Urology: contraindications to ESWL: 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 · Urology: contraindications to ESWL

Sample item

A urologist plans extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy for a 1 cm renal pelvic stone. Which patient feature is an absolute contraindication?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Pregnancy

Absolute contraindications to shock wave lithotripsy include pregnancy, uncorrected coagulopathy, untreated urinary infection and distal obstruction. Radiolucent stones can be localised by ultrasound, and controlled hypertension is only a relative concern.

Option by option

  • A. Pregnancy (correct)

    Correct. Shock waves can harm the fetus, so pregnancy is an absolute contraindication.

  • B. A previous open appendicectomy

    A previous abdominal operation does not prevent treatment.

  • C. A radiolucent uric acid stone

    Radiolucent stones can be targeted using ultrasound.

  • D. Controlled hypertension

    Well controlled hypertension is not a contraindication, though uncontrolled hypertension is a relative one.

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, Pregnancy. Absolute contraindications to shock wave lithotripsy include pregnancy, uncorrected coagulopathy, untreated urinary infection and distal obstruction.

Why is "A previous open appendicectomy" not the answer?

A previous abdominal operation does not prevent treatment.

Why is "A radiolucent uric acid stone" not the answer?

Radiolucent stones can be targeted using ultrasound.

Why is "Controlled hypertension" not the answer?

Well controlled hypertension is not a contraindication, though uncontrolled hypertension is a relative one.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Urology: contraindications to ESWL in General Surgery. Radiolucent stones can be localised by ultrasound, and controlled hypertension is only a relative concern.

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 Urology: contraindications to ESWL?

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.