Perioperative care: cardiac conditions that delay elective surgery: 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 · Perioperative care: cardiac conditions that delay elective surgery

Sample item

Which finding in a patient scheduled for elective major surgery should make the team postpone the operation?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Unstable angina

Active cardiac conditions such as unstable angina, decompensated heart failure, significant uncontrolled arrhythmias and severe symptomatic valve disease carry a high perioperative cardiac risk and should be treated before elective surgery. The other findings do not by themselves require postponement.

Option by option

  • A. Unstable angina (correct)

    Correct. Unstable angina is an active cardiac condition and requires evaluation and treatment before elective surgery.

  • B. Stable treated hypertension of 150/90 mmHg

    Mild to moderate treated hypertension does not need postponement.

  • C. Well-controlled atrial fibrillation with a rate of 70

    Rate-controlled atrial fibrillation is not a reason to postpone.

  • D. Mild asymptomatic aortic sclerosis

    Mild asymptomatic aortic sclerosis carries little perioperative risk.

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, Unstable angina. Active cardiac conditions such as unstable angina, decompensated heart failure, significant uncontrolled arrhythmias and severe symptomatic valve disease carry a high perioperative cardiac risk and should be treated before elective surgery.

Why is "Stable treated hypertension of 150/90 mmHg" not the answer?

Mild to moderate treated hypertension does not need postponement.

Why is "Well-controlled atrial fibrillation with a rate of 70" not the answer?

Rate-controlled atrial fibrillation is not a reason to postpone.

Why is "Mild asymptomatic aortic sclerosis" not the answer?

Mild asymptomatic aortic sclerosis carries little perioperative risk.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Perioperative care: cardiac conditions that delay elective surgery in General Surgery. The other findings do not by themselves require postponement.

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 Perioperative care: cardiac conditions that delay elective surgery?

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.