Surgery Shelf Prep!

Blunt chest trauma can be sneaky—and deadly. Don’t let widened mediastinums, bowel sounds in the chest, or new right bundle branch blocks catch you off guard.

In this episode, Chris and Mars tackle three critical thoracic trauma topics that are absolute shelf favorites: Blunt Aortic Injury, Traumatic Diaphragmatic Rupture, and Cardiac Contusion. You’ll learn how to recognize key signs on chest X-ray, understand the pathophysiology behind these high-stakes injuries, and lock in life-saving management steps.

We break down: ✅ When to act fast on a widened mediastinum ✅ Why bowel sounds in the chest mean surgery ✅ What new arrhythmias can tell you after a sternal fracture ✅ How to use Esmolol and TEVAR like a trauma pro ✅ Imaging traps and treatment pearls to keep you sharp

Perfect for med students prepping for the shelf—and for anyone who wants to stay cool under chest trauma pressure.

Don’t miss this one. Hit play, review your ABCs, and get ready to dominate your trauma questions!

Chris and Mars are back to bring the heat with Part 2 of Thoracic Trauma on Surgery Shelf Prep! This episode covers three critical, life-threatening injuries including flail chest, pulmonary contusions, and cardiac tamponade. Understanding these high yield topics will help you ace your surgery shelf exam and shine on your surgery clerkship! Strap in and tune in your brain for this rocking thoracic trauma episode!

Chris and Mars are back to tackle thoracic trauma—starting with the three that will make or break your shelf exam and your real-life trauma responses. In this jam-packed episode of Surgery Shelf Prep, they break down:

✅ How to clinically recognize and manage Tension Pneumothorax ✅ The do’s and don’ts of treating an Open (Sucking) Pneumothorax. ✅ Identifying a Massive Hemothorax ✅ Shelf traps, treatment pitfalls.

Perfect for surgery clerkship students preparing for the surgery shelf exam!

Chris and Mars wrap up their spinal-cord-injury episodes with a review of some high-yield spinal cord injury diagnoses including the Jefferson Fracture, Hangman Fracture, Chance Fracture, and SCIWORA. Nail down these topics to shine on your clerkship rotations, the shelf exam, and in patient care. Rock it!

Chris and Mars tackle one of the most high-stakes topics for the surgery shelf: acute spinal cord injury. From life-threatening neurogenic shock to the classic cord syndromes that are super high-yield, this fast-paced chat arms you with the must-know algorithms, imaging calls, and management targets that will pop up on your surgery clerkship rotation and on your exams.

In this neuro-packed episode, Chris and Mars dive deep into brain trauma—a must-know topic for your surgery clerkship and shelf exam.

They break down essential scenarios including epidural hematoma, subdural hematoma, subarachnoid hemorrhage, diffuse axonal injury, and uncal herniation. You'll master recognizing classic clinical presentations, critical imaging findings on CT, key management strategies (when to intubate, indications for hyperventilation, and why ICP and CPP matter), plus vital shelf pearls like the Cushing’s reflex and basilar skull fracture signs.

Perfect for med students prepping for their surgery clerkship, NBME shelf, or USMLE Step 2 CK.

In this episode of Surgery Shelf Prep, Chris and Mars break down the initial evaluation and of trauma using the ATLS principles. From ABCDEs to life-saving pearls, this episode is packed with essential knowledge to help you dominate the surgery shelf and crush it in the trauma bay.

In episode, Chris and Mars zoom in on trace elements—those small but mighty players in surgical recovery and nutrition. Whether it’s zinc, copper, selenium, or even manganese, these elements pack a punch for your patients on Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN) and are guaranteed shelf pearls for your exam.

🎙️ You’ll learn: ✅ Why zinc deficiency can tank wound healing and show up as that classic perioral/perianal rash (acrodermatitis!). ✅ How copper deficiency mimics B12 neuropathy and causes microcytic anemia unresponsive to iron. ✅ The link between selenium and cardiomyopathy (hello, Keshan disease!). ✅ Why a TPN patient with new hyperglycemia might actually be missing chromium. ✅ The Parkinsonian danger of manganese toxicity in long-term TPN. ✅ And quick hits on iodine, iron, magnesium, fluoride, and more.

Perfect for med students prepping for the surgery shelf or clinicians managing high-risk surgical patients.

In this part 2 episode of Surgery Shelf Prep, Chris and Mars dive into the differential diagnoses, complications, and management of acute appendicitis. From key mimics like ovarian torsion and mesenteric lymphadenitis to critical intraoperative decisions and antibiotic strategies, they cover the must-know facts to help you avoid common shelf traps. Perfect for medical students preparing for the surgery shelf and Step 2 CK!

In this two-part episode of Surgery Shelf Prep, Chris and Mars break down everything you need to know about acute appendicitis for your surgery shelf and Step 2 CK. In part 1, we go from classic presentations and physical exam pearls to Alvarado scoring and imaging strategies, they cover the essential facts that will keep you from falling into common test traps.

Listen in for rapid-fire Q&A, clear explanations of tricky concepts, and pro tips to help you crush questions on this surgical emergency.

🎧 Perfect for medical students preparing for the Surgery Shelf Exam and clerkship!