Hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery: gallstone disease in pregnancy: 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 · Hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery: gallstone disease in pregnancy

Sample item

A woman in the second trimester has recurrent attacks of biliary colic and one episode of acute cholecystitis. What is the best management for recurrent symptomatic gallstone disease in pregnancy?

AOpen cholecystectomy onlyBOral dissolution therapy until termCDefer all surgery until after delivery regardless of recurrencesDLaparoscopic cholecystectomy in the second trimester

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the second trimester

The second trimester is the safest time for laparoscopic surgery, with the lowest risks of miscarriage and preterm labour. Repeated attacks risk pancreatitis and cholecystitis, which are dangerous for mother and fetus.

Option by option

A. Open cholecystectomy only
An open operation is not needed, and laparoscopy is feasible.
B. Oral dissolution therapy until term
Dissolution therapy is slow and ineffective in recurrent acute disease.
C. Defer all surgery until after delivery regardless of recurrences
Waiting exposes her to further attacks and complications.
D. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the second trimester (correct)
Correct. Laparoscopic surgery in the second trimester is safe and prevents recurrence.

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.

Questions about this General Surgery question

What is the answer to this General Surgery question?

The best answer is D, Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the second trimester. The second trimester is the safest time for laparoscopic surgery, with the lowest risks of miscarriage and preterm labour.

Why is "Open cholecystectomy only" not the answer?

An open operation is not needed, and laparoscopy is feasible.

Why is "Oral dissolution therapy until term" not the answer?

Dissolution therapy is slow and ineffective in recurrent acute disease.

Why is "Defer all surgery until after delivery regardless of recurrences" not the answer?

Waiting exposes her to further attacks and complications.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery: gallstone disease in pregnancy in General Surgery. Repeated attacks risk pancreatitis and cholecystitis, which are dangerous for mother and fetus.

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 Hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery: gallstone disease in pregnancy?

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.