Surgery Shelf Prep!

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 master the Hinchey classification, spot a colovesical fistula, and avoid the biggest test traps that trip students up.

Perfect for med students prepping for the Surgery Shelf or Step 2, this episode delivers the pearls you need — fast, focused, and high-yield.

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 decision-making. These syndromes love to show up on the Surgery Shelf and Step 2, and mastering them means knowing the genes, the patterns, and the procedures cold.

Hit play and lock this one in — it’s guaranteed to show up on your shelf exam and in the OR. Join Chris and Mars for another round of Surgery Shelf Prep!

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-saving.

Don’t let UC trip you up. Hit play, review your shelf pearls, and get ready to dominate your next surgery block with Chris and Mars on Surgery Shelf Prep!

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-miss complications that show up again and again in question stems.

You’ll learn how to: ✅ Recognize high-yield findings like cobblestoning, skip lesions, and non-caseating granulomas ✅ Differentiate Crohn’s from ulcerative colitis based on distribution, depth, and smoking effects ✅ Approach medical therapy — when to use steroids, immunomodulators, and biologics ✅ Manage abscesses, strictures, and fistulas with surgical precision ✅ Avoid common traps like giving steroids before ruling out an abscess

Perfect for med students prepping for the Surgery Shelf — and for anyone who wants to master the fundamentals of Crohn’s Disease like a future surgeon.

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 also cover when to continue aspirin, how to pause P2Y12 agents around recent stents, and key neuraxial anesthesia timing red flags. Perfect quick refresher for pre-op huddles and shelf questions.

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 test day.

We break down:

• Why mucocutaneous bleeding plus family history screams vWD
• How to use a mixing study to nail Hemophilia A
• Why uremic patients bleed despite normal labs
• When DDAVP is the right move—and when it isn’t
• Why platelet transfusions don’t help in renal failure

Perfect for med students prepping for the surgery shelf—this one locks in the essentials so you won’t miss on exam day.

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-related hyperphosphatemia, tumor lysis syndrome, and post-thyroidectomy hypoparathyroidism. You’ll learn the classic presentations, the underlying pathophysiology, and the treatment pearls that show up again and again.

We cover:

• Why refeeding syndrome causes a dangerous phosphate crash
• How insulin in DKA unmasks total body phosphate depletion
• The difference between Hungry Bone Syndrome and surgical hypoparathyroidism
• Key pitfalls of antacids and phosphate binders
• What to do when CKD or tumor lysis drives phosphate dangerously high

Perfect for med students gearing up for the surgery shelf—this one locks in both the physiology and the test-day clues.

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 drips can tip into life-threatening highs. We cover exam-ready pearls like Torsades treatment, reflex monitoring, and safe bowel prep alternatives.

Perfect for med students prepping for the surgery shelf—don’t miss this one!

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 recognize key signs, connect them to the underlying physiology, and avoid the treatment traps that love to appear in exam vignettes.

We cover: ✅ Why ionized calcium is the only number you can truly trust ✅ The post-op red flags for hypoparathyroidism ✅ Citrate toxicity during massive transfusion — when to check, when to treat ✅ How hypomagnesemia sabotages your calcium correction ✅ When to withhold calcium in tumor lysis syndrome ✅ The “stones, bones, groans, and psychiatric overtones” of primary hyperparathyroidism ✅ Rapid-onset inpatient hypercalcemia from malignancy and how to bridge with calcitonin ✅ ECG changes that give away calcium derangements

Perfect for medical students prepping for the surgery shelf, and for anyone who wants to lock in their electrolyte game. This one is packed with pathophysiology, shelf tips, and clinical pearls you can use on rounds tomorrow.

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, hypomagnesemia, renal failure, trauma, adrenal insufficiency, pseudohyperkalemia, and tumor lysis syndrome. You’ll learn when to act fast, how to avoid common traps, and why magnesium is the unsung hero of potassium management.

We cover: • How chloride-responsive alkalosis clues you in to GI loss–related hypokalemia • The EKG giveaways for both high and low potassium states • Why correcting magnesium is step zero in refractory hypokalemia • First-line cardiac stabilization in hyperkalemia with EKG changes • The 24-hour succinylcholine rule in burn and trauma patients

Perfect for med students prepping for the surgery shelf, wards, or boards—this one’s packed with exam-ready pearls and life-saving takeaways.