Thoracic endovascular repair of a ruptured thoracic aortic aneurysm with in situ laser fenestration of the left subclavian and left common carotid artery.

Most thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAAs) are asymptomatic and often diagnosed at the time of rupture. TAAs involving the proximal arch require adequate coverage with thoracic endovascular aortic repair, which is timely and challenging in emergent ruptures. In situ laser fenestration is a novel method of arch revascularization.

Point-of-care ultrasound for identification of ruptured infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms (rAAA) are associated with high mortality rates and require prompt diagnosis with subsequent intervention. CT scan is considered the gold standard for diagnosis, however, in the acute setting ultrasound may be a reasonable diagnostic test for certain patients. We report a case that demonstrates the utility of point-of-care ultrasound (PoCUS) in diagnosing rAAA for a patient in extremis.

Best Study Strategy for the NBME Clinical Science Surgery Exam.

Introduction: Providing medical students with effective study strategies is paramount in fostering their success on the NBME Clinical Science Surgery exam. As of yet, there has not been a comprehensive inquiry into a study strategy for this exam. We aim to identify if the following are associated with higher NBME raw exam scores: (1) the use of popular study materials, (2) the number of study materials used, and (3) the amount of time spent studying throughout the clerkship.