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 symptom combination is 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 constipation

Mechanical small bowel obstruction commonly presents with colicky abdominal pain, vomiting, distension, and failure to pass stool or flatus.

Option by option

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

    Correct: this is the classic obstructive symptom cluster.

  • B. Dysuria with flank pain only

    Flank pain and dysuria suggest urinary disease.

  • C. Haemoptysis, wheeze, and rash

    This respiratory cluster suggests a different system.

  • D. Headache with photophobia only

    Headache and photophobia suggest neurological infection.

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, Colicky pain, vomiting, distension, and constipation. Mechanical small bowel obstruction commonly presents with colicky abdominal pain, vomiting, distension, and failure to pass stool or flatus.

Why is "Dysuria with flank pain only" not the answer?

Flank pain and dysuria suggest urinary disease.

Why is "Haemoptysis, wheeze, and rash" not the answer?

This respiratory cluster suggests a different system.

Why is "Headache with photophobia only" not the answer?

Headache and photophobia suggest neurological infection.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Bowel obstruction in General Surgery. The correct option holds because: Correct: this is the classic obstructive symptom cluster.

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.