Ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm — MCCQE Part 1 MCQ

Correct answer: B — Activate the emergency vascular surgery pathway for ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm

Activate the emergency vascular surgery pathway for ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm is the single best answer because the age, timing, examination findings and investigations in the vignette fit Ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm better than the alternatives. The most tempting distractor is less appropriate because it either treats a neighbouring presentation, delays a time-critical intervention, or ignores a key discriminator in the stem. The remaining options are suboptimal because they would miss the diagnosis, use an investigation or treatment in the wrong sequence, or fail to address safety and follow-up. Canadian practice should be anchored to Canadian vascular surgery guidance, with attention to acuity, safety-netting and local provincial pathways.

Reference: Canadian vascular surgery guidance