A patient admitted to the ICU develops acute liver failure with hepatic encephalopathy. What intervention should the healthcare team prioritize to manage the patient's encephalopathy?

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The healthcare team should prioritize administering lactulose or other ammonia-lowering agents to manage hepatic encephalopathy in a patient with acute liver failure. Hepatic encephalopathy is a neuropsychiatric syndrome that occurs in patients with liver dysfunction, leading to the accumulation of ammonia and other neurotoxic metabolites in the bloodstream. Lactulose works by acidifying the colon, which promotes the conversion of ammonia to ammonium, a less toxic form that can be excreted in the stool. By reducing the levels of ammonia, lactulose helps improve the neurological symptoms associated with hepatic encephalopathy.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Total knee arthroplasty (TKA), also known as total knee replacement, is a surgical procedure commonly performed to alleviate symptoms and improve function in patients with advanced osteoarthritis of the knee that has not responded to conservative management. During TKA, the damaged cartilage and bone in the knee joint are removed and replaced with prosthetic components. This procedure aims to reduce pain, restore function, and improve the quality of life for individuals with severe osteoarthritis of the knee. High tibial osteotomy (HTO) is typically performed in younger patients with unicompartmental osteoarthritis, while knee arthroscopy and meniscectomy are more targeted towards specific knee conditions and may not provide significant relief in cases of advanced osteoarthritis.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition caused by compression of the median nerve in the wrist. The surgical procedure commonly performed to treat carpal tunnel syndrome is called median nerve release or carpal tunnel release. During this surgery, the transverse carpal ligament is divided to relieve pressure on the median nerve, reducing symptoms such as pain, numbness, and tingling in the hand and fingers. The goal of this procedure is to improve nerve function and reduce symptoms associated with carpal tunnel syndrome.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: X-ray is the most appropriate imaging modality for evaluating wrist involvement in rheumatoid arthritis. It can show joint space narrowing, erosions, soft tissue swelling, and periarticular osteopenia. X-rays are readily available, cost-effective, and provide valuable information about joint damage and disease progression in rheumatoid arthritis. In this case, X-ray would be able to confirm the presence of erosions, joint deformities, and assess the severity of the disease in the wrist joint. While MRI and ultrasound can also be helpful in evaluating rheumatoid arthritis, X-ray remains the initial imaging modality of choice due to its convenience and ability to assess bony changes. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan is not indicated for evaluating wrist involvement in rheumatoid arthritis.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The given patient with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is likely experiencing uremic bleeding diathesis. Uremic bleeding diathesis is a complication of CKD characterized by abnormal platelet function, leading to a tendency for bleeding. The presence of anemia, thrombocytopenia (low platelet count), pale skin, easy bruising, and elevated blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine levels are all consistent with uremic bleeding diathesis.