PAEA Surgery End Of Rotation (EOR) Practice Exam

What is the primary purpose of the Child-Turcotte-Pugh Scoring system?

1. Assessing liver function

2. Diagnosing hepatitis

3. Measuring abdominal pain

4. Evaluating kidney performance

The correct answer is: Assessing liver function

The primary purpose of the Child-Turcotte-Pugh scoring system is to assess liver function in patients with cirrhosis or other forms of liver disease. This scoring system provides a means to evaluate the severity of liver dysfunction and to predict the patient's prognosis. It considers several clinical and laboratory parameters, including bilirubin levels, serum albumin, prothrombin time, and the presence of ascites and hepatic encephalopathy. This scoring system is instrumental in determining the need for interventions such as liver transplantation, guiding treatment decisions, and providing an overall estimate of survival. Understanding liver function through this system helps clinicians stratify patients based on the severity of their condition, which is crucial for effective management and treatment planning. The other options, such as diagnosing hepatitis, measuring abdominal pain, or evaluating kidney performance, do not align with the specific focus and utility of the Child-Turcotte-Pugh scoring system.