Surgical complications: 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 · Surgical complications

Sample item

Which postoperative finding is most concerning for an anastomotic leak after colorectal surgery?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. New tachycardia, fever, abdominal pain, and rising inflammatory markers

An anastomotic leak can cause sepsis and peritonitis, often presenting with unexplained tachycardia, fever, pain, ileus, or rising inflammatory markers; urgent senior review and imaging or source control may be necessary.

Option by option

  • A. New tachycardia, fever, abdominal pain, and rising inflammatory markers (correct)

    Correct: systemic deterioration with abdominal signs can indicate an anastomotic leak.

  • B. A single episode of mild thirst

    Mild thirst alone is common and nonspecific after surgery.

  • C. Normal postoperative fatigue

    Some fatigue is expected and does not itself indicate a leak.

  • D. Improved appetite on day one

    Improved appetite is generally a reassuring recovery feature.

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.

More General Surgery questions

Questions about this General Surgery question

What is the answer to this General Surgery question?

The best answer is A, New tachycardia, fever, abdominal pain, and rising inflammatory markers. An anastomotic leak can cause sepsis and peritonitis, often presenting with unexplained tachycardia, fever, pain, ileus, or rising inflammatory markers; urgent senior review and imaging or source control may be necessary.

Why is "A single episode of mild thirst" not the answer?

Mild thirst alone is common and nonspecific after surgery.

Why is "Normal postoperative fatigue" not the answer?

Some fatigue is expected and does not itself indicate a leak.

Why is "Improved appetite on day one" not the answer?

Improved appetite is generally a reassuring recovery feature.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Surgical complications in General Surgery. The correct option holds because: Correct: systemic deterioration with abdominal signs can indicate an anastomotic leak.

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 Surgical complications?

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.