Organ System Disorders

Multisystem: Shock, Sepsis and Metabolic Syndromes Practice Questions

19 free Multisystem: Shock, Sepsis and Metabolic Syndromes practice questions for the USMLE Step 1, each with the correct answer and a detailed explanation. Open any question below, or take the full set as an interactive quiz.

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All Multisystem: Shock, Sepsis and Metabolic Syndromes questions

19 questions
  1. Q1. A 56-year-old man presents with hypotension, warm flushed skin, and bounding pulses. He is febrile and confused. Which mechanism best explains his shock state?
  2. Q2. A patient with hypovolemic shock from trauma has cool, clammy skin. Which compensatory mechanism is responsible?
  3. Q3. A 70-year-old woman with urosepsis develops acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Which finding is most characteristic of ARDS physiology?
  4. Q4. A diabetic patient presents with confusion, dehydration, and a glucose level of 900 mg/dL. pH is 7.35. Which diagnosis is most likely?
  5. Q5. A patient with septic shock is treated with norepinephrine. Which effect does this medication primarily provide?
  6. Q6. A 48-year-old man with a history of obesity and hypertension is diagnosed with metabolic syndrome. Which laboratory pattern is most consistent with this condit…
  7. Q7. A trauma patient has signs of obstructive shock. Which finding supports this diagnosis?
  8. Q8. A septic patient becomes hypotensive after receiving 4 liters of fluid. Which mechanism is responsible for persistent hypotension?
  9. Q9. A patient with anaphylactic shock develops severe bronchospasm and hypotension. Which mediator is primarily responsible?
  10. Q10. A patient with septic shock develops lactic acidosis. Which mechanism contributes most directly?
  11. Q11. A patient with Addison disease presents with hypotension and hyperkalemia. Which mechanism explains these findings?
  12. Q12. A patient presents with confusion after fasting for 24 hours. Serum glucose is 45 mg/dL. Which hormone is MOST responsible for initial counter-regulation?
  13. Q13. A patient with sepsis develops disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Which finding is most characteristic?
  14. Q14. A patient with cardiogenic shock has decreased cardiac output. Which compensatory mechanism increases systemic vascular resistance?
  15. Q15. A homeless man with chronic alcoholism has confusion and ataxia. Labs show low glucose and normal ketones. Which deficiency is most likely?
  16. Q16. A patient in hypovolemic shock receives a large saline infusion. Which parameter is expected to improve first?
  17. Q17. A patient with severe burns develops profound edema. Which mechanism explains this fluid shift?
  18. Q18. A patient in septic shock is started on broad-spectrum antibiotics. After 12 hours his blood pressure improves, but his urine output remains low. Which organ i…
  19. Q19. A diabetic patient has metabolic syndrome. Which physical finding is most strongly associated?