane and a 14-gauge right internal jugular central line placed after induction. Ventilation: tidal volume 500 mL, PEEP 6 cmH2O, FiO2 0.5; baseline ETCO2 36 mmHg, SpO2 99%, BP 118/70 mmHg, HR 72.
692 words, about 3 min4Supraclavicular Block in a Patient on Apixaban
A 68-year-old man (92 kg, BMI 32) falls and sustains a comminuted distal radius fracture requiring open reduction and internal fixation. He has atrial fibrillation on apixaban 5 mg twice daily, hypertension, and CKD stage 3b (eGFR 40).
705 words, about 4 min5HELLP, Thrombocytopenia, and a Category-1 Cesarean
A 29-year-old G1P0 at 34+2 weeks presents with severe preeclampsia: BP 172/110 mmHg, headache, visual scotomata, RUQ pain. Labs: platelets 78,000/µL (142,000 six hours earlier), AST 220, ALT 198, LDH 940, fibrinogen 190 mg/dL, creatinine 1.0.
685 words, about 3 min