American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Certification Practice Exam

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For neurosurgery or ocular surgery, what is the recommended platelet count?

50,000/microL
20,000/microL
30,000/microL
100,000/microL

The correct answer is: 100,000/microL

In the context of neurosurgery and ocular surgery, maintaining a safe platelet count is crucial to minimize the risk of bleeding complications during and after the procedure. A platelet count of 100,000/microL is generally considered the recommended threshold for these types of surgeries. This count helps ensure adequate hemostatic function, allowing for proper clot formation and reducing the likelihood of excessive bleeding, which can compromise surgical outcomes and lead to complications such as hematomas or prolonged recovery times. While lower platelet counts may be acceptable in some less invasive procedures or surgical contexts, neurosurgery and ocular surgery both require a higher threshold due to the complexity and sensitivity of the tissues being operated on. Thus, the recommendation of maintaining a platelet count of at least 100,000/microL reflects a balance between minimizing risk and avoiding unnecessary transfusions or medical interventions to raise platelet counts before surgery.