Bowel obstruction: practice question

A General Surgery question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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General Surgery · Bowel obstruction

Sample item

Which combination is most typical of mechanical small-bowel obstruction?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. Colicky pain, vomiting, distension, and obstipation

Mechanical small-bowel obstruction produces cramping abdominal pain, vomiting, distension, and failure to pass stool or flatus; assessment includes resuscitation, imaging, and early surgical review when strangulation is possible.

Option by option

  • A. Colicky pain, vomiting, distension, and obstipation (correct)

    Correct: this symptom cluster is classic for obstructed small bowel.

  • B. Cough with purulent sputum

    Purulent cough suggests a respiratory infection.

  • C. Painless jaundice with pruritus

    Jaundice and pruritus suggest cholestasis rather than bowel obstruction.

  • D. Polyuria with polydipsia

    Polyuria and polydipsia point toward a metabolic or endocrine problem.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this General Surgery question

What is the answer to this General Surgery question?

The best answer is A, Colicky pain, vomiting, distension, and obstipation. Mechanical small-bowel obstruction produces cramping abdominal pain, vomiting, distension, and failure to pass stool or flatus; assessment includes resuscitation, imaging, and early surgical review when strangulation is possible.

Why is "Cough with purulent sputum" not the answer?

Purulent cough suggests a respiratory infection.

Why is "Painless jaundice with pruritus" not the answer?

Jaundice and pruritus suggest cholestasis rather than bowel obstruction.

Why is "Polyuria with polydipsia" not the answer?

Polyuria and polydipsia point toward a metabolic or endocrine problem.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Bowel obstruction in General Surgery. The correct option holds because: Correct: this symptom cluster is classic for obstructed small bowel.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Bowel obstruction?

Learn classic signs and eponyms alongside what they diagnose. Then use the flashcards and the other General Surgery questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.