Surgery EOR exam prep
The Surgery EOR centers on the acute abdomen, surgical decision-making, and perioperative management — knowing when imaging, the OR, or observation is the right next step.
PAEA rebuilt the Surgery EOR ahead of the July 2026 update wave — the new blueprint has been the live exam since fall 2024, and the legacy version retired in December 2025. GI dropped from ~50% to 17%, with new breast (10%), trauma/acute-care (8%), and pain/anesthesia (7%) areas and an 8% Professional Practice task area replacing Health Maintenance.
What topics does the Surgery EOR exam cover?
Acute abdomen
Appendicitis, cholecystitis/choledocholithiasis, diverticulitis, bowel obstruction, perforation, mesenteric ischemia.
Hernias & abdominal wall
Inguinal, femoral, incarcerated vs strangulated, and indications for repair.
Hepatobiliary & pancreatic
Gallstone disease spectrum, pancreatitis severity, biliary obstruction.
Vascular & trauma
AAA, acute limb ischemia, and ATLS-style primary survey basics.
Perioperative care
Preop risk assessment, DVT prophylaxis, wound healing, and postoperative fever timeline.
Breast & endocrine surgery
Breast mass workup, thyroid nodule evaluation, and surgical hypercalcemia.
Colorectal & anorectal
Colon cancer screening/staging basics, hemorrhoids, anorectal abscess/fistula.
Fluids, electrolytes & nutrition
Perioperative fluid management and refeeding considerations.
Which topics show up most on the Surgery EOR?
- Appendicitis presentation and imaging choice by age/pregnancy
- Postoperative fever differential by day (the 5 W's)
- Bowel obstruction: small vs large, when to operate
- Charcot triad / Reynolds pentad in cholangitis
- Strangulated vs incarcerated hernia red flags
- Ranson/severity markers in pancreatitis
- AAA size thresholds for repair
- DVT prophylaxis indications
How should you study for the Surgery EOR?
- Think in decisions: image vs. operate vs. observe. The Surgery EOR tests judgment more than facts.
- Weight your time toward the acute abdomen and perioperative care — appendicitis, obstruction, cholecystitis, and the postoperative-fever timeline (the 5 W's).
- Know the can't-delay emergencies (strangulated hernia, ruptured AAA, mesenteric ischemia) and the correct first move for each.
- Then run it on FirstPassPA. Work the Surgery question set by topic, read every explanation, and let spaced repetition resurface your misses as your exam date nears — then simulate with timed, mixed blocks in the final week.
What are common Surgery EOR mistakes?
- Delaying decompression/OR for clear surgical emergencies
- Choosing CT when ultrasound is first-line (RUQ pain, pregnancy)
- Missing the postoperative-fever timeline pattern
- Anticoagulating before excluding a surgical bleed
- Forgetting strangulation signs in hernia questions
Study Surgery on FirstPassPA
EOR rotation mode gives you a focused Surgery question set with an AI tutor on every answer, spaced repetition, and analytics that show your weak spots. Free to start — no credit card.
Start studying free → Try free Surgery questions →Educational use only. This outline is a study aid for PA students and is not medical advice or a substitute for clinical judgment. FirstPassPA is an independent study tool and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by NCCPA or PAEA. PANCE® and PANRE® are registered trademarks of the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants; End of Rotation™ is a program of the Physician Assistant Education Association.