Archive Of Standardized Exam Questions: Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia

OVERVIEW

This page is dedicated to organizing various examples of standardized exam questions whose answer is congenital diaphragmatic hernia. While this may seem a odd practice, it is useful to see multiple examples of how congenital diaphragmatic hernia will be characterized on standardized exams (namely the boards and the shelf exams). This page is not meant to be used as a traditional question bank (as all of the answers will be the same), however seeing the classic “test” characterization for a disease is quite valuable. 

KEY CHARACTERISTICS OF THIS CONDITION (ON EXAMS)

When it comes to standardized exams, each topic has its own “code” marked by key buzzwords, lab findings, clues, etc. If you are well versed in this code you will be able to more quickly identify the condition that is being discussed, and get the right answer on the exam you are taking. Below is the “code” for congenital diaphragmatic hernia

QUESTION EXAMPLES

Question # 1

A male infant is born at term. Immediately after birth he becomes cyanotic. HIs mother has not had access to prenatal care, however her pregnancy course has been uncomplicated. A physical exam reveals a tachypneic and tachycardic patient. Oxygen saturation is 75%, and there is grunting and supracostal retractions present. The infant has a barrel shaped chest with decreased breath sounds on the left side. The abdomen is scaphoid, and the heart beat is displaced to the right. What is the likely diagnosis in this child? 

Explanation # 1

Question # 2

Explanation # 2

TESTABLE FACTS ABOUT THIS TOPIC (BEYOND ITS IDENTIFICATION)

Many questions on standardized exams go beyond simply recognizing the underlying topic. Often there are specific testable facts regarding some aspect of the topic’s pathophysiology/management/clinical implications that are commonly asked. Some of these are listed below:

  • Cause: improper development of the pleuroperitoneal membrane 

 

Page Updated: 03.16.2017